Paradise on the Beach Resort Palm Cove
Hotel Class: 
4 Stars - 43 Opinions
119 - 121 Williams Esplanade, Palm Cove, Queensland, 4879, Australia
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Amenities
79%
of people enjoy staying here
43 Opinions
- Excellent
- 20
- Very Good
- 9
- Average
- 6
- Poor
- 4
- Terrible
- 4
More about Cairns
Photos
Love those views...
Our favourite dish
Niau Waterfall
The Esplanade, Cairns
Forum Posts
Cairns or Mackay
by bigslick1time
Which town and general area (even inland a bit) would be better for folks who just want to see Australia for 3 nights or so? We will be in brisbane Aug 4-7 and then want to go to either cairns or mackay from Aug 8 - 12. If we go to mackay, i would probably drive from brisbane to mackay over a few days. If we go to cairns, then we will fly from brisbane (and then fly back to sydney from cairns).
Re: Cairns or Mackay
by diveprincess1
We were in Cairns a few years ago and really liked it. But we also spent 2 days diving so I'm not sure what there was to do durning the day. On our 3rd day we did take the train up to the rainforest and walked around the small village, shopping and eating. We the took the gondola's down, it was breathtaking! We ate at a greek restaurant that was nice. We ate at the Pier overlooking the water, there was a small mall & open field by the pier. Sorry I can't tell you the names, but they were good. Haven't been to Mackay so I can't help you there. If you like snorkling then you might like to take a boat trip one day to the great Barrier Reef while in Cairns.
Loved Australia and want to go back.
Re: Cairns or Mackay
by colin_bramso
I'd say fly to and stay in Cairns, then drive around that area. There's the Great Barrier Reef, Kuranda (the village in the rainforest), the Atherton Tablelands, Cape Tribulation, the Daintree rainforest, Port Douglas, the northern beach villages, river cruises...much more to see and do than you have time for.
Re: Cairns or Mackay
by cafank
Cairns is great and the areas surrounding it offer lots to do for a few days.
The drive to Mackay is long and not very interesting unless you spend time going off the highway to visit small towns and there are many places of interest, particularly during the first few hundred K's from Brisbane. After that not much until you get to the 1770, Gladstone, Rockhampton, Yeppoon areas, then boring again. You could fly into/out of Mackay, Hamilton Island or Proserpine back to Sydney if you are in this area.
Mackay is only about an hour from Airlie Beach and the Whitsunday Passage where you can visit islands and the southern reef.
Re: Cairns or Mackay
by al2401
Hi,
Both of these places have a lot to see but it is probably easier to go to Cairns. There is a lot to see as others have said. It also has an international airport so unless you have to return to Sydney you can leave Australia from there.
Re: Cairns or Mackay
by chilliebean
Why MacKay? I would think Cairns or Townsville would be better.
Re: Cairns or Mackay
by bigslick1time
Maybe Townsville would be better. Is there more things to do in that town?
Re: Cairns or Mackay
by colin_bramso
No. Cairns is the best base for the far north.
Travel Tips for Cairns
Beaches
by colin_bramso
Cairns itself has no beach, although when we were last there the council was saying it would build an artificial one. If a true ocean beach is what you're looking for, head for the northern beach villages. They are about 20 minutes drive from the city. Local buses serve them all.
The two best villages are Palm Cove and the one shown in the photo, Trinity Beach.
Both villages have plenty of accommodation, especially self-catering apartments, and they also have several cafes and restaurants opposite the beach, plus a few shops.
Real Australian Experience: Cape York Mailplane!
by ettiewyn
Cape York is the large peninsula north of Cairns. This is a very remote outback area, where there is still wilderness and the large cattle stations you think of when you imagine the Australian outback...
Of course the farmers can't go to Cairns all the time to pick up their mail, as driving there takes a whole day and more, and in the wet they often get stuck on their stations for months. That's why there's a mail service - a plane is going to the stations every thursday, delivering mail, freights and also vegetables.
It is possible for tourists to go with this plane!
I did the trip in 2006, although not as a tourist. I was working on one of the stations and went back to Cairns by the plane after quitting. I really want to recommend this trip. Of course it is expensive - in 2006 it was about 600AUD - but if you don't mind spending this, then you can have a real, authentic Aussie experience. You see the cattle stations, the vastness and grandeur of the Cape York outback. You really can imagine then how it is for the people to live in this remote areas, as you see their houses, see the little kids playing in the sand and can also have a chat to some farmers if they have the time. I say it is an authentic experience, because this trip was not invented for tourists - the plane goes anyway, you just have the chance to participate.
I recommend you book the trip way ahead. The plane is very small and therefore seats are very limited.
Fly to Cairns!
by ettiewyn
Cairns has its own international airport, although it's not serviced by most big airlines. The main international airlines going directly to Cairns are Qantas and Cathay Pacific. If you chose another airline, it might be a good idea to book a flight to Melbourne or Sydney and take a seperate domectic flight to Cairns. Domestic flights are very frequent, f.ex. by Qantas, Virgin Blue, JetStar etc.
From the airport, a taxi to town is not too expensive, but there are also shuttle services that you can book in advance.
For shuttle services, have a look at:
www.sunpalmtransport.com
www.portdouglasbus.com
www.coralreefcoaches.com
www.krystaltransport.com.au
www.tnqshuttle.com
Reef Encounter on Great Barrier Reef
by SailorRoar
You can't go to Cairns without going to the Great Barrier Reef. I have been to the reef on 3 different vessels, but nothing compares to the live-onboard vessel called Reef Encounter. Try their night dive if you are into diving.
Great Barrier Reef
by IrishFem
I thought l had died and gone to heaven snorkling in the Great Barrier Reef. I went out with a well know company, who were informative, and helpful. A marine biologist was on hand to answer questions and if you wanted to do a dive, beginners especailly welcome you had the option. Lunch was also served on board.
Questions and Answers
Q: advice for travel in area of Cairns and/or Port Douglas and/or Cape Trib "Hi,
I have loved reading lots of posts for lots of travelers. I just wonder what those of you would do if you were us, we will..."
A: "We holiday in that area every year. You'll love it. A couple of things to be aware of. Your days before the conference are in the Southern States school holidays so it..."
Read 3 Replies ยป
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