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12 of the most memorable things to do in Palm Cove

Credit: Tourism Tropical North Queensland

Jemma Fletcher Jemma Fletcher
Discover the beaches, dining, wellness and outdoor adventures that make Palm Cove unforgettable.

Just a 30-minute drive north of Cairns, Palm Cove is a pretty pocket of Tropical North Queensland where palm-fringed beaches, award-winning day spas and waterfront dining set the pace. But this laid-back village offers more than just sea and sand. Whether you’re visiting for the day or settling in for a longer escape, here are the best things to do in Palm Cove.

In short

If you only do one thing in Palm Cove, spend a morning strolling Williams Esplanade before settling in for breakfast overlooking Palm Cove Beach. The palm-fringed foreshore perfectly captures the laid-back charm of the village, with boutique shopping, cafés, luxury resorts and one of Tropical North Queensland’s most beautiful beaches all within a few minutes’ walk.

1. Stroll along Williams Esplanade

Palm Cove beach
Palm Cove Beach is just a few steps away from Williams Esplanade. (Credit: Tourism Tropical North Queensland)

What’s beautifully convenient about Palm Cove is that the village is centred around Williams Esplanade, a stunning stretch of coastline fringed with Melaleuca trees, cafes, boutiques and alluring beach nooks to explore. All you need are sunnies, a hat and a good pair of walking shoes and you’re good to go. Take a stroll or hire a bike to see it for yourself, then settle in for breakfast at Espresso & Co, perched at its timber breakfast bar with uninterrupted views of Palm Cove Beach.

Good to know: Williams Esplanade is at its most magical just after sunrise, when the cafés are opening, the beach is quiet and the Melaleuca trees cast long shadows across the foreshore.

2. Visit Palm Cove Beach

Palm Cove beach from above
What’s a visit to Palm Cove without visiting its hero beach? (Credit: Tourism Tropical North Queensland)

Palm Cove Beach ticks all the boxes – it’s uncrowded, has a swimming net and is regularly patrolled by lifeguards. Got your pooch in tow? Find an area of beach reserved for dog walking on the northern side of the jetty. It’s also one of the best places in the village to watch the sunrise with a coffee in hand.

3. Walk the Wangetti Trail

Ellis Beach, Palm Cove
Find palm trees along the tranquil coastal stretch of Ellis Beach. (Credit: Tourism Tropical North Queensland)

One of Tropical North Queensland’s newest walking trails, the Wangetti Trail is already making a name for itself as one of Australia’s most scenic coastal walks. The first section links Palm Cove with Ellis Beach, weaving through rainforest, across elevated boardwalks and past spectacular lookouts over the Coral Sea. Whether you tackle the full trail or simply walk a section, it’s a brilliant way to experience Palm Cove’s natural beauty beyond the beach.

Good to know: Start early to beat the heat, bring plenty of water and keep an eye out for sea eagles, butterflies and the occasional wallaby along the way.

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4. Head to a day spa

The Reef House Adults Retreat Palm Cove
A rejuvenating stay awaits at The Reef House Adults Retreat Palm Cove. (Credit: Tourism Tropical North Queensland)

Palm Cove is a mecca for wellness lovers. Home to some of the country’s best luxury hotels, this coastal village is renowned for its abundance of award-winning spas. Whether you fancy a wellness probiotic facial at Vie Spa, a mango and coconut body wrap at L.M. Spa, or a salt crystal exfoliation at Reef House Spa, you’ll feel relaxed in no time.

Good to know: Book ahead during school holidays and the dry season, when Palm Cove’s most popular day spas can fill up quickly.

5. Enjoy a taste of the tropics

NuNu's restaurant outdoor area
Enjoy beachfront dining at Nu Nu. (Credit: Tourism Tropical North Queensland)

Palm Cove punches well above its weight when it comes to dining. Book a table at beachfront favourite Nu Nu Restaurant for modern Australian dishes showcasing Tropical North Queensland produce, settle in for long lunches overlooking the Coral Sea or wander the esplanade to discover everything from Thai and Greek to casual cafés and gelaterias.

6. Find a treasure at the Palm Cove Markets

Palm Cove Markets
The iconic market takes over the beachfront esplanade. (Credit: Tourism Tropical North Queensland)

With a focus on sustainable and locally made products, the Palm Cove Markets have a reputation for being one of Tropical North Queensland’s best community markets. With over 130 stalls stretched across Williams Esplanade and entertainment alongside beachside scenery, it’s a market experience unlike anything you’re used to at home.

Good to know: Held on the first Sunday of every month, 8am–2pm. Free entry.

