Palm Cove, just 20 minutes north of Cairns, is popular with families and couples of all ages and occasionally a superstar slips into town.
The village looks like it's straight from a postcard, with a beach lined with coconut trees and other palms. The crescent-shaped cove has a long fishing jetty stretching into the sea and the Daintree Rainforest provides the perfect backdrop.
William Esplanade is cobblestoned and traffic is slow. There are cafes, restaurants, two pubs, a great gelati shop and a couple of boutiques.
The sleepy hollow has a laid-back lifestyle, and possibly the only noise you will hear is a jet bike and Jules Lund took a tour with the Beach Fun Co.
Jet bike adventure
Jet bikes are fun and are like riding a motorbike on water. You can hire one and head out alone, but to keep everyone happy, you must have your fun in a large rectangular area.
Jules' tour was led by owner Dave Schap and after a briefing and putting on stinger suits and lifejackets they took off on an exciting adventure. You choose what you want to do — you can race around the outer islands, or have a gentle journey taking in the sights.
Be on the look out for eagles, turtles, dolphins, the odd whale and loads of fish. You will cruise around Haycock Island — known locally as Scouts Hat — and Double Island. Dave gives interesting commentary as you go from one side of the cove to the other.
Nu Nu
Meaning "nude coconut" in East Timor, Nu Nu won the 2008
Gourmet Traveller Regional Restaurant of the Year award.
Owner Jason Rowbottom and chef Nick Holloway have taken their expertise from Melbourne to Palm Cove and it's proving to be a very successful sea change. They use lots of local organic food and create delicious meals inspired by Asian and French cuisines.
Seafood is provided by Max Pantacchini of Cairns, Mungalli Creek Dairy at Millaa Millaa delivers biodynamic cheese and milk and Shayless Strawberry Farm in the Atherton Tablelands grows tropical fruit for Nu Nu.
Diners enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner at banquettes or terrace tables in a rainforest-like setting surrounded by ancient melaleuca trees.
Sea Temple Resort & Spa
This is
the place to stay in Palm Cove. The five-star retreat has three pools with waterfalls, gorgeous gardens and sun lounges, gym, a rejuvenating Mii Day Spa, boutique, lagoon bar and Temple of Tastes restaurant. From the minute you arrive at the elegant reception area you know you've chosen somewhere special. Kylie Minogue and her Spanish boyfriend once arrived at the resort by helicopter from Port Douglas to escape paparazzi.
Sea Temple is the only resort in the area with beachfront access. A 10m pathway takes you straight from your room to the sand.
Décor is Asian-inspired with Buddha statues around the resort and there's a choice of accommodation to suit your needs and budget. Studios, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments and three-bedroom villas are available. All are non-smoking and, excluding studios, have separate living and dining rooms, bedrooms and bathrooms. They are air-conditioned and have balconies or terraces.
Temple of Tastes specialises in contemporary Australian cuisine with Asian and Pacific influences. Guests eat indoors or out, and most choose the candlelit on the garden patio option. For cafe-style meals and delicious tropical cocktails, Lagoon Bar is the place to go.
