Queensland

Beachside Palm Cove accommodation for a quintessential tropical getaway

With its tropical climate and swaying palm trees, the sunny beach village of Palm Cove is the quintessential image of a tropical beachside holiday.

The cove is lined with paperbark trees that are centuries old, and the sandy coastline it occupies stretches uninterrupted along Far North Queensland. The town itself is charming, offering a number of relaxing spas and little restaurants.

This unassuming spot is also an important gateway to nearby areas of interest, such as the Great Barrier Reef, the Daintree Rainforest and Cairns. As a result, many world-class resorts and hotels have sprung up, offering luxury stays for couples and families wanting to enjoy a quick getaway. For you, that translates to rooftop terraces over the ocean, bubbling Jacuzzis on private balconies and hotel-filled hampers filled with tasty delights to carry down for picnics on the beach.

A Palm Cove accommodation right on the coast

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Located on the southern end of the beach, the Pullman Palm Cove Sea Temple Resort & Spa offers luxury living in a five-star resort. Rooms have a spacious and uncluttered feeling, emphasised by the white walls and clean, contemporary furnishings.

For those seeking an extra special touch, book into an upscale apartment for secret access to your own private courtyard with an outdoor pool, or a rooftop terrace complete with a spa tub and barbecue—all lovely places for some undisturbed time together as a family. With direct access to the beachfront, you can engage in a refreshing early morning jog or a relaxed evening stroll as you watch the sun set—and don’t forget to take a dip in the inviting lagoon pool!

Palm Cove is full of fine-dining restaurants, and you can kick-off your culinary adventure at the hotel’s very own dining spots. Sit in the tropical garden terrace restaurant, Temple of Tastes, and sample exciting dishes inspired by Southeast Asia. Be taken on a foodie journey around the world at Tapastry, which combines a global menu with local, home-grown ingredients. There are even bespoke picnic hampers filled with fresh oysters, tasty cheese and charcuterie bites to take to the beach.

Pullman Palm Cove Sea Temple Resort and Spa

Top rated
Palm Cove
9.0 Excellent (1571 reviews)

A perfect spot for beachside barbecues

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Palm Cove is famous for its abundance of palm and paperbark trees, and Paradise On The Beach makes the most of this. Surrounded by swaying palms, the boutique resort looks every inch the idyllic tropical beachside stay.

Drop your bags in your bright, airy room, opening the shutters to allow the sunlight to stream in and bounce off the white walls. The terracotta tiled floor keeps cool under your feet, and large fans hang from the ceiling to create a gentle breeze during the hot Australian summer. Step through slatted doors onto your private tiled balcony overlooking either the pool or Palm Cove Beach—you can take in the views right from the comfortable daybed.

Make a splash in the hotel’s private pool, or fire up a nearby barbecue where the whole family can pitch in with cooking. The friendly reception and visitor centre operates seven days a week—stop by to arrange tours and activities as well as glean their insider tips about the area. Be sure to catch one of Cairns’ action-packed day trips, like a Great Barrier Reef tour over the shimmering seas.

Paradise On The Beach

Top rated
Palm Cove
9.1 Excellent (1016 reviews)

The perfect starting point for adventurous day trips

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Tucked away in a verdant patch of Melaleuca rainforest, the Reef Retreat provides a peaceful and secluded setting for a family holiday. This low-rise, white-walled complex is hidden among tropical gardens filled with native trees, plants and birds chirping away.

Interiors are a playful nod to your surroundings—leaf-green bedspreads, tropical print cushions and art pieces add a touch of fresh colour and vibrancy to the rooms. Doors slide open to reveal your own private balcony or patio area—the ideal place for catching some colour on a sun lounger or enjoying a leisurely breakfast alfresco.

Make the most of the local expertise on offer by enquiring at the Tour Desk about day trips to the nearby natural wonders. Make lasting memories with the family snorkelling in the Great Barrier Reef, cruising through world-heritage rainforests or even spending an entire day on a tropical island. Thrill-seekers can get their adrenaline rush by taking part in white-water rafting, skydiving or getting up close and personal with crocodiles at Hartley’s Creek.

Hotel The Reef Retreat Palm Cove

Palm Cove
8.6 Excellent (1398 reviews)

Villa living at these Palm Cove apartments

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Drawing inspiration from Mediterranean architecture, the sun-dappled holiday villas at The Villas Palm Cove are the ideal place to spend a lazy afternoon lounging under the sun. The self-contained apartments provide ample space for families—you’ll even get your own private courtyard filled with leafy trees for birdwatching with your little ones. The fully equipped kitchen makes it easy to prepare a hearty meal for the whole brood—make the task even easier by ordering groceries online before you arrive so they’re at your door on the day of your arrival.

