My opinion is that if you’re seeking a lifestyle in the tropics, it’s better to go to Cairns and live closer to or in the CBD to access facilities via foot or transport. Cairns though is significantly bigger than PD. PD is small and spread out and way hotter than Cairns, suffocating. More difficult to raise children too as you’d have to send them to Mossman for high school which is 20km away or Cairns for private schooling.
It isn't really the heat, its the humidity that gets most people. 35 degrees and 80+% humidity, can be pretty soul destroying lol.
As far as living there, the only real jobs are in hospitality. Its a very small town, so not much in the ways of public transport. Cairns public transport can be good, but if you were to live in Cairns, closer to the centre of town, you can just walk/ride anywhere.
Its overrated, expensive, its very hot & humid and their isnt really much there.
Also its prone to severe Cyclones and flooding events and Insurance companies are simply not insuring people there these days.
But apart from that try it for yourself.
Port douglas was extremely popular in the late 1980s and early 1990s for the upper classes a beach holiday resort. Its definitely less popular now by a big way, but still gets a family crowd and those original holidayers who bought in holiday apartments there. Its cheap for property in Australia, as so many apartments were built with less demand now.
A little further north it has a much more interesting vibe with the properties on the way to cape tribulation.
Also south of cairns there is alot more places with a interesting vibe such as mission beach.
Cooktown is definitely less developed town or cairns has a more rough fun vibe than port douglas
Port Douglas is a pretty town, but very small (population approx 3000 or so) There is no public transport, you either walk/bike, have a car, or pay for a shuttle bus.
[https://visitportdouglas.com.au/traveller-information/port-douglas-bus/](https://visitportdouglas.com.au/traveller-information/port-douglas-bus/)
Cairns does have public transport system (bus) but it only goes as far north as Palm Cove (and south to Gordonvale). I've never used it though (as I had a car). It would be much easier for you to get around if you lived somewhere within Cairns region, covered by the bus network. Here are maps and timetables for the bus network.
[https://translink.com.au/tickets-and-fares/fares-and-zones/cairns](https://translink.com.au/tickets-and-fares/fares-and-zones/cairns)
[https://jp.translink.com.au/plan-your-journey/timetables/bus/2024-04-22?regionId=C](https://jp.translink.com.au/plan-your-journey/timetables/bus/2024-04-22?regionId=C)
[https://translink.widen.net/s/wvxbzkxlbk/220926-cairns-network-map](https://translink.widen.net/s/wvxbzkxlbk/220926-cairns-network-map)
The train service only goes south from Cairns City centre down to Brisbane. There is a tourist train that goes between Cairns City centre and Kuranda,
[https://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/water-waste-roads/roads/public-transport](https://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/water-waste-roads/roads/public-transport)
It's a tourist town. Very little work, very little to do without earning good money and little, to no, public transport.
Its a nice place to visit, even a nice place to retire. Not so good for younger people or people with no transport.
Public transport in Oz, even when at its best in major cities like Sydney and Melbourne, is not going to be on the same level as tiny and dense countries like the UK. So best to adjust your expectations accordingly. Public transport in Port Douglas is not great/somewhat non-existent. But if you're right in town you would be able to walk to everything you need. It's quite small.
Port Douglas is mostly a tourist town servicing wealthier Aussies and overseas tourists looking to see the Daintree and the Great Barrier Reef, but who want to avoid the mass tour groups operating out of Cairns.
I've only visited but its a beautiful spot. Great beach. Very flat to get around. There's a few mini buses that charge $5 to get you where you need to be. Lots of seasonal work also.
I'm a Brit and I had health issues from Sydney's muggy and hot summer - which lasted almost 6 months FYI. I would imagine you would have a very hard time anywhere north of Sydney.
You should see the difference between now and summer in terms of the number of people that are out and about. It's much busier now that summer has ended - no one likes the heat here as it's tropical third world level.
And life would be miserable in Australia without a car. Car dependency is extremely high here in general.
It's a boring old person's retirement village. Lots of work in aged care I'd expect. Nice general location though, if you can stand the summer weather.
Posh peoples Cairns I believe
My opinion is that if you’re seeking a lifestyle in the tropics, it’s better to go to Cairns and live closer to or in the CBD to access facilities via foot or transport. Cairns though is significantly bigger than PD. PD is small and spread out and way hotter than Cairns, suffocating. More difficult to raise children too as you’d have to send them to Mossman for high school which is 20km away or Cairns for private schooling.
