When we planned our family trip to Far North Queensland, we decided to skip staying in Cairns itself and head straight to Palm Cove.
This little beach town, just north of the city, has a much more relaxed vibe. It turned out to be the perfect base for our family holiday.
Palm Cove might be small, but it’s packed with family-friendly activities and easy places to eat. During our week-long stay, we found plenty of Palm Cove activities to keep our toddler entertained.
If you’re planning a trip to the Cairns Northern Beaches with kids, here’s my guide to the best things to do in Palm Cove, plus some family-friendly tours for exploring this beautiful region of Australia.
Quick summary:
Palm Cove is a relaxed beach town that’s perfect for families. With safe swimming, a beachfront playground, and easy day trips to the reef and rainforest, it’s an ideal base for a family holiday in Cairns Northern Beaches.
Recommended family tours from Palm Cove:
🐊 Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures – See crocodiles up close on the lagoon boat cruise, plus cassowaries and more.
🚡 Kuranda Day Trip – Ride the Skyrail and scenic railway, then explore the village on your own schedule.
🏝️ Green Island Day Trip – Cruise out to the reef then snorkel from the beach or take a glass-bottom boat tour.
🐠 Quicksilver Outer Reef Cruise – Full-day adventure to a reef pontoon with snorkelling, semi-sub tours, and lunch.
🛶 Kayak Turtle Tour – Paddle out to Double Island spotting turtles, rays, and tropical fish along the way.
Things to do in Palm Cove with kids:
Palm Cove Beach
Palm Cove has a beautiful stretch of sand which is great for kids. The safest place to swim is the lifeguard-patrolled area at the north end of the beach near the jetty.
If your kids aren’t keen on the water (mine decided that he most definitely did not want to go in), the beach is still a great spot for sandcastle building, shell collecting, or splashing in the shallows. We spent a lazy morning here with buckets, spades, and a very sandy toddler.
Palm Cove Beach Playground
One of the first things we hunted down on arrival was a playground (a toddler travel essential). Right on the esplanade, the Palm Cove Beach playground was a hit with our 2.5-year-old who loves playgrounds and sandpits (and this one felt a bit like a combination of both).
We ended up visiting this spot multiple times during our week-long stay. Apparently there’s another playground inside the holiday park at the north end of the beach, but we heard that one is better suited to older kids.
Palm Cove Jetty
The jetty at Palm Cove is worth a short walk. Kids can spot fish in the shallows, wave at the kayakers, or just run to the end and back. You’ll almost always see locals and visitors casting a line here. Even if you’re not fishing, it’s one of those classic Palm Cove family activities to do in the area.
The Palm Tree Tunnel
At the southern end of the beach, right in front of Alamanda Palm Cove Resort, is the famous palm tree tunnel. This spot is ridiculously photogenic—we saw families, wedding parties, and even professional photographers taking portraits here.
I joined a sunrise yoga class under the palms on our second morning in Palm Cove, and it was such a delightful way to start the day. Even if you’re not there to exercise, it’s worth a wander (and a few photos).
Best Family-Friendly Tours from Palm Cove
One of the reasons I loved staying in Palm Cove was how easy it was to access nearby attractions. From wildlife parks to reef cruises, there are plenty of family tours from Palm Cove that you can do as day trips. Here are some of the best options we tried (and a few that are still on my list for next time).
Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures
Just a 15-minute drive from Palm Cove, Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures is one of those places that kids and adults will both love. Our 2.5-year-old was fascinated by the crocodiles—especially when we went on the lagoon boat cruise and saw them launch out of the water for food!
We only stayed for half a day to work around nap time, but even that short visit was a hit. 👉 Read my full Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures review here.
🐊 You can visit Hartley’s on a half-day tour from Palm Cove which includes hotel transfers plus free time to explore the enclosures and watch the wildlife shows.
Kuranda Day Trip
Another family-friendly adventure is a Kuranda day trip, which involves taking the Skyrail cableway over the rainforest, visiting the village of Kuranda, and returning with a scenic railway ride.
In Kuranda we visited the Butterfly Sanctuary, which felt magical for both kids and grown-ups. It’s a big day, but absolutely doable with little ones. 👉 Check out my guide to visiting Kuranda with kids.
