“There is also the push factor of a cold, long winter down south – like last year’s – meaning more people are inclined to book a tropical getaway the following year,” he said.

Port Douglas Getaways offers the choice of quality holiday homes, apartments, hotels and resort style villas; and its properties are in a range of locations from absolute beachfront to private hideaway.


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In their quest to lure visitors to Port Douglas, Smith says his company have a number of ‘selling points’ which they use:

“The village atmosphere is a drawcard, with Four Mile Beach on one end with an easily accessible main street connecting to the Reef Marina. It’s convenient, you don’t have to battle traffic, and you’re surrounded by incredible natural beauty.

“We are perfectly positioned between the World Heritage-listed sites of the Daintree and the reef. The climate is also a huge draw card for our southern neighbours, with beautiful winters and predictable weather pretty much all-year round.

“Then throw in the range of restaurants, bars and boutiques which cater to a range of visitors, from couples to larger family groups. The laidback lifestyle is another huge plus for those who’ve lived most of their lives in a big city who are looking for a sea change, even if it’s only for a few weeks of the year,” said Smith.

He adds that if you compare what you can buy here, to what you could purchase in Melbourne or Sydney, then a luxury villa with a private pool, beach access or Coral Sea views, is a highly appealing option.

Smith said the major factors impacting holiday rental prices include location – specifically proximity to the beach and how close a rental is to town – the size of the home and the number of bedrooms, the property type, and facilities such as a private pool.

“We also find that holiday home renters tend to look for either a luxury property with all the modern conveniences, or they’re after a home with beach house charm.

“For holiday home owners, it’s about finding that sweet spot of not under-selling or over-selling. A hike of even $100 per night on a property can make a massive difference to the number of bookings. Likewise, setting the price too low can have people questioning what’s wrong with a property.”

Smuith said it’s not uncommon for renters to purchase their rental and interested buyers range from a retired couple, a couple close to retirement, or a family that visits annually, and they most likely already spend between two weeks to two months in Port Douglas.

“One of the main trends I’m noticing is that interest is often expressed after they’ve returned home from a Port Douglas holiday. They’ve experienced the laidback lifestyle and can appreciate everything the area has to offer.

“They’ve also had some time to gain a bit of perspective on how far their dollar can go here – that a house on Murphy Street with sweeping views is attainable – and they recognise the value in buying.

“Generally speaking, the interest in buying usually correlates with a strong tourism market when we have plenty of visitors in town from Sydney and Melbourne,” said Smith.

He said Port Douglas attracts a sophisticated market, with many repeat customers who generally respect the properties they are staying in.

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