Playground

Rex Smeal Park is one of those spots Port Douglas locals actually use, not just somewhere tourists stumble across. The playground sits right near the beach, so it’s easy to let the kids run around while you figure out whether you’re up for a walk along the water afterward. There’s decent shade from the trees, which genuinely matters up here in the Queensland heat, and the open grass field gives everyone room to spread out. Parking is straightforward, the path is accessible, and it works for a pretty wide age range — little ones through to older kids who just want space to kick a ball.