On William’s Esplanade, Palm Cove
Palm Cove has a reputation for being a boutique, luxury location near Cairns in Tropical North Queensland. Yet it’s very possible to visit Palm Cove on a budget and experience the luxury for a fraction of the price.
The first key to visiting the beach town of Palm Cove on a budget is accommodation. Resorts are lovely, but if you’re visiting the area to explore it, it’s hard to deny that you’ll be spending the majority of your time outside – not in your room. To that end, staying in budget-friendly accommodation seems like an obvious choice. Holiday rentals are a great way to save, with many apartments available at under $100 per night. To save even more, check out the Palm Cove Holiday Park. Camping, or bringing a caravan, is the perfect way to stick to your budget – and the campground is 20m from the beach!
So accommodation isn’t all about the resorts, fair enough, but that doesn’t mean you won’t want to indulge a little in the luxuries they have to offer. You won’t be able to use the resort pool if you’re not staying there, but you can still enjoy their day spas. Many resorts operate day spas in Palm Cove, which provides you with great choice and the opportunity to shop around. And remember, even a little pampering can go a long way to making you feel amazing on your holiday – no expensive treatments needed.
Another typical expense when visiting Palm Cove is food. More specifically, eating out. There are plenty of ways to offset this cost, particularly if you’re staying in a self-contained apartment. Why not indulge in only one restaurant meal per day – like lunch – and use the kitchen of your apartment to prepare breakfast and dinner at home. The nearby suburbs of Clifton Beach and Smithtown have full-sized supermarkets. Stocking up on supplies here means you can save a fortune on dining out.
For the most part, exploring the region from Palm Cove won’t cost any more than Cairns. Most tours of the area pick up patrons from hotels in Palm Cove as well as the bigger city, ensuring that you get all the benefits of Cairns, in a luxury environment voted one of Australia’s best tropical destinations, without having to spend an arm and a leg.