The Best Honeymoon Destinations in Tropical North Queensland, Australia

Port Douglas

Port Douglas in Tropical North Queensland is one of Queensland's premier honeymoon destinations. Located just north of Cairns, Port Douglas offers a sophisticated and low-key escape for travellers from around the world. Port Douglas manages to retain an unpretentious and relaxed ambiance: you'll only find buildings up to three stories high, not much taller than the nearby palm trees, boutique clothing shops, and exquisite alfresco dining restaurants.

A visit to Four Mile Beach is essential where you can laze away the day on the pristine sand. Enjoy lunch at one of the many cafes or spend the afternoon shopping at the Marina Mirage. Port Douglas is also a popular base from which to explore the Great Barrier Reef and the rainforests of the Wet Tropics, Daintree, and Cape Tribulation.

There are numerous tours that embark from Port Douglas, many combining the adventure experiences of the Reef and the Wet Tropics. Accommodation options in Port Douglas offer a unique insight into the splendour of nature. Enjoy a massage to the sounds of the rainforest or the waves crashing on the beach, in Port Douglas it's all possible! Read on for some of our favourite accommodations.

Coconut Grove

A heavenly retreat awaits at Coconut Grove, one of Tropical North Queensland’s most luxurious Port Douglas accommodations. Situated just 140m (460 feet) from magnificent Four Mile Beach, divine views of rainforest, mountains and blue seas can be enjoyed in absolute privacy from a choice of glamorous self-contained holiday apartments. For the ultimate honeymoon treat, choose from either the Terrace or Penthouse Apartments and luxuriate in the privacy of your own​ ​sun-drenched swimming pool, cool spa and

outdoor entertaining and barbecue area. Coconut Grove offers a honeymoon upgrade package which includes French champagne and a one hour couples massage.

Thala Beach Nature Reserve

Thala Beach Nature Reserve is a deluxe eco and wildlife retreat containing 58 hectares (140 acres) of native forest adjacent to secluded Oak Beach, only 16km (10 miles) south of Port Douglas. Thala has proudly achieved the highest accreditation of eco-certification through sustainable practices and environmental sensitivity. Boutique timber bungalows are built high on stilts within the forest canopy providing a private and unobtrusive approach to nature. ​

The property features an organic coconut plantation and natural swimming pools formed by granite boulders and waterfalls. Free guided nature tours are available and include tree planting, stargazing at an outdoor observatory, beach discovery, wildlife walks and bird-watching tours. Thala also offers elopement packages for those who want to go seamlessly from wedding to honeymoon!

Suggested itinerary to visit Port Douglas

For two of our favourite Port Douglas based honeymoon itineraries, have a look at our 7 Day Tropics of North Queensland Honeymoon Package and our 7 Day Pure Port Douglas Honeymoon Package. ​Relax under the tropical sun with your special someone, by the resort pool or on Port Douglas’s Four Mile Beach. Explore the local area with featured highlight activities including snorkeling, sailing and cultural experiences.

The Daintree Rainforest

The Daintree Rainforest is a region located on the northeast coast of Queensland, north of Mossman and Cairns. At around 1,200 square kilometres, the Daintree is a part of the largest continuous area of tropical rainforest on the Australian continent. The World Heritage listed region is so beautiful that its ancient ferns, emerald green vines, and lush canopy provided inspiration for the movie Avatar.

Here, you can trek through the jungle and discover plants and animals found nowhere else on the planet. Fly through the trees on a zip-line for a bird’s-eye view. Cruise along the winding waterways of the Daintree River, looking for saltwater crocodiles.

And head to Cape Tribulation, where the rainforest meets the reef. When Sir David Attenborough calls something “the most extraordinary place on earth”, you know it must be good.

Daintree Ecolodge

Daintree Ecolodge, situated in the heart of the magnificent Daintree Rainforest, offers sustainable luxury in a breathtaking location. This tropical rainforest retreat is the only boutique accommodation in the World-Heritage listed Daintree Rainforest, boasting 15 eco-friendly treehouses in an awe-inspiring setting which will revitalise all your senses. Wake up to the sound of the birds in the canopy above, take in the majesty of the

ancient tropical wilderness and discover the Ecolodge’s private and pristine waterfall on a leisurely walk through the enchanting rainforest. Unique activities on offer include river drift snorkelling down the Mossman River, cultural adventures, gourmet lunch hampers for a picnic adventure, helicopter flights, sunset sailing, guided rainforest walks, or perhaps just enjoy the ultimate in relaxation at the Daintree Wellness Spa.

Silky Oaks Lodge

Silky Oaks Lodge offers guests a stylish escape in the cool calm of the Daintree Rainforest. Set above the gently flowing Mossman River and among the leafy canopy, the airy, open spaces of the main lodge envelope guests in the sights and sounds of an extraordinary natural theatre.

The new-look Silky Oaks Lodge is set to launch in October 2021, and we are very excited to see what parent company Baillie Lodges does with this spectacular retreat. Silky Oaks Lodge is set on 32 hectares (80 acres) of pristine rainforest, 60 minutes drive from Cairns and 20 minutes from Port Douglas.

A menu of bespoke and special interest experiences with premium local operators is on offer for exploring further afield, such as sailing, scuba diving, private reef charters, art workshops, helicopter tours, mountain biking, cooking classes, yoga, and Daintree River cruises. Our pick is the generously spacious Billabong Suite, with your very own extensive deck with a daybed, hammock, and edgeless plunge pool overlooking the Mossman River.

