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.

City buzz, gourmet trails, surf breaks and art scenes are all at your fingertips.

When it comes to planning a trip, picking a holiday destination is the easy part. The real dilemma is where to set yourself up for the night. Do you go coastal, city, or countryside? Somewhere remote and rugged, or right in the action? Luckily, the Sunshine Coast, and huge number of amazing Sunshine Coast day trips, have kindly made the choice for you.

Ditch the hotel-hopping and suitcase-lugging. Instead, base yourself at Novotel Sunshine Coast or Mantra Mooloolaba , where big-city culture, vine-covered valleys, and theme parks are all within a two-hour drive.

1. Sunshine Coast to Brisbane

Drive time: 1 hour 20 minutes (105km)

Shake off the sand from your sandals and swap the beach for the throb of the Queensland capital. Ease in gently with a bougainvillea-filled stroll through South Bank, iced latte in hand, before cooling off at Streets Beach lagoon – Brisbane’s answer to the coast (but without the waves).

Once firmly in big-city mode, hit up the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) , home to Australia’s largest collection of modern and contemporary artworks. Dive into the past at the Queensland Museum, where prehistoric fossils of Australian dinosaurs and megafauna collide with First Nations cultural collections and interactive science exhibits.

All this learning got you hungry? Howard Smith Wharves calls. Here, riverside dining delivers breweries with meat-forward menus, Japanese fine dining and overwater bars. If you’ve got room for more, Fortitude Valley’s shopping boutiques await you and your wallet.

woman walking around Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) — Wander the Gallery of Modern Art. (Image: TEQ)

2. Sunshine Coast to the Scenic Rim

Drive time: 2 hours 15 minutes (170km)

Make your way inland to the Scenic Rim for the state’s best vineyards and age-old volcanic slopes. Start your day early (like, sparrow’s breakfast early) at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat in Lamington National Park . Here, take a treetop walk through the canopy and hand-feed the wild birds who flock here.

Next, it’s your turn to eat. Here, the food scene operates where locally sourced produce is an expectation, not an exception. Order a picnic basket crammed with regional wine and cheese to devour next to the creek at Canungra Valley Vineyards . Or perhaps a grazing platter of vegan and non-vegan cheeses at Witches Falls Winery .

Feeling bold? Tackle the Twin Falls circuit in Springbrook National Park. Or keep the gourmet life going with a Scenic Rim Brewery tasting paddle, best enjoyed while taking in the rise of the Great Dividing Range.

woman with cheese and wine at Witches Falls Winery — Enjoy a cheese platter at Witches Falls Winery. (Image: TEQ)

3. Sunshine Coast to the Gold Coast

Drive time: 2 hours (180km)

Surf, sand and sparkling skylines might be the Gold Coast’s MO, but there’s more to Surfers Paradise and beyond. Kick things off with a beachfront coffee at Burleigh Heads, then hike through Burleigh Head National Park to look over the ocean and whale sightings (dependent on the season, of course).

Cool off in the calm waters of Tallebudgera Creek before chowing down on the famously buttery Moreton Bay bug rolls at Rick Shores . Travelling with the kids? Then you can’t miss Australia’s theme park capital, with Dreamworld ’s big rides and Warner Bros. Movie World ’s Hollywood treatment at hand to keep the family entertained.

aerial view of Tallebudgera Creek — Dive into Tallebudgera Creek. (Image: TEQ)

4. Sunshine Coast to Tweed Heads

Drive time: 2 hours 15 minutes (200km)

Dare to cross enemy lines? Then welcome to New South Wales. Tweed Heads blends the laid-back attitude of the Northern Rivers with high-quality dining, experimental art, and farm-fresh indulgence – a combo worth the drive.

Start strong with a long, lazy brunch at Tweed River House , then swing by Tropical Fruit World for exotic finds like red dragon fruit, handfuls of lychees and black sapote. Next, hit M|Arts Precinct – an art deco hub of micro galleries, artist workshops and one-off boutiques.

Round off the day with sunset drinks at Husk Distillers among the glowing cane fields, and order one with their famous Ink Gin. You’ll thank us later.

exterior of Husk Distillers — Taste the famous Ink Gin at Husk Distillers. (Image: Destination NSW)

5. Sunshine Coast Hinterland

Drive time: 1 hour (70km)

Strap on those hiking boots and make tracks inland, where volcanic peaks, misty rainforest and hinterland townships beckon. Ease in with the Glass House Mountains Lookout Walk, or, if you have energy to burn, tackle the Mount Ngungun Summit Walk for a 360-degree sight of the surrounding summits.

Next: Montville. This township delivers European-style architecture and old-world appeal. Nearby, settle in at Flame Hill Vineyard, where a large pour of estate-grown wine comes with encompassing views of the countryside.

Not ready to leave the hinterland villages just yet? Of course not. Meander past art galleries and indie shops at Maleny. Nab some fudge from Sweets on Maple for a sweet fix. Or go salty at Maleny Dairies with a farm tour and a chunky wedge of their deliciously creamy cheese.

End the day among the eucalypts and rainforests of Kondalilla National Park. Here, the Kondalilla Falls Circuit winds down through trees humming with life to a rock pool beneath a waterfall – as if designed for soaking tired feet before heading back to the coast.

view of Mount Ngungun on the scenic rim queensland — Take on the Mount Ngungun Summit Walk (Image: TEQ)

Start planning your Sunshine home base at all.com.

12 memorable things to do in Palm Cove