Palm Cove

If you want to settle in a family-friendly location with a lot to offer that is still close to the hustle and bustle of main city Cairns, then Palm Cove has a lot to offer. With houses that are just a stone’s throw from the water and plenty of amenities to satisfy the whole family, it’s not surprising that this is a popular location to live.

Palm Cove also has a good shopping area and plenty of cafes, bars and restaurants and is the perfect place to take a stroll on a balmy summer evening and bring up a family.

Where is it?

You’ll find Palm Cove about equal distance between Cairns and Port Douglas. Just 17 miles from Cairns it’s the perfect location with excellent beaches and is ideal for commuting to busier areas of Queensland if you are a professional.

There is a long and relaxing beach that ends at the north of the suburb in the more rocky but iconic Buchan Point.

History

The first visit to this traditional Aboriginal site was in the late 1800s when a British coastal expedition set up here. The land was bought before World War II by Albert Veivers who tried to bring various crops to the area, mostly unsuccessfully.

What he did do which helped future development was build the first road to the area. However, it wasn’t until the 1980s that Palm Cove cemented its reputation as a holiday location.

What’s So Great About Palm Cove?

Compared to other suburbs of Cairns, Palm Cove does have a little more history and most of its revenue comes from the tourist industry, mainly because of its proximity to the Great Barrier Reef. If you are looking for an idyllic location that has a small population (there are just over 2,000 residents), then this is a great choice to set up a home.

Being close to Cairns, means you have easy access to a lot of amenities including an international airport. Not only do you have clear blue oceans and sandy beaches to take advantage of but nearby Daintree Forest is also a popular attraction. Covering 460 square miles, the forest holds some 30% of the marsupial, frog and reptile species in Australia.

Along the seafront, you’ll find plenty of high-class bars and restaurants, many specialising in seafood. When it comes to nightlife, it’s not as busy as many suburbs around Cairns which makes it an ideal location if you want to avoid all the crowds and the noise that come with a prime tourist destination.

Although it has a relatively small population of residents, Palm Cove has numerous schools catering for all ages and the region is home to many professional families.

House Prices

The average price of a house in Palm Cove is $800,000 which makes it one of the more expensive suburbs of Cairns if you want to set up a home and buy a property. If you are looking to invest in property, you can expect to set rent in the region of $630 per week.