In addition to the lush rainforests and the gorgeous Great Barrier Reef the Cairns region is known for its beautiful beaches. A vacation in Queensland should include some time enjoying the pristine white sands and translucent waters. The Northern Beaches run for 16.1 miles from Cairns and the Barron River Bridge which is just 15minutes from the city center.  

The beaches are lined with palm trees and resorts, hotels for all budgets, restaurants, a shopping center at Smithfield and many attractions. The Sunbus take tourists north from Cairns stopping at all the beaches on the way except Ellis Beach. Swimmers should be aware of “stinger season” from November to May when the box jellyfish appear. To avoid being stung stick to beaches where there are stinger nets. To stay safe swimmers should stay within the enclosures and abide by the lifeguards flags.

The beaches from Cairns moving north are Machans, Holloways, Yorkeys Knob, Trinity Beach, Kewarra, Clifton, Palm Cove (see separate listing) and Ellis Beach. Machans Beach is the closest beach to Cairns; it is a residential suburban beach and at low tide is wider than it is long. Holloways is great for swimming but the beach is very narrow. This beach has stinger nets during the stinger season. Yorkeys Knob is a small beach famed for its boat club and Half Moon Bay Marina with a restaurant that has sea views. Trinity Beach is considered the best of Cairns’ northern beaches and the beachfront is lined with 5 star resorts. Trinity Beach has calm waters thanks to the headlands at either end of the beach. Kewarra Beach has Pelican Park adjoining it and a small shopping center not far away. During the stinger season Kewarra Beach has stinger nets. Clifton Beach is largely untouched by commercial developments. The beach has many pippi (a kind of small shellfish) which dig into the sand. There are stinger nets here too. Ellis Beach is on the northern side of a rock outcrop and is completely undeveloped. It stretches for about 0.6 mile and the Sunbus does not reach here.