Guide To Cairns Beaches.
A chain of relaxed seaside villages lay just north of Cairns, each boasting their own unique features. Find out more about each of Cairns’ beaches and which tickle your fancy. Cairns, a waterfront city, with grassy lawns, restaurants, bars, sport and recreation areas and a 4800m² lagoon along the Esplanade. The city itself doesn’t feature a beach so if you’re looking to escape to a typical beach location with sandy shores sprinkled with palm trees and swimming areas you’ll need to head north to one of Cairns’ Northern Beaches. Free barbecues are available along most foreshores, encouraging visitors and locals alike to spend more time outside enjoying the tropics. Swim only at beaches patrolled by a lifeguard and between the flags or in the stinger nets during the summer months.
Palm Cove
Where to start other than the most iconic of Cairns’ beaches, Palm Cove. Famed as much for its palm trees as its 500-year-old melaleuca trees, Palm Cove is the ultimate idyllic seaside village, perfectly located between both Cairns and Port Douglas. Glamorous resorts and day spas share the shores with a mixture of fine dining, cafes and a couple of ice cream parlours thrown in for good measure.
Ellis Beach
Five minutes north of Palm Cove, you’ll round a corner on the Captain Cook Highway and a postcard-perfect scene will greet you. Over the tranquil waters and behind a string of coconut trees looms an impressive rainforest clad mountain. With a total population of 24 people, no buildings interrupt your view for they are few and far between and hidden amongst the trees.
Machans Beach
Machans Beach is a local’s seaside suburb and the closest beach to Cairns. If you’re looking to sunbake on the sand, Machans probably isn’t your top choice with the beach lined with a rock wall but it’s great for a waterfront walk at any time. Many locals are partial to wetting a line along the beach or in the nearby creeks and rivers.
Trinity Beach
Nestled between two headlands is a favoured local hangout, Trinity Beach. Beach almonds dotted between coconut trees provide shady hangouts to lounge on the sand between swims. Trinity Beach is perfect for active travellers with walking tracks along the waterfront and headlands or the more challenging 1km steep climb to the summit of Earl Hill.
Holloways Beach
Holloways Beach is the second closest beach to Cairns CBD, only 15mins drive north, and the closest patrolled beach. It’s a sleepy seaside village featuring a range of cafes and restaurants. Locals craft-makers and food vendors congregate along the foreshore on the second Sunday of every month at the Holloways Beach Markets with many people and their furry pals heading down to check out the goods on sale.
Yorkeys Knob
Yorkeys Knob is the hidden treasure you didn’t know you were searching for. This beachside community is a great base for families, only 7mins drive from the major shopping centre at Smithfield, including movie theatres, shopping, dining and supermarkets.
Kewarra Beach
If woodfired pizzas and live music below a string of fairy lights on the beach sounds like your cup of tea, then look no further than Kewarra Beach. The Beach Shack nestled among coconut trees on the sands of the beach. It’s an idyllic spot to watch the day fade into night as people wander by on their afternoon strolls throwing sticks for their dogs to retrieve.
Clifton Beach
This hideaway is an unspoilt locals beach with with a large supermarket just up the road, pick up some supplies and make your way down to one of the free barbecues along the beach, guaranteed to be peaceful waterfront meal. Take to two wheels on a leisurely 3km bike ride along the foreshore between Clifton Beach and Palm Cove. It’s the the ideal spot for sunrise invoking those true tropical vibes you were searching for.
Driving Guide
With so many roundabouts on the way to the Northern Beaches, use this handy guide to get your bearings and finding the beach you’re after.