Suggested itinerary to visit the Daintree Rainforest

For the most perfect honeymoon for those who wish to take in a few select destinations, have a look at our ​9 Day Tropical North Queensland Holiday​ Itinerary, which can be customised to include luxurious accommodations including either the Daintree Ecolodge or Silky Oaks Lodge.

Cairns and Palm Cove

Cairns is framed by the spectacular twin backdrops of rainforest mountain ranges and the sparkling Coral Sea. The World Heritage-listed Wet Tropical Rainforest, Great Barrier Reef and the Outback are all within easy reach. Cairns is both an adventure and nature lover's paradise. From white-water rafting to bungy jumping and skydiving, you'll find the perfect activity to suit your penchant, and with hundreds of tours visiting the Great Barrier Reef each year, you're sure to find one, or a couple, to try.

A short drive north of Cairns is Palm Cove, a unique and relaxing village by the Coral Sea where centuries-old paperbark Melaleuca trees line the casual esplanade. Its relaxed and sophisticated atmosphere makes Palm Cove the perfect beachside holiday, honeymoon or destination wedding location. You will fall in love with this tropical paradise and never want to leave!

Alamanda Palm Cove

Alamanda Palm Cove is barefoot luxury at its very best, where you will step out of your enormous suite onto golden sands with sweeping views of the Coral Sea. Spend your honeymoon beside one of the three beautiful pools (one is even adults only), at the award-winning day spa, and indulge your senses at the in-house restaurant. Set against a backdrop of endless turquoise waters underneath swaying coconut palms, Alamanda Palm Cove is a perfect tropical hideaway for your honeymoon.

Suggested itinerary to visit Cairns

There are islands and then there are the islands of Tropical Northern Queensland, which are among the most beautiful in the world. Our ​9 Day Cairns and Port Douglas Highlights​ itinerary explores two natural World Heritage sites, ancient rainforests, and three islands in the Great Barrier Reef as well as a 4WD tour through the Daintree Rainforest to Cape Tribulation and much more.

The Reef House

The Reef House is an iconic boutique hotel overlooking the Coral Sea in the tropical village of Palm Cove. Relax in the adult’s only pool, revive with yoga, aqua aerobics and cocktail-making classes or rejuvenate in the multi-awarded Reef House Day Spa.

Finish your day with complimentary drinks and canapés served in the Brigadier’s lounge before dining under the stars in the awarded Reef House restaurant. The unique colonial style is befitting the houses’ rich history, reflected in its white plantation-style buildings and cool South Pacific decor. Nestled amongst lush gardens and emerald pools you’ll immediately feel at home in luxury rooms, suites and apartments.

Great Barrier Reef Islands

Rich in biodiversity and natural wonder, the World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest coral reef system, stretching from the tip of Cape York in Queensland’s north, all the way to Bundaberg in the south. From rocky outcrops, to sprawling national parks of untouched rainforest, to exclusive private resorts fringed with powder-white beaches, the islands of the Great Barrier Reef are as diverse as the life below the waterline. With 3000 separate reefs and over 900 continental islands and coral cays, the Great Barrier Reef is home to some of the world’s best dive and snorkel sights, with a myriad of marine life you won’t find anywhere else on earth.

Spend your time exploring its breathtaking beauty by snorkelling fringing reefs off tropical islands, diving the kaleidoscope of corals and marine life of the outer reefs, or seeing the vast magnificence from above in a helicopter or seaplane.

Lizard Island Resort

As the northernmost resort on the Great Barrier Reef, and a luxury lodge of Australia, Lizard Island is truly secluded from the rest of the world. The hour flight from Cairns allows you to take in the true majesty and scale of the reef, and the resort is literally on the reef - no long boat rides are needed to enjoy one of the greatest natural wonders of the world. Your stay at Lizard Island Resort is all-inclusive and for each day you spend on the island, you'll enjoy gourmet meals, deluxe picnic hampers, use of clearview sea kayaks and paddle boards, and your own in-room minibar - restocked daily. All of the Lizard Island Resort rooms and suites offer serene luxury and a private location on the Great Barrier Reef in which to enjoy your honeymoon.

Green Island Resort

Warm tropical skies overhead, the Great Barrier Reef at your feet, gourmet dining and luxurious accommodation - welcome to beautiful Green Island Resort! Just 45 minutes by boat from Cairns, indulge in luxury, adventure and island romance in a natural wonderland. Fill your day with adventure or relaxation. Dive, snorkel, windsurf, explore the island, tour the outer reef or indulge in the delights the resort has to offer. There are a wide range of included and optional activities for guests to enjoy, including complimentary sunset drinks and a guided night walk. Green Island and its surrounding waters are an important and protected marine park. Filled with vibrant bird and coral reef marine life, there is much to explore, and find out what makes the resort one of the most eco-friendly in the world.

East Bedarra Island Retreat

You’ll feel a million miles away at secluded Bedarra Island, a private island off the coast of Mission Beach, two hours drive south of Cairns. Bedarra Island’s seclusion, luxury accommodation, year round warmth and unsurpassed beauty is what makes it one of the best honeymoon destinations in Australia. The beach villa is all yours during your honeymoon and it is right on the inviting waters of the Great Barrier Reef between two secluded palm-fringed coves. You’ll feel like castaways in your own private paradise where the only footprints in the sand will be yours. Just steps away from the Honeymoon Suite is your private pool – a tidal rock pool that replenishes with saltwater with every tide. Colourful reef fish and sea turtles are your only neighbours. At night, cocktail in hand, you can relax in the pool beneath a starry sky or enjoy your 3D moonlight cinema. East Bedarra Island Retreat is the ultimate private honeymoon destination.

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