5 Best Day Trips You Can Do at Palm Cove

Making plans for your ultimate holiday in Palm Cove in Queensland? Below are only some of the best day trips you should put on your bucket list!

Cape Tribulation Road Trip

Tropical North Queensland is blessed with many beautiful eco-tourism spots that don’t fail to wow tourists every time. You’ve probably heard of the big old Daintree Rainforest and, of course, The Great Barrier Reef.

But it’s not always about the destination. Sometimes, it’s about the journey as well.

Aside from the gorgeous natural wonders that we mentioned, you can also take the scenic Captain Cook Highway, which is also known as the Great Barrier Reef Drive. A road trip on this highway offers the most stunning views of the beach, the ocean, and the rainforests.

This road leads to Cape Tribulation which is only 115km away from Palm Cove! Cape Tribulation is where the forest meets the sea. And it’s also one of the most untouched places in Australia.

But to be honest, the journey is just as gorgeous as the destination!

Escape to a tropical island

One way to make the most of your holiday is by escaping to a beautiful tropical island like Fitzroy Island. It’s just 30km southeast of Cairns and it’s easily accessible via a 45-minute ferry ride from Cairns.

Once you’re on the island, you may now enjoy the crystal clear and gentle waters of the Great Barrier Reef.

Aside from the stunning views and the relaxing ambience, there’s also a lot that you can do on Fitzroy Island! You can go scuba diving, snorkelling, sea kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding!

If you want to explore the waters but don’t want to get wet, hop on Fitzroy’s glass-bottom boat tours! As the name suggests, they are boats with glass panels at the bottom so you can witness the colourful marine life underwater without actually being on the water!

Exploration of the Great Barrier Reef

There are many other ways to explore the Great Barrier Reef. Aside from the activities that we mentioned above, you can also do these things:

Sand Cay Hopping – marvel at the beauty of the Reef’s corals from a gorgeous sliver of sand in the middle of the Coral Sea. You can take the Sailaway Tour that will take you to the Mackay Coral Cay which is found on the outer reef.

Sand cay hopping is perfect because you can explore the reef and mingle with aquatic life at your own pace! Not to mention, the Sailaway Tour has exclusive access to some of the sand cays on the reef.

Fishing – you can also bring out the inner angler in you! The Cairns Reef Fishing Charter crew offers a fishing trip where they can take you to the best fishing spots in town.

Whether you’re a pro or an amateur at fishing, don’t worry the trip is designed for all skill levels.

Mingle with Wildlife

Tropical North Queensland is teeming with wildlife. That’s why this place is perfect for animal lovers. Chance encounters with some of Australia’s furry icons are very possible out here.

But if you want to witness wild animals in their natural habitats, several tours and parks allow you to do that.

Billy Tea Safaris – this tour is what you can call the “total rainforest experience”. They offer tours for small groups across the Daintree River. And along the way, you’ll come across a croc or two and other animals in the wild.

Cassowary Coast – this is one of the best spots to find lively wildlife. It is named after the huge birds that live and roam free in this part of the region.

Hartley’s Crocodile Park – if you want to see more crocodiles, then this is the place to be. It’s just a 15-minute drive from Palm Cove.

Aside from self-guided tours, they also offer educational programs to keep you informed about the animals in the wild.

Get the ultimate relaxation at The Reef House

After all the day trips that you’ll be doing in Palm Cove, what you’ll need is a well-deserved relaxation at The Reef House Boutique Hotel and Spa. Book their world-class massage services and get your body relaxed so you’ll have more energy for more day trips the next day!