Cairns' Northern Beaches

A 26 kilometre sweep of golden sands, blue waters and palm trees, and with the Great Barrier Reef providing a natural barrier from dangerous surf so common to many beaches, Cairns' Northern Beaches are considered to have the best beach and bathing conditions in the region. Add to that warm seas and a backdrop of rainforest clad mountains and, well, one could be forgiven for believing this is paradise.

Closest to Cairns city centre, Machans Beach and Holloways Beach have a definite funky atmosphere, and are favourites with the locals more so than the tourists.

Travelling north, the beach at Yorkeys Knob features an excellent marina, yacht club and golf course. It is the closest beach to the service centre of Smithfield, and also to the world class attractions of Skyrail Rainforest Cableway and the Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park.

Trinity Beach is a palm fringed cove framed by twin headlands and offers excellent holiday apartments by the sea and beach hire of recreational equipment. Kewarra Beach is world renowned for its eco-friendly resort, set well back off the highway.

Clifton Beach, rapidly developing as a prime residential suburb, is sought after by the locals, whereas Palm Cove has proved to be very popular amongst those who appreciate the laid back village ambience.
The 'Cove' is blessed with world class resorts set amongst the melaleuca trees, and a picturesque esplanade, featuring a bevy of acclaimed cosmopolitan restaurants, cafes, galleries, spas and shops, looking across the golden sands to the Coral Sea.

Around the headland from Palm Cove, Ellis Beach with giant mango trees overhanging the highway, has an excellent public beach and absolute beachfront caravan park.

For the active, watersports equipment is available for hire at many of the beaches, and 'stinger' resistant enclosures are in use at Holloways, Yorkeys Knob, Trinity, Kewarra, Palm Cove and Ellis Beach (November to May).

For the less active, seeking a more passive holiday, this is the place to relax in the shade of a palm tree, explore the tidal creeks flowing through the mangrove forests, or take a leisurely walk by moonlight to a beachside restaurant.

Regular scheduled bus services operate between the Northern Beaches and Cairns city centre, and many tour operators include pickups from Northern Beaches accommodation. Palm Cove jetty is also a pickup point for three of the reef cruises operators on their way out to the Great Barrier Reef.

Australia’s Spa Capital - Palm Cove

Not only an unspoilt tropical beach suburb of Cairns on one of the most beautiful coastlines in Australia, Palm Cove now has what we have all be waiting for - a plethora of internationally recognised wellbeing spas. Here is the place to relax, reharmonise, re-energise and rejuvenate one's mind, body and soul for just a day or for a complete holiday.

Just 25 minutes north of central Cairns, Palm Cove is the beachside village that captures the very best of Tropical North Queensland. The inaugural winner of Australia's Cleanest Beach, this palm-fringed golden sandy shore beckons as majestic melaleuca trees stand tall against a striking backdrop of magnificent rainforest covered mountains.

The cosmopolitan beachside village is a special destination for visitors from around the globe, and is perfectly positioned for exploring the wonders of the tropics. Casual yet sophisticated, Palm Cove is a magical destination which is quietly coming of age with not only award-winning restaurants and superb accommodation options, but it is also emerging as the 'Spa Capital of Australia'.

Palm Cove now boast six spas. The Reef House Spa set amongst the Melaleuca trees at the well known Sebel Reef House and the Angsana Spa, overlooking the magnificent Coral Sea, were both named as two of the best spas in the world in 2005. Voted No 1 & No 2 respectively for the Overseas Hotels Australasia, South Pacific Category by the prestigious travel magazine Condé Naste Traveler. Six restaurants in the village are listed in Australia Gourmet Travellers Restaurant Guide - The Top 200 Restaurants in Australia.

Palm Cove also has a quaint shopping centre boasting clothing boutiques, jewellery, opal and quality art galleries. Exotic tropical gems are created into the most imaginative pieces of jewellery at CGems on the Esplanade.

In Triton Street at the southern end of the Esplanade, the Helen Wiltshire Gallery exhibits a great range of Helen's own works, including originals on canvas, as well as prints in posters and limited editions as well as a wide range of works by other North Queensland artists.

At the jetty end of the beach, near the corner of Cedar Road is Village Gallery, Palm Cove's longest established art venue. Set in an idyllic location overlooking the beach and Double Island, the gallery displays the cream of local art work, including the stunning paintings of local scenes by foremost Palm Cove painter, Ian Stephens.
Bus transportation to and from Cairns and surrounding areas is regularly available as are hire cars; and most tour companies will provide courtesy transfers to and from Palm Cove.