The ultimate guide to Trinity Beach: Cairns' seaside gem

An exquisite stretch of coastline home to a beautiful beach, fringed by almond and coconut trees just 30 minutes north of Cairns, Trinity Beach is one of Cairns’ most famous ‘northern beaches’. It's part of a string of sleepy seaside villages that includes Holloways Beach with its relaxed tropical vibe, and kitesurfing mecca, Yorkeys Knob. Located 10 minutes south of Palm Cove, one of Tropical North Queensland’s most luxurious beachside destinations renowned for its well-heeled coastal village atmosphere, Trinity Beach offers a variety of accommodation and wining and dining options to suit all holidaymakers. 

While it might not as big on activities and things to do as Cairns or Palm Cove, Trinity Beach is popular for many reasons. Think: a tropical paradise with magical weather conditions year-round and a convenient jumping pad for tours and attractions in the region, like the Great Barrier Reef. 

Tempted? Explore this slice of paradise with this ultimate guide to Trinity Beach. 

Trinity Beach accommodation

There’s no shortage of Trinity Beach holiday accommodation options to suit all budgets and preferences, with everything from boutique holiday apartments to five-star resorts on offer. 

For beachfront accommodation on Trinity Beach with a convenient main esplanade location, Coral Sands Beachfront Resort and BeachFront Apartments On Trinity Beach are two popular options. Set on two acres of tropical gardens, Coral Sands Beachfront Resort offers a variety of one, two and three-bedroom beachfront apartments, all of which are self-contained. As you’ve likely gleaned from the name, BeachFront Apartments On Trinity Beach offers apartments on the beachfront, with the one and two-bedroom apartments offering direct beach access and private balconies that are perfect for making the most of the heavenly weather. Sea Point On Trinity Beach is another option to consider if you’re looking for self-contained beachfront accommodation in Trinity Beach, with their contemporary-style boutique holiday apartments positioned right in the heart of town, as is Roydon Beachfront Apartments which offers apartments with both sea and garden views. 

Located on the northern headland (Taylor Point end) and offering breathtaking views of the Coral Sea, Double Island and Green Island, each apartment and penthouse at Vue Apartments is surrounded by open walkways to create a breezeway throughout and offer exquisite views from all directions. Also situated on the northern headland is Amaroo Resort, a more cost-effective resort with a range of self-contained studio apartments offering either ocean or rainforest views. While neither offer direct beach access, being situated on the hill provides some of Trinity Beach’s best views, plus you’re just a short walk from the beach and the restaurants and shops on the esplanade. For something a little more luxurious on the northern headland, the five-star Bellevue At Trinity Beach offers stylish apartments with unrestricted 180-degree ocean views and a stunning outdoor setting.  

Trinity Beach dining

As with holiday accommodation, there’s no shortage of Trinity Beach restaurants at which to savour the tastes of the tropics and find even more reasons to hang around a little longer in this paradisiacal part of Queensland. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, L’Unico Trattoria offers traditional Italian cuisine prepared with fresh local produce best enjoyed on a relaxed deck setting with beach views.

To transport your taste buds to Thailand by way of the Coral Sea, Tuk Tuk By The Sea delivers the Thai cuisine you’ve been dreaming of. Offering a casual dining experience overlooking the water, this popular Trinity Beach restaurant is renowned for the authenticity of its dishes and the mastery of its chefs. For pub food with a strong lean towards local produce and locally-caught seafood, the Trinity Beach Tavern – known locally as the ‘fountain on the mountain’ – is a top spot to pull up a stool and pair exceptional sea views with mouthwatering pub eats in a relaxed and friendly setting. 

Things to do at Trinity Beach

If you’re looking for things to do in Trinity Beach, the one-kilometre stretch of sand with its beach almond trees and incredible views looking out over the Coral Sea is a great place to start, but you’ll find plenty to do in this stunning coastal enclave in addition to spending time on the beach. 

With incredible weather year-round and one of the most stunning stretches of coastline in Tropical North Queensland setting the scene for a plethora of aquatic pastimes including stand-up paddle boarding, swimming is a popular pastime in Trinity Beach. July is the coldest month, with the water temperature dropping to a balmy 23°C and the summer months (October to February) delivering an average of 28°C. To make this the perfect family holiday destination, Trinity Beach is patrolled year-round and there are stinger nets providing protection from nasties in the warmer months. 

Well-known as a top destination for relaxing strolls under the swaying palms which provide shady hangouts that are perfect for lounging about in the heavenly surrounds, Trinity Beach also boasts rocky headlands offering sweeping views over Double Island and the Coral Sea. A highlight here is the coastline-hugging 2.3km loop from Trinity Beach to Taylors Point at the northern end of the beach which provides spectacular views, and the more challenging 1km ascent to the Earl Hill summit.

Thanks to legislation introduced in 2015 which removed commercial net fishing from the region and created the ‘Cairns Net Free Zone’, off-the-beach fishing at Trinity Beach draws anglers from near and far, with barramundi the main drawcard. Trinity Beach is renowned for the size of the barramundi regularly caught off the beach and there are two large rocky headlands to the north and south of the beach which are also well-known for the big salmon (blue salmon/king salmon), while the deep-water gutter at the southern headland makes this spot a haven for whiting. Barramundi season in Trinity Beach is closed from 1 November 1 through to 1 February annually. 

Getting there and away

Trinity Beach is located just 22 kilometres north of Cairns, placing it just 30 minutes from the Cairns CBD and 25 minutes from Cairns Airport. Driving is the easiest option, but there are local and shuttle buses available if you’re travelling from Cairns or flying into the airport. From the beachside village of Palm Cove, another gem in Tropical North Queensland’s crown, you’re just a 10-minute drive away!