🚡 A Kuranda day tour includes transfers from northern beaches hotels, a ride to the village on the scenic railway, free time in Kuranda, plus your Skyrail ticket.
Green Island Day Trip from Cairns
This is one of the most convenient ways to experience the Great Barrier Reef with kids. After a short cruise to Green Island, you arrive at a sand island where you can swim or snorkel straight from the beach in shallow water (ideal for families).
If snorkelling isn’t your thing, the glass-bottom boat tour lets you see the coral and fish without even getting wet. There are resort facilities that you can use on the island and shaded areas for downtime, which makes it much more manageable with little ones compared to a full-day reef trip.
🏝️ A Green Island day trip from Palm Cove includes hotel transfers and ferry tickets for visiting the island, making it a stress-free reef excursion for families staying at Cairns Northern Beaches.
Great Barrier Reef Snorkelling Cruise
If your kids are a little older and comfortable in the water, an Outer Reef Cruise is the ultimate Great Barrier Reef adventure. I didn’t try this one as it’s a longer day out and I wasn’t sure if my toddler could handle it, but it really does look awesome.
The pontoon on the outer reef has snorkel platforms, semi-submarine rides, and even an underwater observatory—so kids can still see the reef even if they’re not comfortable with snorkelling.
🐠 The Quicksilver Outer Reef Cruise includes a tropical buffet lunch and marine biologist presentations, making it one of the best things to do in Palm Cove for families who want an exciting reef adventure.
Kayak Turtle Tour from Palm Cove
This one’s still on my wish list, but it looks like such a unique way to experience the reef without a long boat trip. Leaving from Palm Cove beach, paddle out in a kayak to Double Island, spotting turtles, rays, and colourful fish along the way.
🛶 This Double Island kayak turtle tour is suitable for beginners. Older kids would love it, and it’s a fun and unique way to explore the reef without committing to a full-day cruise.
Where to eat in Palm Cove with kids
We found Palm Cove surprisingly family-friendly when it came to dining, with everything from laid-back cafés to fancier restaurants that welcome people travelling with kids.
The Beach Hut – Our go-to for morning coffee and easy breakfasts. City people like me may notice that the service can sometimes be a little slow (your coffee order might take 15 minutes instead of 5), but it’s worth the wait.
Espresso & Co Cafe Palm Cove – Excellent coffee, though it’s a busy spot and a bit further along the esplanade from where we stayed, so we only went there once. Looks like a nice place for brunch, though.
Numi Ice Creamery – Great for an afternoon treat! I had the pandan coconut flavour, which was delicious, though our ice creams melted far too fast—my toddler ended up covered in chocolate ice cream within minutes. Next time we’ll definitely get a cup instead of a cone.
Palm Cove Tavern – Casual pub dining with a surprisingly great kids’ play area (fidget boards, big wooden blocks, and more). No beach views, but a decent menu—I had a quinoa salad with rosemary feta sweet potato fries.
Nu Nu Restaurant – The fanciest spot in Palm Cove, but still family-friendly. We had cocktails one afternoon and a fancy breakfast on our last day, and everything was delicious with plenty of local produce (pineapple featured heavily). Kids can run around on the grassy area out front while parents enjoy their meals.
Il Forno Pizzeria – Reliable and good quality. They do kid-size pizzas, and while we managed to snag a table without a booking, I’d recommend reserving ahead if you’re visiting on a weekend.
Where to stay in Palm Cove with kids
🏨 If you’re looking for the best Palm Cove family accommodation, I can highly recommend Drift Palm Cove, where we stayed for a week.
We booked a 2-bedroom family apartment with a kitchenette, laundry, and enough space to give our toddler his own sleeping area. The lagoon pool and hot tub were awesome, and the beachfront location right across from the palm tree tunnel was unbeatable.
The resort isn’t perfect (some of the furniture could use an update), but overall it’s one of the best Palm Cove family resorts. 👉 You can read my full Drift Palm Cove review here.
If you’re planning a trip to the Cairns Northern Beaches with kids, don’t overlook Palm Cove. It’s a quieter, more relaxed alternative to Cairns that works beautifully for a family beach holiday. With safe swimming areas, playgrounds and easy dining options, we found plenty to keep our toddler entertained, and we all enjoyed the laid-back vibes.
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