Port Douglas Cruises – 5 Things kids will love about Lady Douglas!

Jun 20

[UPDATED JUNE 2022]

As we chugged up the river onboard the Lady Douglas with a beer in our hand (parents only) and our kids in major croc spotting mode I knew we had booked the right tour for the day.

**Cruising in style at Port Douglas onboard the Lady Douglas**

Out on the ocean the sea still raged and a strong wind warning remained in place. Up here in the mangroves barely a leaf stirred. I was more than happy to do a bit of calm water cruising after our epic trip to Agincourt Reef the day before. But don’t just take it from me that this is a great little cruise, here are 5 things our kids loved…..

1. The Boat!

**The Lady Douglas stands out in the Port Douglas Marina**

This quaint little paddle steamer looks like it could have cruised straight from the Island of Sodor (Thomas the Tank) and into the Port Douglas Marina. If your kids have gone beyond this stage (like mine) they will still be delighted – the Lady Douglas really does look like it’s chugged off a movie set from the good ol’ Huckleberry Finn days.

It’s not all about appearances though, there is plenty of room on this boat and I don’t know about you, but when I take kids on a tour it makes a big difference if they can move around! Sure there was lots of comfy spots to place your bottom but moving around the vessel wasn’t a major issue. In fact, when there was something to see it was encouraged. Which brings me to my next point…..

2. Eye Spy Games.

**Croc spotting in Dickson Inlet (I’m glad they spotted it!!) – Images by Charlie Mitchell**

What kid (or big kid at heart) doesn’t love a game of spot the critter. In this case the crew on Lady Douglas definitely have the upper hand when it comes to spotting a crocodile. They seem to know all the hotspots where the local ‘lizards’ lie AND they even have names for them!!

The good news is that because the boat is a regular the crocodiles rarely flinch when you come in nice and close for a better look. But don’t be expecting just crocs on this tour (and we were lucky because of overcast conditions, warming temperatures and a high tide) – expect to see a lot of bird life, the occasional fish and a whole lot of mangroves up the inlet.

**The kids enjoyed the ‘Can you spot….’ Activity sheet**

Thankfully, when you have a guide that tells you all about this amazing ecosystem, it helps to open your eyes to a whole new world. As we cruised up the mangrove channels, Skipper Lucas became a fascinating source of information and also shared a lot about the history of the area.

My kids were taking it all in, particularly my son who seemed more rapt with the yachts and half submerged wrecks than anything else.

Submerged wreck in Dickson Inlet – Image Charlie Mitchell

Checking out the views along the Port Douglas waterfront

And it wasn’t just a ‘wilderness’ cruise either – towards the end we ventured into the busy end of Dickson’s Inlet where all the working boats (reef and fishing vessels) dock. It was fun to be on the water checking out the small collection of riverfront restaurants and buildings that sit along the inlet of Port Douglas.

Lucas was once again a wealth of information and it was fascinating to hear how a sleepy little fishing village has transformed itself into the busy tourism hub that it is today.

3. Captain AHOY!

**The kids get a chance be skipper (some took it more seriously than others)**

This was probably one of the major highlights for our kids as they were given the chance to ‘drive’ the boat for a while. It was a great experience for them and it wasn’t just a token hand placed on the steering wheel.Skipper Lucas gave them the opportunity to sit in the captain's chair and navigate their way down the channel for a while (thankfully we were going slow!). The real youngsters were given a chance to sit in the wheelhouse and wear the cap – just like a real sailor would ;) .

4. A FREE drink.

**Can you spot the FREE drink (the kids didn’t waste anytime!!)**

This easily kept my kids happy (and me!). It doesn’t matter where we go OR what time of day it is, my kids always seem to be ‘thirsty’ or have a severe case of the munchies. Thankfully I didn’t have to give them the big ‘NO you can wait’ lecture – onboard the Lady Douglas there was the offer of a free drink when we first boarded, and later on, a platter of food was presented for everybody to share.

5. Calm Waters.

**Charlie taking in the view from Lady Douglas.**

Lets face it, not every body travels as well as my family. The day before we braved the strong wind warning and ventured out to the Great Barrier Reef (Click HERE to see how we fared).

If you have children and they have a tendency towards travel sickness then you’ll love this little cruise. There was barely a ripple on the surface as we explored the upper inlet of Port Douglas, and it really was blowing out on the ocean that day.

If you have kids and are visiting Port Douglas then this tour is a ‘must-do’. If you’re visiting Port as a romantic getaway then I suggest you do this cruise too, just make sure you book the ‘sunset’ cruise instead.

With your complimentary drink as you board, the friendly staff, the gentle cruising speeds and the ease of getting around the boat and meeting other people that are in a similar holiday mode, this little cruise certainly helps sets the scene for a chilled day (or evening).

Good Things to Know:

The Lady Douglas operates a couple of times a day but the morning cruise seems to be a popular one for families. The sunset cruise is best suited for adults.
The Lady Douglas has wheelchair and buggy access, and a toilet onboard.
The cruise lasts 1½ hours and includes a complimentary drink and snacks. Extra drinks are available to purchase from a fully licensed bar.
You can hop onboard the Lady Douglas at the Port Douglas Marina Mirage.
The Lady Douglas is available for charter and is popular for children birthday parties and weddings.
Our kids received a ‘Can you see….’ colouring page which helped keep them focused during our trip.