Palm Cove's appeal is physical — the beach, the esplanade, the reef just offshore. There is no museum, no gallery, no heritage precinct. What there is: one of the most swimmable beaches on the Queensland coast, a stinger-netted enclosure for year-round swimming, and easy access to two of Australia's great natural wonders.
The melaleuca-lined esplanade is the heart of the village. Walk it in the morning before the heat comes in and you will understand why people move here. The trees are old and enormous, their pale trunks leaning over the path like something from a fairy tale.