12 Memorable Things To Do In Palm Cove

Looking for things to do in Palm Cove? Here are 12 ideas.

A pretty pocket in Tropical North Queensland, Palm Cove is the ultimate relaxed beachfront, but this town offers more than just sea and sand. Whether you’re visiting for a day, or you plan to spend the whole week here, be warned — it’ll be hard to pull yourself away from this slice of paradise.

1. Visit Palm Cove Beach

Of course, what’s a visit to Palm Cove without visiting its hero beach? Warm and inviting all year round, this stretch of sand has won many awards as Australia’s cleanest beach over the years.

Palm Cove Beach also packs a triple trifecta punch — it’s uncrowded, it has a swimming net, and it’s regularly patrolled by lifeguards. Got your pooch in tow? Find an area of beach reserved for dog walking on the northern side of the jetty.

Couple in Palm Cove on Palm Beach — What’s a visit to Palm Cove without visiting its hero beach? (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

2. Stroll along Williams Esplanade

What’s beautifully convenient about Palm Cove is that the village is centred around Williams Esplanade, a stunning stretch of coastline fringed with Melaleuca trees, cafes, boutiques, and alluring beach nooks to explore. All you need are sunnies and a hat, and you’re good to go. Take a stroll or hire a bike to see it for yourself — and make sure to grab some calamari and chips to go from Lucky Fish .

Williams Esplanade Palm Cove — Palm Cove is centred around Williams Esplanade. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

3. Head to a day spa

Palm Cove is a mecca for wellness lovers. Home to some of the country’s best luxury hotels, this coastal village is renowned for its abundance of award-winning spas. Whether you fancy a wellness probiotic facial at Vie Spa , a mango and coconut body wrap at L.M Spa , or a salt crystal exfoliation at The Reef House , there’s no shortage of day spas to feel relaxed and rejuvenated.

an open book with a cup of tea in the pool area at L.M Spa, Palm Cove — Enjoy a cup of tea with a book in hand by the pool at L.M Spa. (Image: Rhiannon Taylor)

4. Enjoy a taste of the tropics

From high-end alfresco dining to cosy homemade fare using the best of North Queensland’s produce, you can absolutely eat your way around Palm Cove’s many cafes and restaurants. From modern Australian and Thai to Greek, Mexican, or Southeast Asian flavours, you’ll find a mix of cuisines to choose from, alongside beautiful views overlooking the beach.

NuNu Restaurant Palm Cove — Enjoy beachfront dining at Nu Nu. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

5. Browse the local shops

Looking to take a piece of Palm Cove home with you? Shopping here is an activity all by itself. Calmly meander around the splatter of boutiques, gift stores, and souvenir shops along Williams Esplanade or explore the Ian Stephens Fine Art Gallery . With a sea breeze in your ear and bars along the way to stop in for a colourful cocktail, it’s a shopping experience you’ll wish you could have every weekend.

6. Find a treasure at the Palm Cove Markets

With a focus on sustainable, local, quality handmade products, the Palm Cove Markets have a reputation for being one of Tropical North Queensland’s best community markets. With over 130 stalls stretched across Williams Esplanade and entertainment alongside beachside scenery, it’s a market experience, unlike anything you’re used to at home. Held on the first Sunday of every month.

7. Cast a line at the jetty

As you’ll discover at Palm Cove’s restaurants, the seafood here is exceptional and you can get involved too. The Palm Cove Jetty is a great fishing spot, with plenty of Spanish mackerel, cod, whiting, and flathead to be caught. Check out Pedro’s Fishing Hire for everything you need to get stuck in.

an overhead shot of Palm Cove Jetty — Go fishing at Palm Cove Jetty. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

8. Kayak around Double Island

Just a 10-minute boat ride from Palm Cove Jetty, Double Island is a hidden treasure. This privately owned 19-hectare island has a small resort you can stay at, but if you prefer a quick peek, Pacific Water Sports offers half-day tours. Join the Sunrise Kayak Turtle Tour to paddle over to Double Island Reef to greet green and hawksbill sea turtles, before pulling up on Double Island itself to explore it further.

an aerial view of Double Island, Palm Cove — Explore the rich tropical landscapes surrounding Double Island. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

9. Join a beach yoga class

Want to move, breathe, and relax next to the ocean? Whether you’re a tourist or local, you can do all that with Hartig Yoga under the palm trees outside of the Alamanda Resort . From gentle yoga and sunrise beach yoga to vinyasa yoga that strings a series of poses together seamlessly, there’s a class to suit every level no matter what your experience is.

a woman practicing yoga on Palm Cove Beach — Find some quiet time and practice yoga on the beach. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

10. Stretch your legs on the Palm Cove Jetty Lookout Walk

To break away from the esplanade, walk to the end of the Palm Cove Jetty to see an entirely different view of Palm Cove and to get the perfect holiday snap. For a little extra sparkle, head there at sunrise or sunset.

people on a boat paddling at dusk, Pal Cove — Paddle through Palm Cove to witness incredible sunset or sunrise views. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

11. Let the kids play

Families with young kids will be interested to hear that there’s an enclosed beach playground on the foreshore, perfect for little legs to burn some energy. Grab a takeaway coffee from the cafes opposite and settle in for some scenic fun.

Palm Cove Family — There’s an enclosed beach playground on the foreshore. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

12. Have your dream wedding

Did you know Palm Cove is one of Australia’s premier wedding locations? With the quiet beaches and picturesque seafront, it’s a beautiful place to say your vows – and you’re spoilt for choice on reception locations.

a wedding reception setup at Nu Nu Restaurant, Palm Cove — Pick Nu Nu Restaurant for your dreamy beach wedding. (Image: Tourism Tropical North Queensland)

Nu Nu Restaurant is a particularly popular spot, and we can see why. Imagine dining with your nearest and dearest along a banquet table under swaying palm trees and fairy lights, set to an ocean soundtrack. Bliss.

a couple dining under palm trees at Nu Nu Restaurant, Palm Cove — Wed and dine under the shade of palm trees at Nu Nu Restaurant. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Fallen in love and want to stay longer? Get to know the absolute best accommodation in Palm Cove.

