How far is Port Douglas from Cairns?

About 67 km north along the Captain Cook Highway. Allow around an hour of driving without stops, longer if you pull over along the way — and you should.

How long do you need in Port Douglas?

Four to five hours is comfortable for the town itself: Four Mile Beach, Macrossan Street, lunch and the marina. If you're adding a reef or rainforest tour, the tour sets the schedule and you plan everything else around it.

Can you visit Port Douglas and the Daintree in the same day from Cairns?

You can, but it makes for a very long day and you'll see both badly. The Daintree tours that depart this region pick up in Port Douglas or Mossman, not Cairns — so a Daintree day from Cairns means getting north first, then a full-day tour, then getting back. Pick one as the priority.

What's the best stop between Cairns and Port Douglas?

Palm Cove if you want somewhere to eat and walk. Rex Lookout if you want the view. Most people who enjoy the drive do both.

Is it better to drive or book a transfer?

Drive if you want to stop wherever you like and set your own pace. Book a transfer if you're a family or group, if you want everyone in one vehicle, or if the day involves a tour with a fixed check-in time.

Do reef tours from Port Douglas depart from the same place?

Calypso's Low Isles and Outer Reef trips both leave from Crystalbrook Superyacht Marina in Port Douglas. Check-in is before departure, so build that into your travel time from Cairns.

Is Port Douglas better than Cairns?

Different, not better. Cairns is a working regional city with the airport, more tours and more choice. Port Douglas is smaller, quieter and closer to both the Daintree and the northern reef. Most visitors staying in Cairns find a day trip gives them enough of Port Douglas without moving hotels.

Palm Cove Wedding Guests: Airport Transport for Groups of Up to 8

Updated November 2026 · Ian Muir, The Guest Man, Cairns

The Guest Man Toyota Hiace airport transfer van

Short answer

For Palm Cove weddings, the easiest way to move guests is to group arrivals by flight and book one private transfer per group: up to 8 people with luggage for $141.90 on our Cairns Airport to Palm Cove transfer. Share the booking link with guests so each group can book its own, and plan departures the same way.

Palm Cove is one of the most popular wedding spots in Tropical North Queensland, and most guests fly in. Couples often end up as travel agents in the weeks before, answering "how do we get from the airport?" over and over. Here's a simple way to handle it.

Group guests by flight

Look at who's arriving on the same flight or within an hour of each other. Each group of up to eight can share one private transfer:

One price per group: $141.90 for the vehicle, so it's cheaper per person the fuller it is.
Flight tracked: if their flight is delayed, we adjust.
Luggage space: suits, dresses and suitcases fit in the Toyota Hiace.

Let guests book themselves

The easiest approach: send guests our booking page with a note on which flight group they're in. One person in each group books and pays, and adds the resort as the drop-off. Everyone gets a confirmation with a pickup map, so the couple doesn't have to coordinate on the day.

Busy wedding days

We run one van, so popular arrival times can fill up. Our booking form checks availability live and will suggest the nearest free time. If several groups land at once, book early, or call Ian to work out a run order. Guests arriving within the same hour can sometimes be combined into one trip.

Getting around on the day

Palm Cove's Williams Esplanade is compact, so most guests can walk between resorts and venues. For ceremonies elsewhere, or guests staying at Trinity Beach or Clifton Beach, a pre-booked transfer avoids last-minute taxi hunts. Ask us about the timings.

Departures after the wedding

The day after is when flights cluster. Book departure pickups the same way, grouped by flight, with pickups about 2 to 2.5 hours before domestic flights. See our Palm Cove departure guide for timing.

Planning a bigger group or a pre-wedding day trip to Kuranda or Port Douglas? Call Ian on 0447 979 674 and we'll help you plan the runs. Our Cairns airport shuttle page lists every route.

Common questions

How many guests fit in one transfer?

Up to 8 passengers with luggage per trip.

Can wedding guests each book their own transfer?

Yes. Share our booking link, and one person per flight group books and pays.

What if several groups land at the same time?

Book early. The form shows the nearest free time if a slot is taken, or call us to plan a run order.

Do you do transfers on the wedding day itself?

We can, subject to availability. Call to discuss times and locations.

Book wedding guest transfers

$141.90 per vehicle (up to 8) between Cairns Airport and Palm Cove. Share this link with your guests.

Book Airport → Palm Cove Call 0447 979 674

Cairns Airport to Palm Cove transfer
Taxi to Palm Cove: cost and alternatives
Kuranda for groups