I admit that I have dragged my children around the country this year as I attended a number of professional conferences. This weekend I used the opportunity of convening my own medical conference to pick a location that was close to home, stunning, and that the whole family would love. I chose Palm Cove.
Palm Cove, North Queensland
Located a half an hour north of Cairns on the Captain Cook Highway is the resort village of Palm Cove. Considered one of North Queensland’s upmarket destinations it retains a bare-foot casualness that is sometimes lacking at higher end locations. The hero of the location is the long, sandy, palm fringed beach. Remnants of the native Australian paperbark forest, set back from the beach are integrated with resort and restaurant architecture. My favorite activity at Palm Cove is to walk out on the pier that overlooks Double Island, and encourage my boys to approach fishermen asking “Catchin’ anything”, just as I did on southern beaches as a child. I am waiting till they are a little older before I take them fishing themselves.
Palm Cove is a mecca for families with small children due to the proliferation of self-contained accommodation (which are not all high end). The beach is also child friendly due to its small seas and a car is not necessary as you can walk the length of the village easily. Families seeking azure blue waters may be disappointed by the brown discoloration of the ocean, that is more pronounced on windy days. It is also important to be aware that stinger season runs from October to May and that, even children swimming in the stinger net at this patrolled beach would benefit from wearing swimming attire that covers their limbs.
We chose to stay at the exquisite Peppers Beach Club and Spa, located directly opposite the patrolled section of the beach. They offer spacious, immaculate family apartments and three swimming pools. Their white, sandy lagoon pool means that families visiting in stinger season, or when the winds are up will experience the beauty of tropical lagoon swimming. I avoid high end dining with my children however Pepper’s Lime and Pepper restaurant was offering a “children dine free” promotion. They were wonderfully flexible, allowing us to dine beside the pool rather than in their restaurant, so we had the benefit of beautiful food without being embarrassed by our rambunctious children’s behavior. Oh, and their breakfast was divine.
Peppers Beach Club and Spa Palm Cove
Families visiting Palm Cove also have easy access to the attractions that make Cairns, in Far North Queensland a favorite destination, such as boat trips to the Great Barrier Reef, and rainforest adventures.
Looks beautiful!
Thanks Simone. It was – you would have loved it.xx