Situated at the half way point between Cairns and Port Douglas, Palm Cove is a beautiful beach overlooking an island horizon surrounded by the palm trees from which it gets its name. Getting to Palm Cove takes approximately 25 minutes from Cairns and around 30 minutes from Port Douglas by car. Thanks to its proximity to Cairns, the gateway to Tropical North Queensland, getting to Port Douglas is by air, road or rail and flights by Jetstar, Qantas and Virgin Australia fly directly to Cairns Airport.
Located approximately 21 hours or 1700km north of the state capital Brisbane, the most popular for getting to Port Douglas is to fly into Cairns Airport however if you’ve got the time, a road trip up the coast can be a wonderful way to explore the countryside and charming coastal towns. There are a wide range of attractions along the way including the Sunshine Coast, Fraser Island and Airlie Beach. For those flying into Cairns Airport and driving to Palm Cove from there, it’s an easy 30 minute drive along the Captain Cook Highway.
Although there aren’t any major airports in Palm Cove, the options for transfers and transportation from Cairns is excellent including car hire and shuttle transfers. The Cairns International Airport is home to both domestic and international terminals and is Australia’s fifth busiest international airport meaning it is well and truly equipped to assist you with all your ongoing transport needs. However for something a little bit different, there are also two spectacular rail journeys that make their way from Brisbane to Cairns, with connections to Palm Cove.
Travelling from Brisbane to Cairns three times a week return, The Sunlander makes its way through charming inland coastal towns like Gladstone and Bundaberg as well as sub-tropical areas like Proserpine, Mackay and Bowen before arriving in Cairns. Australia’s fastest train, the Spirit of Queensland makes the journey in just 24 hours and both services enjoy the same luxuries and comforts as they bask in the stunning scenery as they make their way through the state.
