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Clifton Beach Visitor Information

Clifton Beach is a quiet, un-spoilt local's beach lined by swaying Palms with a number of accommodation options - both self contained holiday apartments and holiday houses on the beachfront esplanade. Clifton Beach has a swimming net and a great children's playground with barbeque facilities right on the beach for all to enjoy under the shade of big raintrees and plenty of parking space.

At Clifton Beach you could walk for miles in either direction taking in the surrounding natural beauty the rainforest clad mountains offer passing by other beachfront suburbs along the way and peering into the multi millionaire's beach houses as you go by.

This pleasant beach runs right through to Palm Cove Beach offering the best of both beaches, you will have easy access to Palm Cove and its offerings of restaurants and day spas while residing in a quiet beachfront location relatively untouched by too much tourism and over development.

Clifton Beach has no high-rise buildings, only low-lying holiday houses and self contained holiday apartments camouflaged into the natural environment. This quiet beach is great for families and couples seeking privacy.  Clifton Beach is only 20 minutes drive away from Cairns City and about 45 minutes driving time from Port Douglas so you are central to explore all the local attractions and things to do

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Although quiet in terms of holiday development Clifton Beach has everything you could need for your beach holiday.  A major air conditioned shopping centre for your groceries, medical, dental, chemist, butcher and bakery for fresh bread.

For tours and attractions The Tour Specialists have a website where you can book online prior to your arrival to ensure you get that perfect Great Barrier Reef tour or Daintree Rainforest tour.  

Dining in Clifton Beach

At Clifton Village Shopping Centre there are a few restaurants a la carte style as well as an established Italian Pizza dine in or take-away shop called Robertos and a sit down café that offers breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea in a comfortable air conditioned environment.

Alternatively, you can walk from Clifton Beach to Palm Cove along the beautiful beachfront where there are several award winning beachfront restaurants or go in the opposite direction and head towards Trinity Beach via car for a further selection of dining options.

Nightlife in Clifton Beach

Fortunately for some unfortunately for others Clifton Beach is lacking in the nightlife department but with Palm Cove village right next door this is only a mild inconvenience.

In Palm Cove you will find a casual sports bar with poker machines and an outdoor dining area with climbing frames for the children to amuse themselves called the Palm Cove Tavern.

A karaoke bar in a themed pub style setting called Apres beach bar and grill sits on the esplanade overlooking the beach and several hotels and resorts have pleasant cocktail bars and restaurants overlooking the ocean that are open till late and on weekends have some type of soft entertainment.

All of Cairns northern beaches have a very laid back relaxed feel to them so if it's a big night out on the tiles you are looking for then you need to hop on the Sun bus and head into Cairns city for some real action and adventure nightlife.

Shopping in Clifton Beach

At Clifton Village Shopping Centre you will find a large Coles supermarket, newsagency, bottle shop, bakery, butcher, chemist, tourist information shop and several little specialty retail stores.

There is also a dentist and a doctor's office; more shopping can be found in Palm Cove and in another major northern beaches suburb called Smithfield is the newly extended Smithfield shopping centre on the Captain Cook Highway

Clifton Beach Tours and Attractions

Clifton Beach is an ideal spot to stay if you want to experience the many tours, attractions and day tours of the region. Because Clifton Beach is positioned in between Cairns and Port Douglas you have the option of seeing the Great Barrier Reef from either departure points.

Enjoy a day on the Great Barrier Reef - From Cairns head out to some beautiful sand-cays or to the outer Norman or Saxton Reef. If you are looking for a half day trip, then take a catamaran, sea plane or helicopter to Green Island.

Leaving from Port Douglas you can spend the day on Agincourt Ribbon Reef right on the edge of the continental shelf. During whale season (July-September) many Humpback and Dwarf Minke whales frequent these reefs.  Ensure to book your Whale liveaboard trip early to avoid missing out.

Alternatively for a quiet day on visiting one of the islands visit Low Isles where the snorkelling is fantastic and you will have a good chance of spotting green sea turtles.

Choose from seeing the Daintree Rainforest north of Port Douglas where rare cassowaries and crocodiles co-exist or else ride the Kuranda Scenic Rail or Skyrail from Cairns and discover the fascinating rainforest village of Kuranda.

From Clifton Beach you are close to mild and extreme white water rafting, sky dives and bungee jumping and horseback riding on the beach or in the bushland.  The Hartleys Crocodile Adventures is just 20 minutes drive north and all other tours of the region will pick up directly from your Clifton Beach accommodation. Learn more about tours, attractions and sightseeing around Clifton Beach.

Climate in Clifton Beach

When visiting Clifton Beach in the tropical winter (May-October) expect temperatures ranging from 15-29 degrees, low rainfall and low humidity. During the tropical summers the temperatures are more constant ranging between 28-32 degrees.

The tropical summer months are generally sunny and humid during the days with spectacular thunderstorms during the night keeping the landscapes green and fertile.

Location of Clifton Beach

Clifton Beach is located about 20 minutes north of Cairns City and Cairns International Airport just off the Captain Cook Highway and 5 minutes south of Palm Cove and 45 minutes south of Port Douglas.