Clifton Beach is a tropical beachside town surrounded by two natural wonders: a World Heritage-listed rain forest and the Great Barrier Reef. The six-kilometre (3.7-mile) beach is lined with palm trees, white sand and clear water. Come to swim, go white-water rafting, wildlife watching, or just unwind in the shade with a drink in one hand and a book in the other.
Clifton Beach is relatively quiet, with fewer tourists than neighbouring beaches and an almost non-existent nightlife. Spend a few hours or a few weeks here. Accommodation options range from budget dormitory-style rooms, to luxury resorts. There are cafés and restaurants, grocery stores and a few specialty retail outlets where you can pick up holiday equipment such as fishing gear and snorkels.
At the beach you’ll find picnic tables, barbecues and play equipment. Feed kangaroos and cuddle a koala at the Cairns Tropical Zoo. Keen golfers can enjoy a game on the local golf course, which is considered one of Australia’s top 50 greens.
Explore the headland of Cape Tribulation and the surrounding Daintree Rainforest on foot, by car or as part of a tour. Walk north along the beach to Palm Cove, a town that offers more bars and restaurants, as well as boutiques and art galleries. Port Douglas is a 45-minute drive north of Clifton Beach. Many tour companies leave from Port Douglas for the Great Barrier Reef, and the town of about 5,000 residents has a thriving backpacker nightlife and fine-dining restaurants.
The weather is warm all year, and hot and humid in summer. Clifton Beach has nets that protect swimmers from harmful marine stingers such as irukandji jellyfish, which are in the waters between November and May. Lifeguards patrol the beach every day during “stinger season”.
Clifton Beach is a 25-minute drive north of Cairns along the Captain Cook Highway. Buses run regularly between Cairns and Palm Cove, stopping at Clifton Beach every hour throughout the day.
Clifton Beach
Visit Clifton Beach
Tours & day trips
See all 53 activitiesOpens in new tabKuranda Self-Drive Skyrail & Rail Tour
Wildlife & nature
See all 9 activitiesOpens in new tabKuranda Rainforestation Nature Park: ,Culture & Wildlife Tour (R1)
Cruises & boat tours
See all 8 activitiesOpens in new tabArmy Duck Tour of the Rainforest
Adventure & outdoor
See all 7 activitiesOpens in new tabCairns 4WD Rainforest Waterfall Tour Including a GBR Island Tour
Air, helicopter & balloon tours
See all 7 activitiesOpens in new tabDeluxe Reef & Rainforest Scenic Helicopter Flight
Popular places to visit
Palm Cove Beach
Located in between the Daintree Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef, this palm tree-lined beach is an idyllic spot to take it easy or begin an adventure.
Rainforestation Nature Park
Why not see the exotic and native animals who call Rainforestation Nature Park home during your vacation in Kuranda? Discover the beautiful coral reefs in this walkable area, or enjoy its local tours.
Skyrail Kuranda Terminal
You can take time to visit Skyrail Kuranda Terminal during your travels to Kuranda. Discover the beautiful coral reefs in this culturally rich area, or enjoy its local tours.
Skyrail Rainforest Cableway
Soar above the treetops of the rain forest, gorges and mountains of North Queensland in a glass-enclosed cable car.
Cattana Wetlands
Enjoy the beautiful coral reefs and explore Cattana Wetlands, a lovely green space in Cairns. Make time for the shops and local tours in this walkable area.
Kewarra Beach
If a restful vacation is part of your travel plans, Kewarra Beach might be the perfect place to seek out during your trip to Cairns. Amble around this relaxing area's rainforest, or seek out the golf courses.