The Northern Beaches of Cairns: A Buyer’s Guide to Paradise
If you’re considering a move to the coastal fringe north of Cairns, Queensland, what’s locally known as the “Northern Beaches”, you’re looking at a lifestyle that blends tropical beach-living with convenience, community, and investment potential. In this blog I’ll take you along the suburbs from north to south, and along the way highlight what each has to offer, the schooling catchments, property stats and key things to think about if you’re relocating, buying or renting down here..
1. Palm Cove
Overview & Lifestyle
Palm Cove is arguably the standout of the Northern Beaches: a palm-lined shoreline, resort-style eateries and cafés, relaxed water-sport options (snorkelling, sailing etc). It caters to both permanent residents and holiday-makers, which gives it a slightly more upscale feel.
School Catchments
Primary: Trinity Beach State School (via the broader catchment)
Secondary: Smithfield State High School (as per local catchments)
Also close: Northern Beaches Catholic Primary School (Independent)
Median Price Data
– Median house price: ~$1,052,500 (November 2025)
– Units: ~$552,500 (November 2025)
https://www.realestate.com.au/qld/palm-cove-4879/
What to know if you’re moving here
Expect premium pricing: Palm Cove is high on the lifestyle scale, which means higher price point and less speculative value upside compared to some cheaper neighbouring suburbs.
Because it is tourist-friendly, you might get more holiday-let / investment demand, but also more competition and seasonal swings.
If you work in Cairns CBD or commute elsewhere, be aware you’re ~20–25 km north of the city, so transport/time matters.
2. Clifton Beach
Overview & Lifestyle
Clifton Beach sits between Palm Cove and Kewarra Beach. It is family-friendly, with beach access, a surf life saving club, a local shopping centre and a relaxed pace.
School Catchments
Primary: Trinity Beach State School
Secondary: Smithfield State High School
Also independent: Northern Beaches Catholic Primary School nearby.
Median Price Data
– Median house price: ~$855,000 (November 2025)
– Units: ~$457,500 (November 2025)
https://www.realestate.com.au/qld/clifton-beach-4879/
What to know if you’re moving here
Good pick for families: beach, amenities, shopping nearby.
Because it’s sandwiched between higher value suburbs, you may find slightly better value here.
As usual for coastal suburbs: maintenance, insurance, storm/flood risk should be factored.
3. Kewarra Beach
Overview & Lifestyle
Kewarra Beach is leafy and established: a mix of classic Queenslanders and modern homes, beautiful beach, close to natural conservation areas.
School Catchments
Primary: Trinity Beach State School
Secondary: Smithfield State High School
Independent school nearby: Trinity Anglican School.
Median Price Data
– Median house price: ~$805,000 (November 2025)
– Units: $575,000 (November 2025)
https://www.realestate.com.au/qld/kewarra-beach-4879/
What to know if you’re moving here
Strong value and growth potential: one of the more stable, in-demand suburbs.
Slightly further from central Cairns, but still very accessible via the main highway.
Ideal for families wanting beach-lifestyle + good schooling + mature suburb feel.
4. Trinity Beach
Overview & Lifestyle
Trinity Beach is vibrant and well-known. It has a long curved beach, a good esplanade with cafés/restaurants, strong community vibe, and is very popular with families.
School Catchments
Primary: Trinity Beach State School
Secondary: Smithfield State High School
Nearby independent: Trinity Anglican School.
Median Price Data
– Median house price: ~$760,000 (November 2025)
– Units: $480,000 (November 2025)
https://www.realestate.com.au/qld/trinity-beach-4879/
What to know if you’re moving here
Balanced lifestyle: beach access, good amenities, and a real community.
Because of popularity, you might face more demand (and higher prices) than lesser-known suburbs.
If you’re considering short-term rental investment, Trinity Beach may have the demand, but check local holiday-let regulations.
Good for families: schooling and lifestyle align well.
5. Smithfield
Overview & Lifestyle
Smithfield is a major suburban centre serving the Northern Beaches region. It’s home to the large shopping centre (Smithfield Shopping Centre), the university campus (James Cook University), and transport links including the cable-car rainforest tourist attraction (Skyrail Rainforest Cableway).
School Catchments
Secondary: Smithfield State High School. (Primary catchment should be verified.)
Median Price Data
– Median house price: ~$745,000 (November 2025)
– Units: $399,050 (November 2025)
https://www.realestate.com.au/qld/smithfield-4878/
What to know if you’re moving here
If you want a suburb that offers more of the services/amenities (shops, education, transport) but still beach-proximity, Smithfield is a smart choice.
