PALM COVE: MICHELLE

Where we are: Palm Cove for 3 nights (BRT office getaway!)

This paradise is perfectly situated between Cairns and Port Douglas and is easily accessible from Cairns Airport, only 30mins away. With its relaxed and sophisticated atmosphere, it is the perfect beach side holiday for singles, couples, and families of all ages.

Where we stayed: Alamanda Palm Cove by Lancemore

With views of the golden sand beach fringed with palm trees from the balcony of our 3-bedroom beachfront suite it was G&T time!! Our room was a spacious double story apartment with a full kitchen and plenty of living space to accommodate the whole BRT family for the next 3 nights.

To Do: Palm Cove is an excellent base to further explore Tropical North Queensland with easy access to iconic attractions such as the Great Barrier Reef, Mossman Gorge and beyond to the Daintree Rainforest. Enjoy meandering along the esplanade through local boutiques, wonderful cafes, and restaurants.

Highlight: During our stay we hired a car and drove to Mossman Gorge for the day. Our 2-hour drive to the Rainforest visitor centre was truly scenic as we cruised up the coastline past several small townships. The visitor centre had ample parking and was flooded with visitors as tour buses arrived one after the other. Surprisingly though it did not take long to get our entry tickets and be on our way through the forest breathing in the fresh air, enjoying the peace and tranquillity of this natural wonder.

Fav meal/drink: Palm Cove is dotted with lovely cafes to sit out and people watch. A favourite was breakfast at Chill Café serving up amazing coffee, super fresh juices and an all-day breakfast menu!

Fun fact: Not far from Palm Cove and well worth a visit is the visit the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary, the largest butterfly flight aviary in the southern hemisphere!!

Next time: So much to see and do up here and with only 2 days we did not even scratch the surface. Next time, must sees include the Kuranda Heritage Market, open every day with stalls offering a wide range of locally produced souvenirs. A trip on the Skyrail cable car to marvel at the lush forest from above and then to catch the train back down and enjoy views of the gorgeous landscape along the way. Also kayaking out to Double Island (Ellis Beach) for a day of snorkelling, beachcombing, and picnics.