Palm Cove perhaps. What are you going to do though? Where you stay should be convenient to the activities.

Sounds like you are staying in Cairns, but it really depends on your budget on places to stay.

Have a look at the last minute sites for Cairns accommodation in your price range like www.wotif.com and then look at reviews or PM DE's like Verdant for more information and advice, or add a post on your three shortlisted places and perhaps someone can assist and give further advice.

Guess the question is too "wide"

you do realise that Cairns doesn't have a natural beach! Just a man-made lagoon. try the northern beaches perhaps Trinity Cove or go as far as Port Douglas.

5 nmgs

"you do realise that Cairns doesn't have a natural beach!

This is incorrrect

"Cairns" describes an area 50 miles from north to south and this area includes many beaches. Cairns has city centre which is developed due to having a harbour same as majority of industrial centres worldwide.Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbäne, Rockhamptom etc etc etc the list goes on very very normal to have city develop around ports. The same port that ferries people out to the reef.

the OP asks "which beach"which suggest they have a good understanding of the area otherwise why would thay ask?.

For those that do not know the area, Cairns beaches refers to a string of beaches that run north of the airport to Ellis Beach. and include the popular Trinity Beach, Palm Cove and Kewarra.

Guest often end up at a Cairns beach and complain they are not in the downtown area or go to downtown after seeing pictures of Cairns beaches and wonder where the beach is. The simple answer is that Cairns is a massive area . You cAN stay in rainforesty bed and breakfasT, on wetlands like Billabong bed and breakfast, beaches like Palm Cove and in the city and it is all in what we consider Cairns.

Sydney for eg has Bondi beach yet technically Sydney has no beach, Kiwis have the biggest problem grapsing this concept, maye they do things differently down there.

If you had read my post you will see that I did suggest the 'northern beaches'. What one person understands by a word is quite different from another. If I didn't know anything about Cairns I would expect that the word "Cairns" meant the area around the CBD and the area of most hotels etc. For "Cairns" I do not include Trinity, Palm Cove, Port Douglas etc. there has to be a limit.

I still say that Cairns does not have a natural beach. But do agree there are lots of lovely beaches around.

Trinity Beach and Palm Cove ARE Cairns and they are the beautiful beaches of Cairns.

Cairns CBD does not have a beach.

Port is not Cairns.

lol agree, no beach in the CBD, but Cairns has beaches. I have relatives and friends at Palm Cove and it is Cairns City area.

Poppett, Palm Cove may suit you, have fun.

Any tourist brochure will say Cairns (ie the bit in the city centre, just like Syd, melb or Adelaide etc) and Cairns beaches...

almost the same..on TA we Palm Cove is from cairns

if i was looking for night scene I'd be going cairns central then daytripping to the beaches etc

much rather be close to home partying late than close to a beach with a drive home or reliant on transport

my next choice....draws deep breath and rounds up bullet proof vest would be the more tourist oriented Port Douglas and for a compromise palm cove

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