Because it is more of a service/transport hub, you might trade off some of the “pure beach suburb” feel for convenience and infrastructure.
Good for families, commuters, and for those who might work in the university/education sector.
6. Yorkeys Knob
Overview & Lifestyle
Yorkeys Knob offers a strong community feel, good beach access, a boat club and lots of fishing/boating opportunities. It blends permanent residences with holiday homes.
School Catchments
Primary: Trinity Beach State School
Secondary: Smithfield State High School
Median Price Data
– Median house price: ~$655,000 (November 2025)
– Units: $408,500 (November 2025)
https://www.realestate.com.au/qld/yorkeys-knob-4878/
What to know if you’re moving here
Good value relative to ultra-premium suburbs.
If you’re a boater or fish enthusiast, this is a strong pick.
Local amenities including shops, boating club and primary schooling.
Rental yield ~5% giving it decent investment potential (for long-term hold), but still check specifics (land size, condition, holiday demand).
7. Holloways Beach
Overview & Lifestyle
Holloways Beach is quieter, more residential compared to the heavier tourist zones. It sits just north of the airport, offering beach access in a more relaxed setting.
School Catchments
Same as many of the Northern Beaches: Trinity Beach State School (Primary) and Smithfield State High School (Secondary) catchments.
Median Price Data
– Median house price: ~$640,000 (November 2025)
– Units: $407,000 (November 2025)
https://www.realestate.com.au/qld/holloways-beach-4878/
What to know if you’re moving here
Proximity to the airport may mean more aircraft noise; this sometimes impacts pricing and resale. (Good to inspect at various times of day.)
It offers more affordable beach-living than some of the top tier suburbs.
Because of the quieter nature, amenities may be a little less abundant than in more developed areas — check your everyday shopping, dining, and transport.
Make sure to check insurance quotes after the 2024 floods impacted the suburb.
8. Machans Beach
Overview & Lifestyle
One of the most northerly of the beach suburbs (closer to Cairns Airport too). Machans Beach has a unique character: quiet, somewhat tucked away, popular for crabbing at the Barron River mouth.
School Catchments
Primary: Trinity Beach State School
Secondary: Smithfield State High School
Median Price Data
– Median house price: ~$620,000 (November 2025)
– Units: NA
https://www.realestate.com.au/qld/machans-beach-4878/
What to know if you’re moving here
If you want maximum tranquillity and beach-living without crowds, this could be it.
However, the distance and sometimes more limited amenities may mean you need to travel for major shopping or services.
Given the lower price point, there may be value here but inspect carefully for natural hazards (flood, storm surge) given its coastal/river mouth location.
Also worth taking note of the proximity to the airport and noise caused by this.
📝 Key Considerations for Relocators & Investors
Lifestyle vs price: The beach-front lifestyle comes at a premium. Suburbs further north or more tucked away may offer more value.
Schools and catchments: Many of the Northern Beaches share the same primary/secondary catchments (Trinity Beach State School, Smithfield State High School) so if schooling is a key priority, these areas compare favourably.
Transport & commute: The main road linking the Northern Beaches to Cairns is the Captain Cook Highway, travel time and traffic can vary especially during tourist peak seasons.
Flood/storm risk & insurance: Being coastal and sometimes near river mouths, make sure you assess flood-risk, storm surge vulnerability, and resulting insurance implications. For example, Trinity Beach has been subject to storm surge/flooding events.
Investment vs owner-occupier: If you’re buying to live, your criteria may differ from buying to rent. Some suburbs cater strongly to holiday/short-stay markets (which adds complexity around regulation and management).
Community and amenities: For families or long-term residents, look beyond the beach, including local shops, libraries, parks, public transport, and connection to the rest of Cairns matter.
Local services: Reach out for local property management, legal advice, and understanding of rates, body-corporate (if apt/unit), maintenance in coastal conditions (salt, humidity) etc.
Wrap Up
The Northern Beaches of Cairns offer a compelling mix of tropical lifestyle, beach-front living, and solid community amenity. From the resort-vibe of Palm Cove down to the more service-hub feel of Smithfield, there’s a suburb suited to various budgets, family needs, investment goals — and lifestyle ambitions.
If you’re looking to move or invest in this region and want personalised guidance from choosing the right suburb, understanding school zones, checking flood/insurance risks, through to negotiating and settlement we’d love to help. Take a look our specialise Cairns Buyers Agent Service.
