Palm Cove is getting a breezy new resort just steps from the beach

The much-loved tropical destination is set to gain a new resident with The Hilton Palm Cove Cairns Resort & Spa.

Picture-perfect Palm Cove is the ultimate beachfront vacation spot, where rainforest meets reef. Loved for its year-round tropical climate and laid-back attitude, this idyllic gateway to the Great Barrier Reef is defined by its golden shoreline dotted with palm trees and its azure waters. Hilton, in partnership with Tyche Asset Management, is set to redefine tropical luxury accommodation in the area with the new Hilton Palm Cove Cairns Resort & Spa.

Palm Cove jetty — Palm Cove is home to pristine beaches. (Credit: Vince Sofia/Tourism and Events Queensland)

The resort is set to open in October 2026, just 25 minutes north of Cairns Airport and 40 minutes from Port Douglas. It will offer sophisticated coastal accommodation just minutes from the beachside village’s pristine shores and vibrant main drag, William’s Esplanade, which is lined with quaint eateries – including the popular Nu Nu – and boutique shops.

Housed in the former Hotel Grand Chancellor, which has been fully refurbished, guests can expect breezy interiors evocative of the surrounding landscape within spread-out, low-rise buildings. Coastal tones punctuated by colourful contemporary artworks and complemented by light timber joinery and natural textures, will envelop everywhere from the foyer to the guestrooms. Each of the 140 contemporary rooms and suites will feature private balconies overlooking tropical gardens or sparkling pools.

hilton palm cove cairns resort and spa restaurant — The hotel’s breezy interiors are reflective of the surrounding landscape.

Two outdoor pools, including a lagoon-style pool, are sure to keep little ones happy. While a wellness centre, equipped with floating pods, infrared sauna, steam room, therapy rooms and Japanese head massage, and two distinct bars, including a pool bar serving light tropical bites, will cater to adults in need of relaxation time. Euca Bar Grill, with its flame-led menu, will serve as the hotel’s restaurant, and Sol food truck will round out the offerings.

While it’s always been a popular holiday spot for Queenslanders, recent awards, including “Best Beach in the World" by Condé Nast Traveler, have fueled Palm Cove’s growing appeal with everyone from young families to honeymooners and nature enthusiasts. The Hilton development is a direct response to the region’s thriving tourism market, and is the third Hilton property in the region, following nearby Hilton Cairns and DoubleTree by Hilton Cairns.

hilton palm cove cairns resort and spa guestroom — Rooms and suites feature calming neutral tones.

And while you might find it hard to pull yourself away from this pretty pocket in Tropical North Queensland, basing yourself in Palm Cove also means you’re within day-trip distance of the world’s oldest tropical rainforest, the Daintree Rainforest.

Details

Address: 10 Coral Coast Drive in Palm Cove

Opening date: 31 October

Best for: Young families, honeymooners and those looking for the perfect base to discover ancient rainforests and the Great Barrier Reef

There’s more to discover in this buzzing city beyond its thrilling theme parks and pretty beaches.

One of the world’s most celebrated coastal destinations, the Gold Coast has long drawn in visitors with its endless stretches of golden sand and thrilling theme parks. And while these iconic drawcards deliver time and time again, there’s much more to discover in this idyllic pocket of the world.

Luxury enthusiasts are catered for with fabulous five-star retreats, foodies can delight their taste buds with the freshest produce, and nature lovers can lose themselves in a world of ancient rainforest.

From the Hinterland to the sea, here are five surprising ways to experience the Gold Coast.

1. Indulge in luxury

Mondrian Gold Coast women enjoying Pampering treatments at the Ciel Spa and wellness facilities — Escape the grind inside Mondrian Gold Coast’s CIEL Spa. (Credit: Demi Gavin)

If you’re in need of a weekend away to recharge, you’re well looked after with the suite of five-star beachfront hotels. And with the country’s first Andaz hotel opening later this year in Broadbeach and a glamorous Ritz-Carlton on the way, a new era of luxury is being ushered in.

Many of these hotels, like The Langham (Chuan Spa) and the Mondrian Gold Coast (CIEL Spa), feature world-class day spas in sumptuous settings, offering treatments spanning massages, facials, body wraps, and hand and foot therapies from some of the world’s best therapists.