7. Browse the local shops

Looking to take a piece of Palm Cove home with you? Shopping here is an activity all by itself. Meander around the cluster of boutiques, gift stores, and souvenir shops along Williams Esplanade or explore the Ian Stephens Fine Art Gallery. With a sea breeze in your ear and bars along the way to stop in at for a colourful cocktail, it’s a shopping experience you wish you could have every weekend.

8. Walk to Palm Cove Jetty

Palm Cove Jetty from above
Go fishing at Palm Cove Jetty. (Credit: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Stretching out into the Coral Sea, the Palm Cove Jetty is one of the village’s best spots for sweeping coastal views. Take a stroll to the end for a postcard-worthy photo, particularly at sunrise or sunset, or bring a fishing rod and cast a line for species such as Spanish mackerel, cod, whiting and flathead. Need gear? Pedro’s Fishing Hire has everything you need to get started.

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9. Kayak with turtles

One of the best ways to experience Palm Cove’s coastline is from the water. Join a guided kayak tour to paddle across the calm waters off Palm Cove, keeping an eye out for green and hawksbill turtles, colourful fish and other marine life along the way. You’ll glide past the fringing reef and enjoy spectacular views back to the palm-lined beach, with a stop at Double Island adding to the adventure. Suitable for beginners and experienced paddlers alike, it’s a memorable half-day experience for anyone wanting to see Palm Cove from a different perspective.

Good to know: Morning tours usually offer the calmest conditions and the best chance of spotting turtles.

10. Join a beachside yoga class

towering palm trees at Alamanda Resort
Partake in sunrise beach yoga under the shade of palm trees. (Credit: Tourism Tropical North Queensland)

Want to move, breathe, and relax next to the ocean? Whether you’re a tourist or local, you can do all that with Hartig Yoga under the palm trees outside of the Alamanda Resort. From gentle yoga and sunrise beach yoga to vinyasa yoga that strings a series of poses together seamlessly, there’s a class to suit every experience level.

11. Enjoy the beachfront playground

Families with young kids will be interested to hear there’s an enclosed beach playground on the foreshore, perfect for little legs to burn some energy. Grab a takeaway coffee from one of the cafes opposite and settle in for some scenic fun.

12. Find your perfect stay

balcony view at Drift Palm Cove
Unwind at Drift Palm Cove. (Credit: Supplied)

Palm Cove is home to everything from luxury beachfront resorts and adults-only retreats to family-friendly apartments and boutique hideaways. Whether you’re planning a romantic escape, a wellness weekend or a tropical family holiday, there’s accommodation to suit every style and budget. Browse our guide to the best accommodation in Palm Cove to find your perfect base.

Planning a trip to Palm Cove? Check out more of our recommendations here:

The best accommodation in Palm Cove | The best restaurants in Palm Cove | The best accommodation in Palm Cove

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Jemma Fletcher
Based in sun-kissed Brisbane, Jemma Fletcher is an accomplished writer, editor and content manager. Armed with a Bachelor of Journalism from The University of Queensland, as well as over a decade of tourism marketing experience, Jemma now specialises in freelance travel writing and has a soft spot for the beauty of Queensland. Her expertise has been honed through her previous roles as Chief Editor of Queensland.com and WeekendNotes.com and she is the passionate creator of High Cup of Tea, an online directory celebrating Australia's finest high tea experiences. After growing up in the UK (hence her love for tea and scones) and a delightful chapter in Sydney, Jemma loves to explore quaint towns with a rich history. Also high on her weekend list is tasting the local cafe scene, enjoying charming farm stays with her young family and deciding where her next travel adventure will be (half of the fun is in the planning!)
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Exploding supernovas & gold fever: discover the past at this outback Qld town

    Kassia Byrnes Kassia Byrnes
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    Under wide-open outback skies, discover a fossicking gem that’s managed to slip under the radar.

    While the name Clermont may feel new to even the most intrepid traveller, its gilded history stretches back centuries. You’ll find it just off the highway, humming quietly under the hazy veil of Queensland’s outback sun. It’s here, hemmed in by mountains and perched atop soil heavy with the earth’s treasures, that one of Australia’s most accessible outback adventures awaits.

    Thanks to deposits of gold, copper and gemstones – souvenirs left by exploding supernovas and the heave of tectonic plates – Clermont became a centre point of Queensland’s Gold Rush. And now? Australia’s fossicking capital is yours to discover.

