Palm Cove: Getting There From Cairns Airport and Making the Most of It

Palm Cove is often the first place I suggest to guests who want a beach base close to the airport but don't want to stay in the city. It is quieter than Cairns, closer than Port Douglas and has a character of its own.

Where Palm Cove is

Palm Cove sits on the Captain Cook Highway about 25 kilometres north of Cairns Airport. In normal traffic the drive takes around 25 minutes. It is one of Cairns' Northern Beaches, but it feels more like a small resort village than a suburb.

Getting from Cairns Airport to Palm Cove

Because the trip is short, the choice usually comes down to convenience rather than cost.

• Taxi or rideshare. Available from the airport and practical for a short trip. Costs can still add up.
• Public bus. A Translink bus route serves the Northern Beaches, but the journey takes considerably longer than driving and involves walking with luggage. Most holidaymakers with suitcases find it impractical.
• Hire car. Useful if you plan to drive yourself on day trips.
• Private transfer. Your driver meets you inside the terminal by the baggage carousel with a sign bearing your surname, helps with the luggage and takes you straight to your accommodation. It is particularly useful for families, because child seats can be fitted in advance.

Details of our airport transfers are on our private transfers page.

A SLOW DAY IN PALM COVE

Palm Cove's appeal is its pace. The Williams Esplanade runs along the beach, lined with old paperbark trees and palm trees and a row of cafés and restaurants. Early mornings are the best time for a walk along the sand or out along the jetty, before the day warms up.

From November to May, marine stingers are present in Queensland waters. Swim only at patrolled beaches, between the flags and inside a stinger enclosure when one is in place, and consider a full-body lycra suit. Always read the signs on the beach and follow the lifeguards' advice. Crocodile warnings apply across the region too.

Some of our favourite spots in Palm Cove are:

• Ice cream from Numi Ice Creamery
• Lunch or Dinner at Nu Nu Restaurant
• Lunch or Dinner at El Greko
• Fish & Chips from Lucky Fish

DAY TRIPS THAT WORK WELL FROM PALM COVE

Palm Cove's position between Cairns and Port Douglas makes it a convenient base for exploring in both directions.

• The Daintree and Cape Tribulation. Our private Daintree and Cape Tribulation day picks up from Palm Cove. It includes a Daintree River crocodile cruise, the cable ferry, lunch, Cape Tribulation Beach, a guided walk on the Marrdja boardwalk and Alexandra Lookout.

• Port Douglas wildlife. Our Port Douglas Wildlife Experience visits Wildlife Habitat Port Douglas and Hartley's Crocodile Adventures, which sits on the coast road between Palm Cove and Port Douglas.

• Kuranda. Our Kuranda tour combines the Kuranda Scenic Railway, the village, a guided walk to Barron Falls and the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway.

• Ellis Beach, just north of Palm Cove, is also one of the locations offered for our private photography sessions in partnership with Jacinta Louise Photography.

Is Palm Cove right for you?

Palm Cove suits travellers who want a quiet beach base, short airport transfers and easy access north and south. If you want more nightlife and dining choice, Cairns may suit you better; if you would like to be closer to the Daintree, Port Douglas is worth considering. We will compare those two in more detail in an upcoming post.