Reef House Resort & Spa, Palm Cove

Location

A short drive up the coast from Cairns airport will find you at Palm Cove where the rainforest meets the sea. It’s an ideal base from which to explore the tropical northern tip of Queensland either via a self-drive, 4WD safari, boat trip to the Great Barrier Reef or by simply taking to the trails that thread the World Heritage-listed Daintree Rainforest. Or just stay in the village and make the most of its palm tree fringed beaches. The resort itself is sited on the esplanade immediately opposite the main swimming beach at Palm Cove.

Accommodation

The resort’s colonial charm extends to each of its 69 rooms all of which have private balconies or verandahs with views of the hotel’s manicured gardens, pool or the ocean. For something extra, book into a Spa Room with a private, couple’s spa-bath. One and two bedroom apartments come with a separate living area; large enough for entertaining, they come complete with bar fridge.

Dining

Reef House Restaurant offers a la carte dining, a degustation menu and seasonal special events. Enjoy head chef Ashe Lewis’s Asian-inspired dishes including his signature crispy skin wild caught barramundi, Thai red curry, pilaf rice, crisp Asian salad, dressed with nam jim. A particular treat is the al fresco dining on the restaurant’s deck overlooking the Coral Sea. For a more casual experience, poolside dining can be had at the hotel’s café, which serves a range of light bites.

Facilities

At the atmospheric Brigadier’s Bar & Lounge, guests are treated to complimentary punch at twilight when the bar’s opening is announced with lit candles. Outside, guests can relax on the sun-drenched decks surrounded by tropical fauna. There are also three pools, two of which are freshwater and one saltwater. Alternatively, take a dip in one of the two spa pools or take things slow and book into the hotel’s day spa.