    Getting there

    car driving along Capricorn Way in queensland
    Take a drive through Queensland’s Mackay Isaac region. (Image: Sean Scott/ TEQ)

    You’ll find Clermont in Queensland’s Mackay Isaac region. To get here, it’s an easy three-hour drive over sealed roads from Mackay. Or, if you’re heading from the Sapphire Fields of Emerald, the drive will carve out just over an hour from your day.

    Whether you’re road-tripping through outback Queensland or just tracing your way through all that Australia has to offer, Clermont is remote but easily accessible.

    Best accommodation in Clermont

    Theresa CreekDam in clermont
    Camp by Theresa Creek Dam. (Image: Riptide Creative/ TEQ)

    All accommodation comes with a generous helping of country hospitality here. The choice is yours between modern hotels, parking up the camper or pitching a tent.

    Theresa Creek Dam lies just outside town. Begin each day with crisp country air and bright outback sunrises. Spend the night under the sparkling country stars and your days out on the dam fishing or kayaking. Even if you aren’t camping, be sure to save space in your itinerary for an afternoon on the red dirt shore.

    To stay closer to town, opt for a central hotel to base yourself between exploring and fossicking, like Smart Stayzzz Inn and Clermont Country Motor Inn.

    Things to do in Clermont

    three people on a tour with Golden Prospecting
    Join a tour with Golden Prospecting.

    One does not visit Clermont without trying their hand at fossicking. There are strict rules when it comes to fossicking, so stick to areas dedicated for general permission and make sure you obtain your license beforehand. Try your luck at McMasters, Four Mile, Town Desert, McDonald Flat and Flat Diggings. To increase your odds, sign on for a tour with the expert team at Golden Prospecting. They’ll give you access to exclusive plots and expert advice along the way.

    Once you’ve tried your luck on the gold fields, head to the Clermont Township and Historical Museum. Each exhibit works like an archaeologist’s brush to dust away the layers of Clermont’s history. Like the steam engine that painstakingly relocated the entire town inch by inch to higher ground after it was decimated by flooding in 1916. See the tools that helped build the Blair Athol mine, historic fire engines, shearing sheds and all sorts of relics that make up Clermont’s story.

    The historic Copperfield Chimney offers a change of pace. Legend has it that fossickers found a solid wall of copper here, over three metres high, kick-starting Queensland’s first-ever copper mine.

    Bush Heli Services flying over clermont queensland
    See Clermont from above with Bush Heli Services. (Image: Riptide Creative/ TEQ)

    For hiking, nearby Dysart is the best place to access Peak Range National Park. Here, mountainous horizons stretch across the outback as if plucked from another world. Set off for a scenic drive along the Peak Downs Highway for access to countless geological wonders. Like the slanting rockface of Wolfang Peak. Summit it, and you’ll find yourself looking out across a scene surely conjured up by Banjo Paterson. Dry scrub dancing in the warm breeze, grazing cattle, eucalypts and the gentle creak of windmills. Don’t miss visiting Gemini Peaks, either, for one of the park’s best vistas, and a blanket of wild flowers after rain.

    Then, take to the skies with a scenic helicopter tour with Bush Heli-Services. Shift your perspective and cruise above all the sights from your trip. Spots like Lords Table Mountain and Campbell’s Peak are best viewed from the skies.

    Before you head home, be sure to explore the neighbouring townships. Spend a lazy afternoon in the shade of Nebo Hotel’s wrap-around verandahs. The hotel’s 1900s dance hall has since been replaced with one of the area’s biggest rodeo arenas, so consider timing your trip to line up with a boot scootin’ rodeo. Or, stop by a ghost town. Mount Britton was once a thriving town during the 1880s Gold Rush. It’s been totally abandoned and now lies untouched, a perfect relic of the Gold Rush.

    Best restaurants and cafes in Clermont

    meal at Commercial Hotel
    Stop into the Commercial Hotel Clermont.

    Days spent fossicking, bushwalking and cramming on history call for excellent coffee and hearty country meals. Luckily, Clermont delivers in spades.

    Lotta Lattes Cafe is beloved by locals for a reason. Start your days here for the best caffeine fix in town and an impeccable brunch menu.

    For a real country meal, an icy cold beer and that famed country hospitality, head straight to the town’s iconic hotel: the Commercial Hotel (known endearingly to locals as ‘The Commie’). It’s been a staple in Clermont since 1877. The hotel even survived the flood of 1916 when it was sawn in two and moved to higher ground.

    Naturally, time spent in the outback must include calling into the local bakery. For delicious pies and a tantalising array of sweet treats, make Bluemac Bakehouse your go-to while in town.

    Discover more of The Mackay Isaac region, and start planning your trip at mackayisaac.com.