Cheap Car Rental in Port Douglas

Car Rental in Port Douglas: exploring the natural wonders of the Great Barrier Reef

Port Douglas is an excellent base for exploring the natural wonders of northern Queensland. Even though trips to the Great Barrier Reef are likely to be the main reason for your visit to Port Douglas, make a point of driving out to Daintree National Park as well, located just 23 km east of the city. See even more of the northern Queensland coast by heading to the remote headland of Cape Tribulation, just 90 kilometers north of Port Douglas. Make the most of your travels through northern Queensland by booking your rental car today!

Summer months are very hot in Port Douglas, making the cooler winter months of May through September much more comfortable for a visit, though these months are also the region’s peak tourist season. Summer temperatures November through March typically linger around a high of 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit).

The de facto official language of Australia is English, which is also the language spoken by the majority of Port Douglas’s residents. Djabugay is the Aboriginal family language spoken in and around Port Douglas.

Port Douglas is in the Australian Eastern Standard Time Zone, UTC+10 or +11 during Daylight Savings Time.

The currency is the Australian dollar and credit cards are widely accepted throughout the country.

Car hire is available in downtown Port Douglas.

While you’ll definitely want to spend some time taking a road trip north to Cape Tribulation via Daintree National Park, there’s even more to see in the area. For a brief visit to a bigger city, head south to Cairns along the gorgeous coastal Captain Cook Highway. For a real change of scenery, head inland from Cairns to Atherton (80 km), and if you have a week or two to spare, continue along Highway 1 into Australia’s Red Centre.

Visa Regulations

All visitors to Australia require a visa to enter the country, except those coming from New Zealand. Depending on your country of citizenship, you can apply for these visas online for a fee of $20 to $130; be sure to only visit government websites for these applications in order to avoid surcharges and other fees. Some nationalities will have to apply for a visa via a paper application at an Australian embassy. Double check regulations for your nationality before you confirm your travel plans.

Driving in Port Douglas

Unlike in big cities, driving and parking in Port Douglas is fairly simple. In fact, a car will greatly improve your visit to this small tourist town, as it increases your mobility and gives you the opportunity to explore northern Queensland in comfort and with ease. Book your rental car today!

Left-Hand Driving

• Traffic drives on the left-hand side of the road throughout Australia.

Speed Limits

• In the city: 50 km/h
• On the highway: 110 km/h
• Speed is strictly regulated by speed cameras throughout Australia.

Other Regulations

1. Parking is plentiful and free throughout Port Douglas!
2. If your domestic driver’s license has been issued in a language other than English, an international driver’s permit will be necessary to rent a car in Australia.
3. The only tolled motorways in Queensland are located around Brisbane, almost 2000 km south of Port Douglas.
4. The minimum driving age in Queensland is as young as 16 years, though most rental companies will require that you are at least 21 years old to rent a car, and you are likely to face young-driver surcharges until the age of 25.

Cheap Car Rental in Port Douglas

Car hire in Port Douglas typically starts at around $35 a day. Here are some of the best deals in Port Douglas:

• Holden Captiva or similar (standard class) – $39/day
• Toyota Camry or similar (fullsize class) – $41/day
• Holden Commodore or similar (fullsize class) – $42/day
• Toyota Yaris or similar (economy class) – $47/day
• Toyota Corolla or similar (standard class) – $48/day

Note that prices vary depending on the availability of each specific car and the season in which you rent. For the most accurate offers, use the search bar above.

Tips for Renting a Car Inexpensively in Port Douglas

There is a seasonal variation of price for car hire in Port Douglas of around $15 a day. As soon as the peak tourist season of May through September ends, the daily price typically sinks from around $46 to below $30. If you’re planning to visit Port Douglas during the peak winter months, booking your car well in advance of your arrival is highly recommended to save as much money as possible!

Thrifty is the car rental company that typically offers the cheapest prices in Port Douglas, especially with the help of occasional discounts of up to 23%!

Particularly in the peak tourist season, you may be able to save money on car hire in Port Douglas by extending your rental period to over a week.