Travelling with a toddler

Words by Stacey Brown

Three words that can strike fear in the heart of any seasoned sightseer, forget the likes of “Everest Base Camp” or “Hike Machu Picchu” or even “Silent Yoga Retreat”. These little words are so bone crushingly terrifying they deserve their own acronym. I’m talking about Travelling. With. Toddlers. TWT. It could stand for Totally Weird Trip? Tearaway will Tantrum? But fear not! It doesn't have to be so.

Not only can travelling with a toddler be a pain free experience, but it can also be pure joy and wonder! Seriously! The task at hand just requires a little research, a tiny bit of preparation and a heavy dose of optimism and can-do attitude.

We’ve done the heavy lifting for you here, so get that flight booked, and bring the Two-year-old with you. You’ll be fine! (That’s also an acronym that stands for Freaked out, Insecure, Neurotic and Emotional… As I said, you’ll be fine)

Here are our tips on terrific trips with your totally awesome toddler

First things first, you have to get to the sunny shores of Port Douglas and that most likely involves a flight of at least 2 hours duration. Let’s get off to a good start, shall we?
For starters give yourself an extra hour to negotiate check in and security, this trip you will have a tiny person who is enthralled with this incredible airport and all the people, so prepare for a little exploration and a slow walking pace.

It will be a much more relaxed journey if you’re not under the pump. A bonus here is you can REALLY tire them out in the departure lounge. The other two keys are snacks and distractions (the cure to most problems in life). Pack some interesting snacks, books and toys. Stuff they haven't seen or read yet will keep them entertained as long as possible. But also, be prepared to walk the aisle for the duration of the flight. Ha! Sorry, that's just life, baby.

A savvy choice of accommodation is vital to making sure your trip is as easy as possible. Depending on where your tot is in their walking development, stairs could be a big factor. If you’re still hovering around stairwells waiting to catch a curious climber, perhaps consider requesting a ground floor room. Ditto if your pram is still a vital piece of kit. The pool area is your second most important consideration, because it's likely you’ll be spending A LOT of time there. With literally acres of pools in Port Douglas the choice is almost endless.

A couple of our toddler friendly favourites include Peppers Beach Club, with an actual sandy beach without any of the stress of the beach. Featuring a fantastic in-house restaurant and bar, it's perfect for when you just don’t have the stamina for a wander round town.

If a smaller, family run hotel is more your scene, Bay Villas offers full self-contained apartments, making preparation of meals for fussy little ones just that bit more straight-forward.

Now If you’ve moseyed into town on 4 wheels, the Big4 is a hidden gem, located on lush parkland in Mowbray, 7km from the centre of town. With cabins, villas, powered and unpowered grass sites, it features a pool and splash park, playground pedal cars and giant jumping pillow.

Depending on the size of your family, budget and requirements (and whether your kids have a hotel appropriate inside voice), a whole villa may suit your needs. With companies like Getaways and Executive Retreats offering stacks of options for every budget, you are spoilt for choice and can really make yourself at home.

DINING

Hemingways
There’s something mesmerising about a marina. Kids just love watching the boats mooring, the birds overhead and spotting the abundance of tiny fish below and with an award-winning selection of craft beers located on the boardwalk at Hemingways Brewery, the parents seem to enjoy it too. Offering Burgers, pizzas and snacks from 5pm, it’s a menu that will appeal to both the kids and parents.

The Beach Shack
Located on a breezy corner of Four Mile, is locals favourite The Beach Shack. For over twenty years the Beach Shack has been providing locals and visitors with a haven of good food and good vibes a stones-throw from the quiet southern end of Four Mile Beach. Offering delicious authentic Italian pizzas, plus coffee, breakfast and lunch, “the Shack” is open 7am-10pm daily. It’s a perfect stop in after an afternoon making sandcastles and playing in nearby Four Mile Park.

With a great kid’s menu, fun activity packs to entertain and a million-dollar view over Dickson Inlet, the Tin Shed, ticks all the toddler boxes! The impressive seafood platter or fresh oysters pairs beautifully with a bottle of bubbles and a perfect sunset over the mountains. Treat the whole family and relax as the kids watch the boats sail by.

ACTIVITIES

Cane Toad Racing
Port Douglas’ famous Cane Toad Racing Show is a truly unique experience, and one certain to elicit some screams of delight and disgust! Your chance to smooch a warty winner, the comedic ‘dinner and a show’ will entertain the adults as much as the kids. Paired with fantastic Italian food and wood fired pizza from the team at Chillys Pizza, it’s a night out for the whole family. Show commences at 6pm (doors open 5pm) Tuesday to Saturday. Bookings are essential.

Lady Douglas
For Port Douglas’s most family friendly boat cruise, you can’t go past the Lady Douglas. The iconic riverboat has been taking visitors on tours of the tranquil Dickson Inlet since 1989. With no swell, there's no chance for upset tummies, but a very good chance of encountering some of Far North Queensland’s most famous wildlife, in fact Crocs are spotted on 90% of the tours. Featuring pram access, covered seating and a licensed bar is an absolute winner of an outing for the kids and parents.

The Wildlife Habitat is an absolute parent saviour, just ask any local parents! It's an immersive wildlife experience right in Port Douglas that your toddler is bound to love! Stroll through multiple unique habitats, get up close (and safely) to a Saltwater Crocodile, hand feed cute marsupials or enjoy breakfast with the birds in this award-winning, eco-certified nature park. You could visit here every day of your trip, and I guarantee it would delight on the 5th day as much as the first.

Now if all this organised fun has left you reeling, and you’re just yearning for a sit (aren’t all toddler parents just yearning to sit quietly for a while) there's nothing quite like the humble park playground. I’m sure we’re all deeply familiar, countless hours spent at the swings, seemingly days hanging around the slide, park benches developing a unique parent shaped groove. Well, it's no different on holidays!

Grab a coffee and tire the kids out without spending a dime. With playgrounds dotted around town, you’re usually within a short walk. Rex Smeal Park is the big daddy on the scene, having just been completed in 2024, there’s giant fig trees, BBQs, incredible coral sea views and public toilets right nearby.

Just a short stroll toward Market Park and you’ll find another playground nestled in near St Mary’s by the Sea, particularly hopping on a Sunday morning during the famed Port Douglas Markets.

If you’ve hired an Airbnb or house for your stay, then Hutchings Park in Port Gardens might be your most convenient option. Located on a huge open field, perfect for sports and balls, there's a covered BBQ and seating area plus public toilets.
Bruno Reidweg Park is a hidden gem off the end of Solander Boulevard, it has Four Mile beach access, two separate playgrounds and a BBQ area, with public toilets just a short walk away.

And then of course, Four Mile Park playground. With adults’ exercise equipment, showers and toilets and BBQs it’s also a hot spot for Port’s kite surfing community. The kids will be enthralled with the action on the water just metres away.

And finally, the cornerstone of all parent-toddler relations, bribery. Lucky for you there is an abundance of sweet treats throughout Port Douglas that will tame even the most unruly youngster. On Macrossan Street you’ll find Shakes Gelati Bar, Wicked Ice Cream, Capannina all offering a mouth-watering selection. Down at the Crystalbrook Marina is Choo Choos Ice Creamery tucked in behind Choo Choos Cafe.

If it's too early for ice cream (is that possible?), try Nectar Acai Bar for divine acai bowls, smoothie bowls, freshly squeezed juices & superfood boosted smoothies. So, mouth wateringly delicious they will never know it’s good for them too!

There you have it! TWT, travel with toddlers, not only is it possible, but it’s also going to stand for a Totally Wonderful Trip