Palm Cove in far north Queensland, is a small, pretty town located between Cairns and Port Douglas. Situated on the east coast, this holiday town is growing in popularity as a relaxing place to unwind. Especially for travellers escaping the cold winter weather in southern Australia, and wanting some quiet down time.
The demographic in Palm Cove is mostly older generations and young families. This beach side town is perfect for anyone in search of some much needed relaxation, in warm weather.
Post Douglas located 30 minutes north, is beautiful but is a bigger and busier, spread out town. Cairns, located 1 hour south of Palm Cove is a large city, with less pretty beach options.
Palm Cove is the perfect in-between town, easily accessible from Cairns airport and provides a unique holiday experience. The beach is pristine, lined by palm trees and almost every accommodation option has a pool to lounge by. A short stroll between breakfast, lunch or dinner options, without navigating parking is a draw card of this area.
Here are my recommendations of best things to do in Palm Cove, Queensland.
Palm Cove Sights
Wander south along Palm Cove beach, and you’ll find quiet uncrowded stretches of beach tucked away between houses. Ensure to keep an eye out for crocodiles when swimming outside of flags!
An alternative to the main Palm Cove beach, is Clifton Beach. This area is 5 minutes drive away for an even quieter experience.
Book your Palm Cove accommodation with a swimming pool. In the windier, winter months, lazing by a sheltered pool in the winter sun is highly recommended.
Climbing the north point rocks is a fun, free thing to do in Palm Cove for ultimate beach views.
Palm Cove Restaurants and Cafes
One of the best places to have a drink at is NuNu, a luxurious Palm Cove restaurant on the beach. Take in one of the many weddings or sunset views while the staff bring you complimentary appetizers.
My dinner recommendation is to eat as much pizza as possible at Il Forno, situated in the middle of town. The thin pizza bases and numerous toppings are delicious and the service is friendly.
Rattle and Hum in the heart of Palm Cove, has indoor/outdoor dining and a relaxed atmosphere. Grab a drink or snack in the afternoon. Or order from the bar and grill style dinner menu in the evening, including pizza’s, burgers and a kids menu. There is often live music at Rattle and Hum, adding to the holiday atmosphere.
Palm Cove Accommodation
There are many accommodation options in Palm Cove. We stayed at The Mantra Amphora, Palm Cove. This resort was ideal in spring as it was windy at that time of the year. When the beach was windy in the afternoons, we lay in the sun, by the sheltered swimming pool.
The Mantra Amphora have clean, modern hotel style rooms, all situated around a central lagoon style pool and lounge area. Despite being somewhat close to the social area, the rooms were quiet and private. The staff were happy to assist with anything and the whole experience was easy and relaxing. The cost to stay at The Mantra Amphora are considerably less than the surrounding hotels and retreats, while being in a great central location opposite the beach and near the main shops and restaurants.
Other top rated accommodation options are:
Peppers Beach Club: A luxury beach club, spa getaway with extremely modern and clean rooms with ocean views.
The Reef Retreat: Boutique accommodation set among the palm trees in the centre of Palm Cove.
Stayz Palm Cove: Stayz have alot of top quality holiday rentals in Palm Cove. The prices are higher than some other areas in Australia, which is not surprising as Palm Cove is considered a semi luxury destination.
Getting Around Palm Cove
Most experiences in Palm Cove can be reached by walking and almost everything in located in the one area and is easily accessible.
Other options are hiring a car from Cairns (if you are flying to Cairns airport), or taking one of the shuttle buses which run between Cairns, Palm Cove, and Port Douglas at around $25-30 per trip. These all require pre-booking. There are also Uber options in some areas.
Safety At Palm Cove
The two main attackers in Far North Queensland are Crocodiles and Stingers (Marine Jellyfish).
Crocodiles – Swim between the flags and talk to the lifeguards. In Palm Cove there is a beach board with daily weather, stinger, and croc updates and the lifeguards will clear the beach at any sighting.
Stingers – Take note of stinger season, what to keep a lookout for, and remedies (vinegar).
Conclusion
Palm Cove is an ideal place for anyone looking to relax, taking time from busy schedules, or the cold of the southern states of Australia. The small, pretty cove is easy to navigate with shops and restaurants all in close walking proximity. I honestly wouldn’t have visited Palm Cove if I didn’t have a recommendation from friends. I’m glad I didn’t pass this beautiful area by.
It’s very easy to get around Palm Cove and everything is at your doorstep for a fun and relaxing holiday. With the large choice of accommodation and dining options its hard not to relax here and really unwind. Palm Cove feels like it could never get overly crowded. The main road which lines the beach cove, is where the majority of all the accommodation and restaurants are located.
For the more adventurous, there are tours from Palm Cove to The Daintree Rainforest, Great Barrier Reef or spectacular waterfalls and forests in the area. All of these options makes Palm Cove one of the most accessible holiday destinations for families and groups from both interstate or overseas.