It would also be remiss when on the Gold Coast not to take to the sparkling waters, and the most stylish way to do so is by chartering a yacht, of course. Set sail on your own private haven from Crystal Blue Yacht Charters or Sailing in Paradise, spending your days lounging on deck, discovering secluded coves only accessible by boat and dipping in crystalline waters.

2. Escape to the Hinterland

experience the Gold Coast at springbrook national park Warrie Circuit, looking out from Ngarri-dhum Falls — Hike through Springbrook National Park to enjoy incredible views. (Credit: Reuben Nutt)

You’d be forgiven for not being able to pull yourself away from the Gold Coast’s sparkling coastline, but just a 30-minute drive inland, the Hinterland spoils visitors with a lush landscape that brings an instant sense of calm.

In the World Heritage-listed Lamington National Park, an ancient oasis of over 500 waterfalls and over 160 kilometres of bushwalking trails are waiting to be discovered, soundtracked by the calls of rare rainforest songbirds. And in the ancient Springbrook National Park, you can witness a dazzling light show from one of the largest glow worm colonies in the world. And walk beneath towering Antarctic Beech Trees.

The Hinterland’s fertile volcanic soil and subtropical climate make it a growers’ paradise, and gourmands can relish the best of the region’s bounty at restaurants like Paddock at Beechmont Estate. This casual fine-dining destination offers a paddock-to-plate experience in the truest sense, with produce harvested onsite and sourced from local farms. It might also surprise you to learn that there are fabulous wineries in the region as well, including the must-visit Witches Falls Winery, which produces world-class wild-ferment drops.

3. Taste the best of the dining scene

Tarte Bakery & Cafe serving coffee, pastries and meals in the heart of Burleigh — Treat yourself at Tarte Bakery & Cafe. (Credit: Jesse Lindemann)

The culinary scene on the Gold Coast exceeds expectations thanks to its location and gastronomic talent. Ultra-fresh seafood, abundant hinterland produce and inventive brews star on menus, making it a haven for foodies.

Start your day on a delicious note with the smell of fresh pastries and some of the best coffee in the city at Tarte Bakery & Cafe. Or sit in the classic Queenslander at Paddock Bakery to tuck into their elevated take on ‘egg and soldiers’, with toasted sourdough, organic labna, parsley and bacon bits.

Rick Shores is a must-visit lunch or sunset dinner spot in Burleigh Heads, loved for its front-row vistas of the ocean and succulent Pan-Asian flavours – the Fried Moreton Bay Bug Roll with its delicate sweet meat and toasted brioche bun has a cult following. The team’s second venue, Norté, is another culinary triumph, serving Latin American bites in an ultra-sleek space.

For a more relaxed affair, sit outside at the award-winning Burleigh Brewing Co and sip your way through a tasting padel of inventive lagers and ales while tapping your feet to live music.

4. Recover with wellness & relaxation

aerial view of upper valley pool at Eden Retreat on the gold coast — Enjoy a total reset surrounded by rainforest at Eden Retreat.

The Gold Coast knows a thing or two when it comes to pampering and relaxation, and those seeking some R&R or to banish their worries can do so at the multitude of bathhouses, day spas and secluded hinterland retreats peppered across the city.

One of the most coveted spots to unwind and experience the tranquillity of Japanese bathing culture is at SOL Elements, Australia’s first floating bathhouse snuggled in the rainforests of Mt Tamborine. Also located in the hinterland is Eden Retreat, a luxury health retreat on a 400-acre property designed to reconnect you with nature via daily wellness classes and contemporary lodges overlooking the rainforest.

Back in the city, Soak Bathhouse is a local favourite for contrast therapy with its open-air hot spas, mineral baths, cold plunges, cedar sauna and steam room. If a massage or facial is more your calling, book into Spa by JW at JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort and Spa. Let the professionals soothe overworked muscles and rejuvenate skin in a heavenly setting.

And who could forget the city’s untamed side? Seek out natural swimming spots like the dreamy Araluen swimming hole hidden away in the Tallebudgera Valley, and the lower section of Currumbin Creek, a pristine tidal estuary with lagoon-like waters.

Start planning the ultimate Gold Coast getaway, your way, at experiencegoldcoast.com.

Palm Cove is getting a breezy new resort just steps from the beach

The much-loved tropical destination is set to gain a new resident with The Hilton Palm Cove Cairns Resort & Spa.

Details

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