Major city · Australia
Palm Cove
Base here 3–4 nights if you want a walkable beach strip; skip it as a day trip — the 30-min drive from Cairns buys you little for a few hours.
Palm Cove is a compact resort strip on a patrolled beach about 30 minutes north of Cairns, with hotels, apartments and restaurants packed into a few hundred metres of Williams Esplanade. It is quieter and denser than Port Douglas, and it has a local bus back to Cairns, which Port Douglas does not do cheaply. Reef and rainforest tours run from here with pickups, but you lose an hour or so each way compared with leaving from Cairns or Port Douglas. Most travellers use it as a relaxed base for the reef and Daintree rather than a sightseeing town in its own right.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- AUD
- Best months
- Jun–Oct (dry season)
- avoid Jan–Mar (wet season, marine stingers, cyclone risk)
- Airport
- CNS
- Nights
- 3–4
Rules in force · 7
- Oceania ↗Oceania's island states guard their farms and reefs at the border: tick 'yes' on the arrival card for any food, plant, animal product, soil or used outdoor gear, and let the officer decide.
- Oceania ↗Across the tropical South Pacific, cyclones are possible from November to April: choose insurance that covers weather delays and keep one spare night before a long-haul departure.
- Australia and New Zealand ↗Both countries drive on the left, with long distances between fuel stops in the outback and on New Zealand's back roads; fatigue causes more visitor crashes than speed.
- Australia ↗Almost every visitor needs a visa or an electronic authorisation (ETA or eVisitor, depending on passport) before boarding: apply only through the official Department of Home Affairs site or the official AustralianETA app, and check the rules for your passport.
- Australia ↗Declare all food, plant material, seeds, wood and animal products on your arrival declaration; undeclared items can bring on-the-spot fines or visa cancellation. When unsure, declare it.
- Australia ↗Drive on the left. An overseas licence in English (or with an official translation or International Driving Permit) is accepted for visitors; check the state rules and your rental contract.
- Australia ↗Swim between the red and yellow flags on patrolled beaches; rip currents cause most beach drownings.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Palm Cove000 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Palm Cove, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the Australian dollar (AUD, A$).Australia-wide
- SIM or eSIMTelstra has the widest outback coverage; Optus and Vodafone (TPG) are cheaper and fine in cities and along highways.Australia-wide
- Tap waterTap water is safe in cities and towns; in remote places use signed drinking taps.Australia-wide
- TippingRestaurants: Not expected; 10% for very good service in a nice restaurant if you wish.Australia-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets I. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): fits. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Australia-wide
- SafetyA relaxed, low-crime resort strip; the real risks are the sea (stingers Nov–May, unpatrolled water), the wet-season heat and rain, and sunburn.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsFree public toilets in parks, beaches, shopping centres and petrol stations (servos); the National Public Toilet Map app lists them.Australia-wide
- Emergency numbers000 police, fire, ambulance · 112 From a mobile · 000 Lifesaver emergency (surf rescue)
- Sundays & holidaysChristmas Day, Good Friday and Anzac Day morning close most shops; many cafés close by 15:00; country towns close early on Saturday and all Sunday.Christmas Day, Good Friday and Anzac Day morning close most shops; many cafés close by 3:00 PM; country towns close early on Saturday and all Sunday.Australia-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportCNS Cairns Airport (About 25–30 min by car or taxi; no train or direct bus to Palm Cove, so plan a transfer or hire car.).
- Getting aroundPalm Cove is walkable end to end in about 15 minutes.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeA$4–6 (≈ US$3–4)
- BeerBeer at a pubA$9–14 (≈ US$6–10)
- SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a weekA$20–40 (≈ US$14–30)
- Budget bedHostel or budget room, a night, per personA$45 (≈ US$30)
- Mid-range bedOne-bedroom apartment, a night, per roomA$240 (≈ US$160)
- High-end bedOne-bedroom apartment, a night, per roomA$420 (≈ US$300)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget A$120 (≈ US$80) · Mid A$200 (≈ US$140) · High A$380 (≈ US$250)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- CNS Cairns Airport (About 25–30 min by car or taxi; no train or direct bus to Palm Cove, so plan a transfer or hire car.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Feb
Avoid
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Mar
Avoid
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Apr
not flagged
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
May
not flagged
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
Jun
Best
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
Jul
Best
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
Aug
Best
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
Sep
Best
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
Oct
Best
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
Nov
not flagged
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Dec
not flagged
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Best: Jun–Oct. Avoid: Jan–Mar. Month by month →
Warmest Jan (31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)), coolest Jul (17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C) low), wettest Feb (16 rain days), driest Jul (6). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Palm Cove: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
15 rd
Feb
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
16 rd
Mar
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
15 rd
Apr
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
12 rd
May
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
10 rd
Jun
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
7 rd
Jul
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
6 rd
Aug
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
6 rd
Sep
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
6 rd
Oct
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
8 rd
Nov
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
10 rd
Dec
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
13 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Palm Cove is walkable end to end in about 15 minutes. A shared walking and cycling track runs south to Clifton Beach in around 30 minutes. The Cairns local bus serves the town roughly every 30 minutes; a hire car is the practical option for the Daintree, Mossman Gorge and Port Douglas.
