Cairns Beaches Travel Guide

Stretching along more than 20km of the northern Cairns coastline, Cairns' Northern Beaches offer a selection of picturesque beachside suburbs. The tropical palm-lined beaches and shaded BBQ, picnic and leisure areas are the perfect place to soak up the iconic Cairns sunshine and the swimming enclosures are the ideal way to cool off. The most popular northern beaches include Trinity Beach, Clifton Beach, Yorkeys Knob, Holloways Beach, Kewarra Beach, Machans Beach and Palm Cove.


Top Accommodation Regions


Beaches Between Cairns & Port Douglas

Surrounded by headlands, Trinity Beach is a seaside holiday hub with a relaxed atmosphere and a great range of quality accommodation at affordable prices. Conveniently located close to an excellent range of local dining, activities and attractions, the laid back lifestyle of Trinity Beach makes it popular with visitors and locals.

Clifton Beach is a mainly residential area but its beautiful foreshore and uncrowded beach attracts plenty of out of town visitors. Holiday accommodation is located on the Esplanade and there are a wide range of dining options nearby. Home to a world class golf course, there are plenty of relaxing activities however Cairns is just 20 minutes away if you're up for a little more action.

Renowned as one of the best Northern Beaches, Yorkeys Knob is home to safe swimming beaches, a golf course, yacht club, marina, shopping, restaurants and a great range of beachfront accommodation. Enjoying picturesque views of the Coral Sea and the mountainous rainforest, Yorkeys Knob is a hub of things to see, do and experience.

Just 15 minutes from Cairns city, Holloways Beach offers seclusion and relaxation within easy reach of a great range of activities and attractions. Ideal for those looking to slow the pace down, Holloways Beach is mainly residential and features a small shopping centre and selection of cafes, restaurants and bars close to a number of holiday homes and B&B style accommodation.

Another great place to get away from the crowds is Kewarra Beach with plenty of exclusive beachfront resorts and holiday homes ideally located close to all the local facilities and attractions. While Machans Beach offers a beachside holiday destination on a smaller scale with holiday rentals, small beaches, no netted swimming areas and a small selection of restaurants and cafes.