Rex Smeal Park at a Glance
Rex Smeal Park is a large, shady waterfront park between the marina and the mouth of Dickson Inlet. It has picnic facilities, a children’s playground and wide lawns, and it is one of the best spots in town to watch the sunset. Local tip: bring a good book, relax in the shade and watch the boats come in and out of the marina.
“Rex Smeal Park feels like the town’s exhale, a wide, shaded lawn at the water’s edge where the pace drops, children run free, and the reef boats glide past on their way back in from the day.”
Rex Smeal Park — Picnics, Playgrounds and the Whole Horizon
Rex Smeal Park sits between the Crystalbrook Superyacht Marina and the mouth of Dickson Inlet, occupying one of the most pleasantly located parcels of public land in Port Douglas. It’s a broad, grassy park with mature shade trees, picnic facilities, a children’s playground and uninterrupted views across the water. For families, it’s the natural anchor to a Port Douglas day, somewhere to settle in the late afternoon, open a cold drink and watch the reef boats return from the Coral Sea.
A Favourite of Families and Locals
The playground at Rex Smeal Park is well-equipped and shaded, a genuine relief in the tropics. The lawns are large enough for ball games, and the park’s proximity to the marina means there’s always something to watch on the water. BBQ facilities and picnic tables make it a popular spot for longer stays. Early evening is particularly lovely, with the light softening over the inlet and the marina lights beginning to come on. Locals often gather here for impromptu social occasions, especially on weekends.
Gateway to the Marina Precinct
Rex Smeal Park connects naturally to the broader marina precinct, including Sugar Wharf and Hemingways Brewery. From the park you can walk along the foreshore to the wharf area, where reef tour operators are based and several restaurants and bars overlook the water. The park also sits at the end of the Rainforest Boardwalk route along Dickson Inlet, making it a natural endpoint for a scenic walk from town. Crabs are sometimes visible in the tidal areas at the park’s edge, another reminder that this is genuinely wild tropical Australia.
Plan Your Visit
Rex Smeal Park is free to visit and open at all times. Picnic tables and BBQ facilities are available. The park is a short walk from both Macrossan Street and the marina. For more on outdoor spaces around Port Douglas, visit our Port Douglas Attractions page or check the Traveller Information guide. A Hot Getaways destination. Where Care is Our Compass.
Travel Kindly
At Hot Getaways, care is our compass — and a little kindness makes every journey better. When you visit Port Douglas, we gently ask you to:
- Respect the wildlife — admire the birds, turtles and rainforest creatures from a distance, and take your rubbish home with you.
- Support local — choosing local operators, cafés and guides helps this beautiful town thrive.
- Honour Country — we travel on the traditional lands and sea Country of Australia’s First Peoples, with gratitude and respect to the Traditional Custodians past and present.
- Be kind to each other — a smile, a little patience and a helping hand make the day lovelier for everyone.
Small acts of care add up to something wonderful. Thank you for travelling kindly.
