Palm Cove is 25 kilometres north of Cairns along the Captain Cook Highway. By car the drive takes about 25 minutes — the highway hugs the coast for stretches and the scenery is good.
Cairns Airport is the entry point for the region, with direct flights from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and several international destinations. From the airport, a taxi or rideshare to Palm Cove takes around 20 minutes and costs roughly $45–55. Sun Palm Transport runs a shuttle service between the airport and Palm Cove hotels; it is cheaper than a taxi and runs throughout the day.
There is no direct bus between central Cairns and Palm Cove. If you are staying in Cairns and day-tripping, hiring a car is the easiest option. The northern beaches (Holloways, Yorkeys Knob, Trinity, Kewarra, Clifton, Palm Cove, Ellis) string along the highway and are easy to visit in sequence.