Transport to and from Palm Cove
Once you are at Palm Cove, the only transport you need is your own two legs. All accommodation, restaurants, attractions and facilities are within easy walking distance and the longest distance you may need to travel will take less than 10 minutes. The beach is always a stone throw away, no matter where you are in Palm Cove.
From Cairns, the local bus company Sunbus runs a service every half hour that costs approximately $5.50 each way. The Sunbus service offers access to most suburbs of Cairns. Sunbus will not carry luggage. View the Palm Cove Sunbus timetable.
Getting to Palm Cove
Most people who come to Palm Cove:
- Transfer from the Cairns Airport and intend to stay in Palm Cove their entire holiday or utilise tours and shuttle facilities
- Hire a car and intend to use Palm Cove as their base for travelling throughout the Far North Queensland area
Approximate travel time from the airport to Palm Cove: 25 minutes
Driving directions from Cairns International Airport (CNS): Follow the main Airport Road and at the traffic lights T-intersection turn right into Captain Cook Highway, heading north. Follow the Captain Cook Highway for approximately 25 km. Pass Clifton Beach which has a Coles shopping centre on the right hand side of the highway and is about 2 — 2.5 km before Palm Cove. Drive past Cairns Tropical Zoo on your left and then you will see the Palm Cove sign on your left hand side. Upon reaching Palm Cove, turn right into Veivers Road, which becomes Williams Esplanade at the beachfront. Most accommodation places are along Williams Esplanade, however please use our map to view the exact location of your selected accommodation.
Airport Transfers to Palm Cove
Some of the Palm Cove accommodation properties will arrange transfers on your behalf free of charge if you stay with them 7 nights or more, so if you are planning a lengthy stay in Palm Cove, it is a good idea to check for which properties honour this deal.
Car Hire
To give you the most flexibility to experience Palm Cove and Far North Queensland, car hire is without a doubt the best option.
This is a very popular for travellers who want to visit other attractions throughout Tropical North Queensland. Palm Cove is an established tourist town, offering enough attractions to keep a visitor occupied for weeks. But most people want to experience more attractions throughout Tropical North Queensland than Palm Cove can offer, and a rental car gives you this freedom.
Billabong Car Rentals
Billabong Car Rentals offers an efficient and convenient service. Whether you are after a small size economy car, luxurious BMW or a large people mover, Billabong can accommodate. The friendly staff at Billabong Car Rentals will pick you up from your hotel and drop you off again making your car rental experience an effortless operation.
Taxis
A taxi fare from Cairns to Palm Cove will cost approximately $60 one way during the day, but rises to almost $70 if you are returning to the beach late at night after a night at a Cairns restaurant, nightclub or casino.
Limousines and Private Vehicles
If you are seeking privacy, luxury and flexibility whether it is a simple airport transfer or a full day guided tour, private limousines and vehicles are the best way to go.
Palm Cove Limousines
Palm Cove Limousines provides airport transfers, chauffeured tours, corporate familiarisations and special event transfers. Palm Cove Limousines prides itself in putting people first and exhibiting excellent customer service.
Express Chauffeured Limousines
On arriving at Cairns International or Domestic airport, with your next stop as Port Douglas or Palm Cove, you will need to decide the best way to transfer you, your family and your luggage from Cairns Airport. Well ECC is the answer.
Express Chauffeured Coaches and Limousines is a boutique transfer company with modern limousines and coaches, managed by friendly and expert staff.
You will be in the hands of a highly dedicated company which is family owned and operated, with roots in Port Douglas going back to 1967. The experience of this boutique transfer service has led it to being the leaders in friendliness, reliability, punctuality and safety. There is less fuss with ECC.
- On arrival at the airport, you will be warmly greeted by one of the experienced drivers who will be holding a sign with your name on it; you won't have to search for a tour-desk or a bus stop.
- And there is no waiting for an 'every hour, on the hour' departure. As soon as your fellow travellers are gathered, you are on your way.
- The journey from the airport will be direct. Your holiday-time is precious so the last thing you need is to 'pop into Cairns' before heading north or to stop at 'all stations' along the way. Warm sand and cold drinks should be as close as possible. Travelling time to Palm Cove is approximately 20 minutes and to Port Douglas a little over an hour.
If your transport requirements extend beyond an airport transfer then ECC can probably help you with those too. The limousines are available for personalised tours and point-to-point travel anywhere in the region. The sole-charter of a coach (12 or 21 seat) is an ideal way to move your group economically and conveniently. There are many options available to you.
If you have any queries, please feel free to contact us for an obligation-free chat. We are here to help.
Acacia Coaches
Acacia Coaches offers a private and professional limousine service from Townsville to the Daintree and through the Cairns Highlands.
Down Under by Appointment
A fantastic way to explore the region is with Down Under by Appointment. Charter your private luxury vehicle with a professional guide who specialises in the area, and tour some of the most popular attractions in the Far North such as Kuranda and the Daintree Rainforest. Customised itineraries are also possible.
Shuttle Transfers
Shuttle transfers are an affordable, dependable and regular service to get you from point A to point B.
Beaches Meet and Greet
Beaches Meet and Greet offers a friendly shuttle service if you’re looking to travel between Palm Cove and Cairns. On Sundays, Beaches Meet and Greet makes a special trip to the Port Douglas markets with two morning departures leaving Palm Cove.
BTS
BTS offers seven transfers to Port Douglas and Cairns daily from Palm Cove and also offers tours of the Daintree, Kuranda and Mossman Gorge.
Sun Palm
Sun Palm offers an express coach service to Cairns and Port Douglas and departs Palm Cove 15 times a day for the airport. Luxury transport and private tours of Mossman Gorge and the Daintree are also available.
Cove Coachlines
Cove Coachlines features regular shuttles from Palm Cove to the Cairns airport, departing Palm Cove 9 times daily with the earliest time being 4:30am. Pickups are available from all incoming flights.
Day Tours
All day tours will pick you up from your accommodation and drop you off at the end of your tour, so if you are planning on experiencing a selection of the region's organised tours, you won't need to hire a car.
Scenic Flights
If you are after an experience of a lifetime then charter your own private airplane or helicopter — a great way to travel north to secluded sandy beaches or inland to check out Australia’s famous outback!