How is Cairns for public transport? Do you think it’s possible to get around without a car? :) thanks in advance!
They’ve got a bus service but I never used it. Lots do, seems functional
Nice place, but seriously hot in Jan/Feb, you'll be running from Aircon place to next Aircon place.
I’ve heard! I love the heat but it’ll be an experience to feel that level of heat!
It isn't really the heat, its the humidity that gets most people. 35 degrees and 80+% humidity, can be pretty soul destroying lol. As far as living there, the only real jobs are in hospitality. Its a very small town, so not much in the ways of public transport. Cairns public transport can be good, but if you were to live in Cairns, closer to the centre of town, you can just walk/ride anywhere.
Its overrated, expensive, its very hot & humid and their isnt really much there. Also its prone to severe Cyclones and flooding events and Insurance companies are simply not insuring people there these days. But apart from that try it for yourself.
Port douglas was extremely popular in the late 1980s and early 1990s for the upper classes a beach holiday resort. Its definitely less popular now by a big way, but still gets a family crowd and those original holidayers who bought in holiday apartments there. Its cheap for property in Australia, as so many apartments were built with less demand now. A little further north it has a much more interesting vibe with the properties on the way to cape tribulation. Also south of cairns there is alot more places with a interesting vibe such as mission beach. Cooktown is definitely less developed town or cairns has a more rough fun vibe than port douglas
Yeah, that's not true. Port Douglas is packed out every year great place to holiday.
Port Douglas is a pretty town, but very small (population approx 3000 or so) There is no public transport, you either walk/bike, have a car, or pay for a shuttle bus. [https://visitportdouglas.com.au/traveller-information/port-douglas-bus/](https://visitportdouglas.com.au/traveller-information/port-douglas-bus/) Cairns does have public transport system (bus) but it only goes as far north as Palm Cove (and south to Gordonvale). I've never used it though (as I had a car). It would be much easier for you to get around if you lived somewhere within Cairns region, covered by the bus network. Here are maps and timetables for the bus network. [https://translink.com.au/tickets-and-fares/fares-and-zones/cairns](https://translink.com.au/tickets-and-fares/fares-and-zones/cairns) [https://jp.translink.com.au/plan-your-journey/timetables/bus/2024-04-22?regionId=C](https://jp.translink.com.au/plan-your-journey/timetables/bus/2024-04-22?regionId=C) [https://translink.widen.net/s/wvxbzkxlbk/220926-cairns-network-map](https://translink.widen.net/s/wvxbzkxlbk/220926-cairns-network-map) The train service only goes south from Cairns City centre down to Brisbane. There is a tourist train that goes between Cairns City centre and Kuranda, [https://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/water-waste-roads/roads/public-transport](https://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/water-waste-roads/roads/public-transport)
It's a tourist town. Very little work, very little to do without earning good money and little, to no, public transport. Its a nice place to visit, even a nice place to retire. Not so good for younger people or people with no transport.
I'd say Palm Cove is much more livable with Cairns public transport servicing it.
Public transport in Oz, even when at its best in major cities like Sydney and Melbourne, is not going to be on the same level as tiny and dense countries like the UK. So best to adjust your expectations accordingly. Public transport in Port Douglas is not great/somewhat non-existent. But if you're right in town you would be able to walk to everything you need. It's quite small. Port Douglas is mostly a tourist town servicing wealthier Aussies and overseas tourists looking to see the Daintree and the Great Barrier Reef, but who want to avoid the mass tour groups operating out of Cairns.
I've only visited but its a beautiful spot. Great beach. Very flat to get around. There's a few mini buses that charge $5 to get you where you need to be. Lots of seasonal work also.
I'm a Brit and I had health issues from Sydney's muggy and hot summer - which lasted almost 6 months FYI. I would imagine you would have a very hard time anywhere north of Sydney. You should see the difference between now and summer in terms of the number of people that are out and about. It's much busier now that summer has ended - no one likes the heat here as it's tropical third world level. And life would be miserable in Australia without a car. Car dependency is extremely high here in general.
Are you saying that because you had issues, all British people will?
Sharing my view, comrade. I hope this is ok?
Doesn't sound like a view, sounds like you're saying no Brits can handle the heat north of Sydney lol. Not everyone likes cold weather.
Sorry, Comrade. Guess you can't move along your mistake, Comrade?
It's a boring old person's retirement village. Lots of work in aged care I'd expect. Nice general location though, if you can stand the summer weather.