Port Douglas
Suburb profile, market snapshot and recent listings for Port Douglas, QLD 4877.
About Port Douglas
Welcome to Port Douglas
Port Douglas sits about an hour's drive north of Cairns on the far north Queensland coast, where the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest converge within easy reach of each other. Once a quiet fishing town, it has grown into one of Australia's best-known tropical resort destinations, built around the palm-lined sweep of Four Mile Beach and the marina precinct that services reef trips and game-fishing charters.
With a population of around 3,650 and a median age of 44, the town has a settled, low-key rhythm outside of peak tourist season. It suits holiday-home buyers, investors chasing short-term rental returns, and locals who want a genuinely tropical lifestyle without giving up decent cafes, restaurants and services — alongside the neighbouring communities of Craiglie and Killaloe, which are increasingly drawn into Port Douglas's orbit.
Lifestyle & dining
Life in Port Douglas revolves around Macrossan Street, the town's main strip, where restaurants, bars and boutiques sit under awnings just back from the marina. The dining scene punches well above its population size, reflecting decades of tourist trade, with everything from casual fish and chips to white-tablecloth seafood restaurants trading on the daily reef and river catch.
Four Mile Beach remains the town's defining feature — a long, netted swimming beach backed by dense tropical vegetation and the Coral Sea on one side, rainforest-clad hills on the other. Sunday markets, sunset drinks overlooking the marina and day trips out to the Low Isles or the Daintree are part of the local routine as much as the tourist one.
Getting around
Port Douglas is roughly an hour's drive from Cairns along the Captain Cook Highway, a route regarded as one of the more scenic coastal drives in the country, hugging the coastline between the rainforest and the sea. Cairns Airport handles the nearest commercial flights, and shuttle and coach services run regularly between the airport and Port Douglas for visitors without a car.
Within the town itself, most things are walkable or a short cycle away, and many residents and visitors get around by bike or golf buggy given the compact town centre. A car is still useful for reaching Craiglie, Killaloe and the wider Mossman and Daintree region.
Schools & families
Port Douglas State School serves local families through primary years, giving younger children a genuine community school option without needing to travel. Secondary students and those seeking a wider range of schooling choices typically look toward Cairns or Mossman, a trade-off that comes with living in a smaller coastal town.
Families who do settle here tend to value the outdoor lifestyle — beach time, fishing and access to national parks — over sheer choice of schools, and the town's relatively small, tight-knit population means kids growing up here tend to know their community well.
Housing & architecture
The current listings mix in Port Douglas leans heavily toward apartments and units, which make up 62% of what's on the market, reflecting the town's strong holiday-letting and resort-style living culture. Houses account for 27% of listings, townhouses 8%, and vacant land just 2%, so buyers after a standalone home have a noticeably smaller pool to choose from than those looking at apartments.
Architecturally, expect a lot of Queenslander-influenced and tropical resort-style design — elevated living areas, wide verandahs, louvres and pool courtyards built for the climate — alongside low-rise apartment complexes clustered near the beach and marina.
The property market
Port Douglas's median house price currently sits at $1.09 million, with houses having recorded growth of 9.2% recently, a solid result for a market this size. Units and apartments, which make up the bulk of listings, have a median price of $430,000, giving buyers a considerably more accessible entry point into the market, particularly for those chasing holiday-letting income rather than a permanent family home.
Rents in the area sit at a median of $1,000 a week, underlining the strength of demand from both the holiday rental market and longer-term tenants competing for a limited stock of homes. For investors, the combination of tight supply, tourist demand and the town's reef-and-rainforest drawcard has kept the market resilient, while for owner-occupiers the trade-off is a smaller, pricier pool of standalone houses compared with the much larger apartment segment.
Market snapshot
Port Douglas property market
Median sale price
$1.09m
House · 4 bed
Median rent
$1,000
per week
Gross rental yield
4.8%
annual rent ÷ sale price
Typical price range
Entry
$766k
Median
$1.09m
Premium
$3.34m
Days on market
167
Auction clearance
0%
Sold this year
37
Median sold price trend · House 4 bed
Compound growth +4.3% / yr over 4 yrs
Median price by bedrooms · House
Property types on market
Share of current listings in Port Douglas by dwelling type.
Who lives here
Demographics
ABS Census 2021 figures for Port Douglas, QLD 4877.
Population
3,650
residents (2021)
Median age
44
years
Household income
$1,370
median, per week
Median rent
$350
per week
Median mortgage
$1,474
per month
Mortgage / income
25%
comfortable
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. Suburb-level (SAL) aggregates.
Education
Schools in Port Douglas
Government school catchment
Recent results
Recently sold in Port Douglas
$599k
1/23 Davidson Street
Sold ~July 2026
$1.53m
115-116/20-22 Davidson Street
Sold ~July 2026
$425k
53/121-137 Port Douglas Road
Sold ~July 2026
$385k
85/121-137 Port Douglas Road
Sold ~July 2026
$660k
2/25 Barrier Street
Sold ~July 2026
$350k
46/121-137 Port Douglas Road
Sold ~July 2026
$350k
21/11-15 Port Douglas Road
Sold ~July 2026
$1.22m
17 Coral Drive
Sold ~July 2026
Sold prices as published on the original listing; some may reflect the last advertised price. Dates are approximate.
Explore the area
Properties & amenities in Port Douglas
Compare the area
Price map around Port Douglas
Every listing for sale near Port Douglas, coloured by price — so you can see how it stacks up against the streets and suburbs next door.
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Common questions
Port Douglas suburb FAQ
What is the median property price in Port Douglas?
The median unit price in Port Douglas, QLD is $430k for a 2-bedroom home. Over the past year, median sold prices have risen about 1.2%.
How much is rent in Port Douglas?
The median weekly rent in Port Douglas is around $600 per week.
Is Port Douglas a good place to live?
Port Douglas is a coastal town and locality in the Shire of Douglas, Queensland, Australia, approximately 60 km (37 mi) north of Cairns. Port Douglas is an established residential suburb in QLD, with a population of around 3,650 and 1 school in the area.
What is the population of Port Douglas?
Port Douglas has a population of 3,650 (ABS 2021 Census), with a median age of 44.
What schools are in Port Douglas?
There is 1 school in or near Port Douglas, including Port Douglas State School.
How long do homes take to sell in Port Douglas?
Properties in Port Douglas take around 56 days to sell on average, with an auction clearance rate of about 0%.
How much do you need to buy in Port Douglas?
Entry-level properties in Port Douglas start around $275k, while premium homes reach $1.34m.
What suburbs are near Port Douglas?
Suburbs near Port Douglas include Craiglie and Killaloe.
Fresh to market
New this week in Port Douglas
Private Residential End Villa Overlooking the Clubhouse
MANA MOANA | Port Douglas
CONTEMPORARY PRIVATE VILLA BY THE BEACH
Smart Buying: Practical Dual-Key Value in Port Douglas
Available now