Ellis Beach is the last of the northern beaches before the Captain Cook Highway climbs into the hills above the Coral Sea. It sits in a small curved bay, tree-lined and unhurried, with a stinger net enclosure for safe wet-season swimming. The caravan park at one end has been here for decades and gives the place a pleasantly unpolished feel.
The drive from Palm Cove takes about 15 minutes and is worth doing for the road itself as much as the destination — the highway clings to the hillside in places with the sea visible below. Ellis Beach Bar and Grill sits right on the sand and is a decent lunch stop.