Kids will love the 17-metre outdoor pool, accompanied by a heated spa where parents can stay close. Sunloungers line the poolside, providing a comfortable place to lie back and read beneath the shifting shade of overhanging trees. Should you want more activity, Palm Cove gets you easy access to Cairns and the Daintree Rainforest. Every dollar matters when you’re on a family holiday, so book day trips for a small discount at the front desk. Alternatively, hire a car for free-wheeling road trips if you prefer to go it alone.

Hotel The Villas Palm Cove

Palm Cove
9.2 Excellent (316 reviews)

A calming stay with decked-out interiors

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With its calm and contemporary aura, The Sebel Palm Cove is a little haven in a tropical oasis. Interiors are decorated using a palette of calming neutral shades but look closer and you’ll see a lot of thoughtful detail. For example, note the interplay of different textures in the woven rugs, wooden and wicker furniture and plush sofas. Rattan lampshades, abstract wall hangings and ornate patterned cushions add some unique character. Step onto the balcony and you’ll be greeted by a view of either the pool, mountains or the golf course.

A relaxing holiday often means focusing on physical and emotional wellbeing, and the facilities at The Sebel Palm Cove do just that. Start with a swim in the resort-style pool before moving on to an intense circuit at the fitness centre. If slow-paced self-care is more your style, you can sweat it out in silence in the sauna, or take a leisurely walk around the hotel’s tranquil lake swathed in floating lily pads. The communal barbecue will be waiting when you’re ready for dinner under the open sky.

The Sebel Palm Cove Coral Coast

Top rated
Palm Cove
8.6 Excellent (545 reviews)

Palm Cove serviced apartments situated on the shore

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Wake up to beachfront views every morning at Imagine Drift Palm Cove, which places you right on the sandy coastline. Surrounded by palm trees, the white low-rise exterior is a cheerful sight in the sun. The place really comes to life at night: the glassy pool reflects the lights from each window, bathing the entire place in a warm, inviting glow.

The open-plan layout of your apartment will add to the sense of freedom and movement that comes with a self-catered holiday. Rise from your crisp white bed—fresh and clean thanks to daily servicing—and marvel at the morning light flooding in through tall windows and doors. Sit out on the glassy balcony to enjoy the sea breeze and unfettered views of the Coral Sea.

With the ocean so close, everything feels aquatic here—and that includes the impressive swimming pool that winds over a quarter-acre through indoor and outdoor spaces. Splash away the afternoon or get lost in a good book on a poolside lounger. When your stomach starts to rumble, there are Indian, Mexican and Chinese eateries all within a few steps of each other.

Drift Palm Cove

Palm Cove
8.4 Very good (2006 reviews)

A Palm Cove accommodation in the heart of the action

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A mere two-minute walk from the beach, Hotel Elysium Apartments place you at the heart of Palm Cove. The waves practically lap at your doorstep here, and being at the centre of the action means you can access shops and restaurants conveniently on foot.

Kick-off your shoes in your modern apartment and breathe in the sea air that fills the open-plan space. Life moves at your own pace here—toss together family meals when you feel like it in your kitchenette, then carry your plates out to spacious balcony seating to dine next to palm trees. When their veggies are gone, let the kids zoom off to the resort-style pool to show off their diving tricks in the shimmering water.

There are numerous tours should you want some local excitement. Sign up for trekking through dense rainforests, or don a snorkel and mask to take to the reefs. For something truly memorable, book a scenic flight over the region’s jewel-toned expanse. Special tours even cater to families—earn mega parent points by taking your little ones to meet koalas at the Rainforestation Nature Park, or fuel their imaginations with a day exploring land and sea on a Green Island Eco Adventure.

Hotel Elysium Apartments

Top rated
Palm Cove
8.8 Excellent (662 reviews)

Be pampered in the sunshine

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With its perfumed gardens, a glassy lagoon pool and towering palm trees, Peppers Beach Club & Spa is a beachside hotel worthy of a postcard. Choose from garden rooms set amid the trees, or opt for an ocean room so you can drift off to sleep to the lullaby of the waves. If you’re here with a special someone, ask about a resort spa room for a bit of added romance—think sharing a soak in a luxurious spa tub outside on your own balcony.

The whole resort has been designed under the mantra that a peaceful home equals a peaceful mind. You can work on your wellbeing at the on-site day spa, where magic-handed therapists will massage you into a blissful state. With a treatment list from exfoliating facials to body scrubs and hydrotherapy, you’re sure to emerge feeling refreshed and revitalised.

You’ll choose from delectable dishes by the beach at Lime & Pepper restaurant. Using fresh produce from the sea and nearby fields, the menu mixes up seafood, classic Australian fare and East Asian flavours. For a special treat, make your way through three tiers of traditional favourites and sweet indulgences at high tea.

Peppers Beach Club & Spa

Top rated
Palm Cove
9.2 Excellent (2247 reviews)