If you’re searching for the best family resort near Cairns, skip the city and head to Palm Cove instead.
With a laid-back vibe, sandy beachfront, and self-contained resorts, Palm Cove is the perfect spot for a beach holiday with kids in Far North Queensland.
I booked us a week at Drift Palm Cove to escape winter in Sydney—and it turned out to be exactly what we needed. Just 25 minutes north of Cairns, this resort was the perfect base for our family holiday.
In this review of Drift Palm Cove, I’ll share exactly what the resort was like from a family perspective. This review is completely my own honest opinion, and I did not receive any payment or subsidy for my stay—it was all paid for on my own dime.
Quick summary:
I spent a week at Drift Palm Cove with my family and found it to be a fantastic base near Cairns. The spacious apartment, lagoon pool, and beachfront location made our stay easy and relaxing, though some of the furniture could use an update.
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🛏️ Drift Palm Cove on Expedia
🛏️ Drift Palm Cove on booking.com
🛏️ Drift Palm Cove on Agoda
Why stay in Palm Cove instead of Cairns?
Palm Cove is just 25 minutes north of Cairns, but it feels completely different. Cairns is a city, and it does feel like one. Instead of big hotels and busy streets, we wanted more of a quiet beach vibe for our family beach holiday near Cairns, so we chose to stay a little further out.
The beautiful sandy beach lined with palm trees make Palm Cove the perfect destination for a true Queensland beach holiday (which is exactly what we were looking for!). The area has a family-friendly vibe with a relaxed pace.
At Palm Cove, you’ll find self-contained apartments, higher-end resorts, and spa retreats along the esplanade. The beach is perfect for sunrise or sunset strolls, plus it has sandy play areas and a lifeguard patrolled swimming area—perfect for families visiting Palm Cove with kids.
Of course there are some downsides to staying in Palm Cove, such as fewer budget hotel options, dining is a little pricier, and you’ll likely need a car to get around.
I would recommend hiring a car so that you can easily access the surrounding attractions. We picked up a rental car at Cairns Airport and drove to Palm Cove in under half an hour. Drift Palm Cove has onsite parking with a designated spot for each apartment.
We found Palm Cove to be the ideal base for exploring:
- The Kuranda Skyrail terminal, just a 15 minute drive south.
- Cairns, about 30 minutes drive south.
- Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures, just 15 minutes drive north.
- Port Douglas, a scenic 45 minute drive north.
Why I chose Drift Palm Cove
Family apartments: When travelling with a toddler, a studio apartment just isn’t going to cut it. I looked for family accommodation in Palm Cove with separate sleeping areas, and Drift Palm Cove ticked that box with a 2-bedroom family apartment.
Reasonable price: The room rates at Drift Palm Cove were affordable compared to other Palm Cove resorts and hotels along the Cairns Northern Beaches.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I always go for hotels that have positive guest ratings, and Drift Palm Cove was one of the top Palm Cove hotels on Agoda with an average 8.6 guest review score.
Drift Palm Cove review
The location
Drift Palm Cove sits at the southern end of Palm Cove Beach, right opposite the famous palm tree tunnel. I definitely thought this was the prettier end of the beach, and I noticed that there were always people taking photos as they walked by, especially at sunrise and sunset.
The whole neighbourhood is walkable—you can stroll the esplanade from Drift Palm Cove to the Palm Cove Jetty at the opposite end in about 10–15 minutes.
There are a bunch of cafes and restaurants along the esplanade, so you’ll have no trouble finding a place for dinner or somewhere to get a decent morning coffee (an essential for our trips!).
Check-in & reception
The Drift Palm Cove check in experience was easy, and the staff were friendly and helpful when we arrived around 2 PM. Reception hours are limited, with someone on the desk at 8 AM every day, but closing as early as 4–6 PM depending on the day of the week.
The reception area also has a tour booking desk. I didn’t use this as I’d already researched and chosen most of the tours I was going to book including a Green Island day trip, Kuranda day trip, and scenic flight over the reef, but if you turn up and don’t have anything booked, I think this would be a useful resource.
Our 2-bedroom family apartment
For our family of three, I booked the 2-bedroom family apartment. The room was spacious and clean, with a modern kitchenette and two bathrooms.
The apartment included a master bedroom and a second bedroom, though it’s worth noting that they are somewhat interconnected, separated only by a sliding door and an internal bifold window. I knew about this when I booked and I didn’t really mind this sleeping arrangement, but I can imagine that some parents with older kids might want more privacy/separation between bedrooms.
Some other things to note are that the second bedroom has a queen bed (so if you have more than one kid, they will have to share) and that the internal doors and window to the second bedroom are frosted glass, so if you have the lights on in the living area or main bedroom, it’s going to shine in while the kids are trying to sleep.
🔎 If you think you’ll need extra space for a bigger family, I’d suggest choosing the 3-bedroom apartment room type when booking your stay at Drift Palm Cove as it has additional sleeping space.
I found the bed to be exceedingly comfortable, which is a huge plus in my book as I often find hotel beds to be too hard and the pillows to be too dense. This was not the case at Drift Palm Cove—a perfectly soft bed and a low pillow made me a happy sleeper.