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Door to door: About 40–50 min
Local bus about every 30 min, or 30 min by car
Use it for the airport, the reef marina and a wider choice of restaurants and shops.
Door to door: About 45–55 min
About 45 min by car north along the Captain Cook Highway
Marina, shopping village and a second beach; worth a half day or a move if you want more variety.
Door to door: About 1.5–2 h
Drive to Cairns, then Skyrail or the scenic rail
A full day once you add the Cairns transfer; book the Skyrail and rail in advance.
Door to door: About 1.5–2 h to Mossman Gorge
Tour pickup from Palm Cove, or self-drive north
The main reason to base this far north; a tour saves the long drive back after dark.
Door to door: About 4 h by road
Drive north via the Daintree and the Bloomfield Track, or fly
Too far for a return day; sleep one or two nights.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Williams Esplanade
The whole strip: beachfront resorts and apartments, restaurants at the door. Most addresses are a 5-min walk from the sand.
Triton Street and Veivers Road
One block back from the beach; quieter, slightly cheaper, still under 10 min on foot to the esplanade.
Clifton Beach
The next suburb south, about a 30-min walk or a few minutes by car; non-tourist shops and supermarket prices.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- A$120–180 (≈ US$80–120) excl. bed
- Mid
- A$180–300 (≈ US$120–200) excl. bed
- High
- A$300 (≈ US$200)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| One-bedroom apartment1 × 3 nights × A$240 | A$720 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 3 days × A$200 | A$1,200 |
| Cairns Airport transfer, both ways2 × A$90 · check | A$180 |
| Local bus day, Cairns return2 × A$12 · check | A$24 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × A$25 | A$50 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | A$217 |
| Trip total≈ A$399 per person per day, bed included | A$2,391≈ US$1,600 |
2026 estimate in Australian dollars; flights and reef tours excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee | A$4–6 (≈ US$3–4) |
| Takeaway fish and chips | A$15–25 (≈ US$10–17) |
| Restaurant main | A$28–45 (≈ US$19–30) |
| Beer at a pub | A$9–14 (≈ US$6–10) |
| Supermarket groceries, one person, one dayThe local supermarket is small and pricey; Clifton Beach is cheaper. | A$20–35 (≈ US$14–25) |
| Reef day tour with pickupcheck | A$250–350 (≈ US$170–250) |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | A$20–40 (≈ US$14–30) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Marine stingers (box jellyfish and Irukandji) are present in the sea roughly Nov–May: swim inside the stinger nets or not at all, and follow lifesaver signage.
- The beach is patrolled in season only; outside patrol hours and outside the nets, treat the water as unsafe.
- The 'rainforest walk' maps handed out around town lead to a very short path near the apartment developments — head south along the beach instead for real bush and beach walking.
- The local supermarket is small and priced for tourists; Clifton Beach has cheaper, non-tourist shops.
- Wet season (Jan–Mar) brings heavy rain and cyclone risk, and some tours and boat trips get cancelled.
Emergency numbers
- Police, fire, ambulance
- 000
- From a mobile
- 112
- Lifesaver emergency (surf rescue)
- 000
Pocket card
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Palm CovePalm Cove
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
To this address, pleaseTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance000
- From a mobile112
Embassy
No embassies in Palm Cove; consulates-general and embassies are in Canberra and the state capitals. The US has a consulate-general in Sydney (check the address).
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Cairns Airport → Palm Cove, taxi: about A$70–90 (≈ US$50–60), 25–30 min (check)
- Cairns → Palm Cove, local bus: about A$6–8 (≈ US$4–6), about 45 min (check)
- Palm Cove → Port Douglas, drive: about 45 min, 40 km (25 mi) (check)about 45 min, 25 mi (40 km) (check)
Say or show
- Thank you — Thank you
- Where are the flags? — Where is the beach patrol?
- Are the stinger nets up? — Is it safe to swim here?
- Card OK? — Can I pay by card?
- How much? — How much is it?
- Where's the loo? — Where is the toilet?
English is the local language; no phrasebook needed.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Palm Cove. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Jun–Oct (dry season) · avoid Jan–Mar (wet season, marine stingers, cyclone risk) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 5 day-trips, door to door
- 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for CNS: transfer times, taxi and rideshare fallback, and a late-arrival rung.
- Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: the esplanade north, the esplanade south, Triton Street and Clifton Beach.
- Place pages with verified cutoffs (Palm Cove Jetty, stinger-net swimming, Mossman Gorge) and eat pages with last orders.
- Wet-season and stinger fixtures so gates A–D can go green.
Sources
- officialTourism Tropical North Queensland — Palm Cove
- officialTourism Australia
- officialCairns Airport
- officialTranslink (Cairns bus network)
- secondaryWikivoyage: Palm Cove, revision 5162226 (CC BY-SA 4.0)