Under wide-open outback skies, discover a fossicking gem that’s managed to slip under the radar.

While the name Clermont may feel new to even the most intrepid traveller, its gilded history stretches back centuries. You’ll find it just off the highway, humming quietly under the hazy veil of Queensland’s outback sun. It’s here, hemmed in by mountains and perched atop soil heavy with the earth’s treasures, that one of Australia’s most accessible outback adventures awaits.

Thanks to deposits of gold, copper and gemstones – souvenirs left by exploding supernovas and the heave of tectonic plates – Clermont became a centre point of Queensland’s Gold Rush. And now? Australia’s fossicking capital is yours to discover.

Getting there

car driving along Capricorn Way in queensland — Take a drive through Queensland’s Mackay Isaac region. (Image: Sean Scott/ TEQ)

You’ll find Clermont in Queensland’s Mackay Isaac region. To get here, it’s an easy three-hour drive over sealed roads from Mackay. Or, if you’re heading from the Sapphire Fields of Emerald, the drive will carve out just over an hour from your day.

Whether you’re road-tripping through outback Queensland or just tracing your way through all that Australia has to offer, Clermont is remote but easily accessible.

Best accommodation in Clermont

Theresa CreekDam in clermont — Camp by Theresa Creek Dam. (Image: Riptide Creative/ TEQ)

All accommodation comes with a generous helping of country hospitality here. The choice is yours between modern hotels, parking up the camper or pitching a tent.

Theresa Creek Dam lies just outside town. Begin each day with crisp country air and bright outback sunrises. Spend the night under the sparkling country stars and your days out on the dam fishing or kayaking. Even if you aren’t camping, be sure to save space in your itinerary for an afternoon on the red dirt shore.

To stay closer to town, opt for a central hotel to base yourself between exploring and fossicking, like Smart Stayzzz Inn and Clermont Country Motor Inn .

Things to do in Clermont

three people on a tour with Golden Prospecting — Join a tour with Golden Prospecting.

One does not visit Clermont without trying their hand at fossicking. There are strict rules when it comes to fossicking, so stick to areas dedicated for general permission and make sure you obtain your license beforehand. Try your luck at McMasters , Four Mile , Town Desert, McDonald Flat and Flat Diggings . To increase your odds, sign on for a tour with the expert team at Golden Prospecting . They’ll give you access to exclusive plots and expert advice along the way.

Once you’ve tried your luck on the gold fields, head to the Clermont Township and Historical Museum . Each exhibit works like an archaeologist’s brush to dust away the layers of Clermont’s history. Like the steam engine that painstakingly relocated the entire town inch by inch to higher ground after it was decimated by flooding in 1916. See the tools that helped build the Blair Athol mine, historic fire engines, shearing sheds and all sorts of relics that make up Clermont’s story.

The historic Copperfield Chimney offers a change of pace. Legend has it that fossickers found a solid wall of copper here, over three metres high, kick-starting Queensland’s first-ever copper mine.

Bush Heli Services flying over clermont queensland — See Clermont from above with Bush Heli Services. (Image: Riptide Creative/ TEQ)

For hiking, nearby Dysart is the best place to access Peak Range National Park. Here, mountainous horizons stretch across the outback as if plucked from another world. Set off for a scenic drive along the Peak Downs Highway for access to countless geological wonders. Like the slanting rockface of Wolfang Peak. Summit it, and you’ll find yourself looking out across a scene surely conjured up by Banjo Paterson. Dry scrub dancing in the warm breeze, grazing cattle, eucalypts and the gentle creak of windmills. Don’t miss visiting Gemini Peaks, either, for one of the park’s best vistas, and a blanket of wild flowers after rain.

Then, take to the skies with a scenic helicopter tour with Bush Heli-Services . Shift your perspective and cruise above all the sights from your trip. Spots like Lords Table Mountain and Campbell’s Peak are best viewed from the skies.

Before you head home, be sure to explore the neighbouring townships. Spend a lazy afternoon in the shade of Nebo Hotel’s wrap-around verandahs . The hotel’s 1900s dance hall has since been replaced with one of the area’s biggest rodeo arenas, so consider timing your trip to line up with a boot scootin’ rodeo. Or, stop by a ghost town. Mount Britton was once a thriving town during the 1880s Gold Rush. It’s been totally abandoned and now lies untouched, a perfect relic of the Gold Rush.

Best restaurants and cafes in Clermont

meal at Commercial Hotel — Stop into the Commercial Hotel Clermont.

Days spent fossicking, bushwalking and cramming on history call for excellent coffee and hearty country meals. Luckily, Clermont delivers in spades.

Lotta Lattes Cafe is beloved by locals for a reason. Start your days here for the best caffeine fix in town and an impeccable brunch menu.

For a real country meal, an icy cold beer and that famed country hospitality, head straight to the town’s iconic hotel: the Commercial Hotel (known endearingly to locals as ‘The Commie’). It’s been a staple in Clermont since 1877. The hotel even survived the flood of 1916 when it was sawn in two and moved to higher ground.

Naturally, time spent in the outback must include calling into the local bakery. For delicious pies and a tantalising array of sweet treats, make Bluemac Bakehouse your go-to while in town.

Discover more of The Mackay Isaac region, and start planning your trip at mackayisaac.com.

12 memorable things to do in Palm Cove