Reviewed on 9 Jun. 2021
Reviewed on 13 Jul. 2020
Reviewed on 6 Jul. 2021
Reviewed on 12 Jun. 2021
It may not have its own beach, but you can still come to Cairns for sunshine, sand and swimming – all thanks to the nearby Northern Beaches.
Suburbs like Trinity Beach, Palm Cove and Yorkeys Knob are like pictures from postcards but better, with clean, calm beaches that come fringed with palm trees. Lounge around, cook a BBQ lunch, or swim safely in the nets away from the stingers. Known as the gateway to Tropical North Queensland, Cairns is close to the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest. It’s also an awesome place to shop for souvenirs, dine by the sea in style, or have a night on the town. Book your Cairns Northern Beaches hotel with us and find the beach that’s right for your Cairns holiday.
History
The Cairns Northern Beaches are a string of beach communities that start about 15 minutes north of Cairns (by car). Cairns was officially founded in 1876 following the discovery of gold. Trinity Beach was a training hub for soldiers during World War Two, and Yorkies Knob took its name from George Lawson (“Yorkey”), a York-shire born sea cucumber fisherman who lived on the hill above the sea.
Things to do
Popular with families (and deservedly so), Trinity Beach is a place to relax and enjoy the views of calm sea in front of you, palm trees behind you and two headlands on either side. It’s lined with BBQs and picnic tables, and comes with a pleasant selection of seaside restaurants and cafes as well.
Palm Cove is a honeymooner’s delight: a long sandy stretch with rolling hills in the distance and a jetty perfect for walks or for fishing (or a little of both, if that’s what you find romantic). Yorkeys Knob beach is rated as one of the world’s top kite-surfing destinations (and that’s no mean feat). Think the beaches of Cairns are exciting now? Wait until you find yourself tearing through the water propelled by the power of the wind!
Most of the beaches around Cairns have swimming nets in place during stinger season. For a safe swim, stay inside the nets!
Check out Cairns for great food, all kinds of nightlife, and attractions like the Cairns Esplanade Lagoon and Kuranda Scenic Railway. And of course, it would be a shame to venture to the gateway to Far North Queensland and not see its two main attractions. Make sure you take a tour of the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest for natural beauty the likes of which you won’t forget.
Shopping and dining
The Northern Beaches have restaurants, bars, cafes and takeaway places facing the sea, and a good selection of shopping centres. Head to Cairns to pick up something a little different at the Cairns Night Markets – the city’s premier shopping destination – and a whole host of satisfying restaurants with tonnes of fresh local seafood.
Getting here
Bundle up your Cairns Northern Beaches accommodation and cheap flight to Cairns and the Northern Beaches into one package. With a peaceful local beach on your doorstep and the Reef, the Daintree AND Cairns nearby, our Cairns Northern Beaches hotels are in the right place… and now is the right time.
^Savings based on all package bookings made with Flight + Hotel on Wotif.com from 2019-04-01 - 2020-03-31, as compared to the price of the same components booked separately. Savings will vary based on origin/destination, length of trip, stay dates and selected travel supplier(s). Savings not available on all packages.