The living room had a roomy sofa and a dining table. Some of the furniture inside the room was a little dated and could have done with an upgrade (which I feel is fairly typical for older Australian beach resorts), but overall it felt comfortable and well-kept. Drift Palm Cove feels somewhat modern and as though the kitchen and bathrooms have been renovated at some stage. It was really just the furniture that could have been replaced.
The kitchenette in the room was great for our week-long stay. It had most of the essentials for cooking a few meals—the only thing it was missing was an oven. It even had a small dishwasher (though it didn’t fit much and also didn’t do a particularly good job of cleaning the dishes, so I hand-washed dishes some of the time!).
The washing machine also came in very handy. Anyone who travels with kids knows how many changes of clothes they can get through in a day. I ended up doing 2 loads during the week once my toddler had dirtied most of his shirts and shorts (with chocolate ice cream, pizza sauce, sand, and who knows what else) and hung them out to dry on the balcony, though there is also a dryer in the room if you need it.
The bathrooms were clean and stocked with all the essentials. Two bathrooms were not a necessity for me (our house only has one!) but I have to admit it was nice—I imagine parents with older kids would find this to be especially luxurious for family travel.
If you’re staying 7 nights or more, Drift Palm Cove provides a mid-stay service. For shorter stays, apartments are self-contained, but with in-room laundry and kitchen facilities, it’s easy to manage.
And if you’re noise sensitive (like I am!), you’ll be pleased to know that I didn’t hear much from neighbours, especially from rooms on our floor—just the occasional furniture scrape or footsteps from people staying directly above us.
Balcony views
The view from our balcony was one of the best things about our stay at Drift Palm Cove. It’s worth noting that we did not book an ocean view apartment, but we could still see the beach—our room had a south facing view looking towards Nu Nu Restaurant with a side-on angle of the palm trees and beach.
Waking up every morning to step out on the balcony at sunrise, hearing the waves crash softly against the shore, was just divine. The outdoor furniture on the balcony was a little average—a wooden loveseat and coffee table—but we still made good use of it.
It’s worth noting that not all balconies have an ocean/beach view. Some face towards the lagoon pool and internal courtyard area, though I think this leafy view would also be nice to wake up to.
🌴 If you want the best balcony views, consider upgrading to an Ocean View Apartment where you can wake to the sounds of waves lapping the shore each morning!
Pool & facilities
The lagoon pool is the centerpiece of Drift Palm Cove—and it’s gorgeous. Many of the internal rooms overlook it. It’s so tastefully done—there are tall palm trees and gum trees poking up through the decking and garden beds filled with lush subtropical plants.
It was a delight to just sit by the pool on one of the many lounge chairs. I went there multiple times with a paperback book (though I only managed to read it once! Parent life, hey).
There is a children’s pool attached to the lagoon pool. It’s reasonably small and unexciting, but marginally warmer than the main pool and we saw plenty of kids having a splash around in there.
The lagoon pool and children’s pool aren’t heated, so the water felt cold in August (end of winter). Some of the other families we spoke to around the pool area were also a bit disappointed at the chilly water temps! This is common for Cairns hotels and resorts though, so it’s just something to keep in mind you visit Far North Queensland in winter and are hoping for swims.
I was extremely happy about the spa situation, however. Next to the pool is a very spacious built-in hot tub that kids are also welcome to enjoy (as long as they are supervised). We took the tot in a fair few times, and there were plenty of other families doing the same with their young ones.
There are also communal BBQ facilities with outdoor dining tables in the area surrounding the pool, which were well utilised by guests.
The verdict: Is Drift Palm Cove worth it?
Overall, I’d give Drift Palm Cove a solid 4 stars. It’s tantalisingly close to being the perfect Palm Cove hotel for families. The resort is in a fab location, with good pool facilities and well-kept common areas.
What we loved:
- Spacious rooms
- Self-contained apartments with full laundry and kitchenette
- Family-friendly pool and spa
- Prime beachfront location
- Comfortable beds
What could be improved:
- Some furniture in the room feels a little dated
- The room could use a fresh coat of paint
- Reception hours are limited
Would I stay here again? Yes. Drift Palm Cove is one of the best family resorts near Cairns, and we felt right at home for our week-long stay. For the few things the resort lacked, it made up for in affordability, so we were overall happy with it.
Drift Palm Cove FAQs
Is Drift Palm Cove good for families?
Yes—Drift Palm Cove is very family-friendly. The self-contained apartments, lagoon pool, and easy access to the beach make it perfect for travel with kids.
How far is Palm Cove from Cairns?
Palm Cove is about a 25-minute drive from Cairns Airport and 30 minutes from central Cairns.
Is there parking at Drift Palm Cove?
Yes, the resort offers parking included in the room rate, with a designated spot for each apartment.
Does Drift Palm Cove have a restaurant?
Several restaurants are located onsite and nearby, but they are operated separately from the hotel.
Is the pool heated?
No, the lagoon pool isn’t heated. It can be cold in winter, but the large spa is toasty and family-friendly.
Are the apartments serviced?
Stays of 7 nights or longer receive a mid-stay service. Shorter stays are self-contained, but with in-room laundry it’s easy to keep on top of things.
What time is check-in/check-out?
Check-in is from 2:00 PM and check-out is at 10:00 AM. Reception hours are limited, so late arrivals should arrange in advance.
Book your stay at Drift Palm Cove
👉 Check prices and availability on Expedia
👉 Check prices and availability on booking.com
👉 Check prices and availability on Agoda
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