68Spot Score
Skyrail Rainforest Cableway
Markets · Smithfield
Enclosed gondolas riding 7.5 km over rainforest canopy, with walks at 2 stations along the way.
4.7(10,739)· GoogleView details →
Cairns
Best Beaches in Cairns (2026)
19 beaches in Cairns, compiled from each venue's published details and Google Places data, ordered by Spot Score. Use the filters for suburb, price, hours and features.
19 beaches · page 1 of 2
68Spot Score
Cairns Esplanade Lagoon
Beaches · Cairns City
Cairns' iconic free saltwater swimming lagoon on the Esplanade — a tropical city centrepiece, rated 4.7 by thousands.
4.7(6,088)· GoogleView details →
66Spot Score
Four Mile Beach
Beaches · Port Douglas
Port Douglas's famous long, palm-fringed beach, rated 4.6 across more than 1,200 reviews.
4.6(1,259)· GoogleView details →
62Spot Score
Nudey Beach
Beaches · Fitzroy Island
White coral beach ringed by rainforest sheltering skinks & ospreys, with views of Cairns Hinterland.
4.6(330)· GoogleView details →
62Spot Score
Four Mile Beach, Port Douglas
Beaches · Port Douglas
Long sandy beach fringed by palms, with watersport equipment rentals & a clifftop lookout point.
4.6(352)· GoogleView details →
55Spot Score
Ellis Beach
Beaches · Palm Cove
The stunning Ellis Beach on the coast north of Cairns with a 4.7 rating across 132 reviews.
4.7(132)· GoogleView details →
55Spot Score
Ellis Beach
Beaches · Listed under Cairns North
Ellis Beach is a beach in Cairns North, Cairns. It holds a 4.7-star Google rating from 156 reviews. Our editorial Spot Score is 55/100.
4.7(156)· GoogleView details →
55Spot Score
Stone Real Estate Cairns Beaches
Beaches · Smithfield
Stone Real Estate Cairns Beaches is a beach in Smithfield, Cairns. It holds a 4.2-star Google rating from 170 reviews. Our editorial Spot Score is 55/100.
4.2(170)· GoogleView details →
55Spot Score
Trinity Beach
Beaches · Listed under Cairns City
Trinity Beach is a beach in Cairns City, Cairns. It holds a 4.7-star Google rating from 134 reviews. Our editorial Spot Score is 55/100.
4.7(134)· GoogleView details →
52Spot Score
Clifton Beach
Beaches · Clifton Beach
Clifton Beach is a beach in Clifton Beach, Cairns. It holds a 4.8-star Google rating from 59 reviews. Our editorial Spot Score is 52/100.
4.8(59)· GoogleView details →
51Spot Score
Four Mile Beach
Beaches · Listed under Port Douglas
Expansive stretch of scenic coastline, including a wide, white sand beach & rainforests.
4.6(71)· GoogleView details →
49Spot Score
Half Moon Bay Beach
Beaches · Trinity Park
A lovely beach at Trinity Park near Cairns with a 4.4 rating across 61 reviews.
4.4(61)· GoogleView details →
49Spot Score
Clifton Beach
Beaches · Listed under Cairns City
Clifton Beach is a beach in Cairns City, Cairns. It holds a 4.7-star Google rating from 35 reviews. Our editorial Spot Score is 49/100.
4.7(35)· GoogleView details →
48Spot Score
Machans Beach
Beaches · Listed under Cairns City
Machans Beach is a beach in Cairns City, Cairns. It holds a 4.7-star Google rating from 32 reviews. Our editorial Spot Score is 48/100.
4.7(32)· GoogleView details →
48Spot Score
Pretty Beach
Beaches · Listed under Smithfield
Pretty Beach is a beach in Smithfield, Cairns. It holds a 4.7-star Google rating from 29 reviews. Our editorial Spot Score is 48/100.
4.7(29)· GoogleView details →
48Spot Score
Yorkeys Knob
Beaches · Listed under Yorkeys Knob
Yorkeys Knob is a beach in Yorkeys Knob, Cairns. It holds a 4.7-star Google rating from 32 reviews. Our editorial Spot Score is 48/100.
4.7(32)· GoogleView details →
47Spot Score
Holloways Beach
Beaches · Listed under Cairns City
Holloways Beach is a beach in Cairns City, Cairns. It holds a 4.4-star Google rating from 45 reviews. Our editorial Spot Score is 47/100.
4.4(45)· GoogleView details →
45Spot Score
Kewarra Beach
Beaches · Listed under Cairns City
Kewarra Beach is a beach in Cairns City, Cairns. It holds a 4.3-star Google rating from 32 reviews. Our editorial Spot Score is 45/100.
4.3(32)· GoogleView details →
About these results
Australia's beaches are world-famous, and around Cairns you'll find everything from patrolled family swimming spots to quieter stretches of sand. Always swim between the red-and-yellow flags where lifeguards patrol, and slip, slop, slap — the UV is strong.
Listings are compiled from each venue's own published information and Google Places data, and ordered by Spot Score — a composite of attributed ratings, review volume, category fit and information freshness, not a firsthand review. Hours-based filters use published opening hours, which are not kitchen or last-order times. Sponsored placements are labelled and never counted in results. Spotted an error? Send a correction.
Read more
Beaches guides for Cairns
roundupCairns Nightlife: The Best Bars & Live Music
Cairns may be best known as the gateway to the reef and rainforest, but once the sun drops the city centre comes alive with a compact, walkable cluster of bars, breweries and live
Read guide →roundupFree Things to Do in Cairns
From the Esplanade Lagoon and Botanic Gardens to Palm Cove and rainforest escapes, these are Cairns’ best free outings — plus what costs extra.
Read guide →roundupCairns With Kids: Family-Friendly Things to Do
From the free Esplanade Lagoon to the Daintree, here are Cairns family activities worth planning around, with practical ideas for wet and sunny days.
Read guide →Beaches in Cairns — FAQs
What are the best beaches in Cairns?+
The beaches on this page are ordered by Spot Score, which combines attributed Google ratings, review volume, category fit and how recently the details were re-checked against their sources. The highest scorers appear first.
How is the Cairns beaches ranking decided?+
We blend independent signals — Google star ratings and review counts, popularity, the completeness of available information and freshness — into a single Spot Score out of 100. It is a composite of those signals, not a firsthand review, and it cannot be bought.
Can I filter beaches by suburb or price?+
Yes. Use the filters to narrow by suburb, minimum Google rating, price level, whether a place is open now according to its published hours, and features such as dog-friendly or outdoor seating. A filter only matches venues whose details state that feature.
How many beaches are listed in Cairns?+
We currently list 19 beaches across Cairns and surrounding suburbs. Venues are added over time and details are re-checked against their published sources; please confirm hours with the venue before you go.
Are the beaches near Cairns patrolled?+
Many popular beaches are patrolled by surf lifesavers, especially over summer and on weekends. Always swim between the red-and-yellow flags, check signage for conditions, and never swim alone or after drinking.