I'm playing virtual travel agent. My 35yo brother in law is currently on holiday in Brisbane, and finds himself with an extra 5 days to kill. He's booked a flight into Cairns next week, and is wondering where to stay. Right now he's leaning toward Yorkeys Knob, but that might be because of the name. 
(He's looking at Half Moon Bay Apts if anyone knows the area...)
He's got golf clubs with him, and loves the beach. I'm sending him info on Ocean Spirit and Reef Magic snorkeling tours, as well as Daintree air's trips to Lizard Island.
I don't think he's planning to have a car, and he's probably somewhat on a budget when it comes to accomodations (under $100?) so he can spend more on experiences.
Any advice you can share would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
-Kat
Cairns, Yorkeys Knob or Palm Cove?
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Hi gokatgo,
I love Palm Cove, I'm sure there is a golf course there too. anyone?
Muck
Hi gokatgo, I live near all of them; Mucky's right, there is an international class golfcourse,at Paradise Palms, on the highway at Palm Cove. Its still a bit of a distance from most Palm Cove accommodation though. Yorkeys is far less touristed (and far less pricey) than Palm Cove although this is changing, but now its still basically a residential beach suburb with golf course handy. Yacht Club there at Half-Moon Bay is very popular with locals, you can eat a reasonably priced meal sitting right over the water and you don't have to be a member - just sign the Visitors Book at front desk. Because of the rather hilarious name, a resort developer at Yorkeys Knob recently tried to change name to Yorkey's Beach - absolutely howled down by locals and Yorkey's Knob it still is.
Try Trinity Beach which is just south of Palm Cove - less touristy and only one street that has some nice accomodation right n beach.
When we were in Palm Cove two years ago, the Novotel Hotel had a nine-hole golf course - the units are built around the course. If he is not hiring a car, this could be a good solution as he could get the bus from Cairns to Palm Cove and golf, meals etc are all near by. The hotel has almost direct beach access.
Yorkeys Knob has a golf course (18 hole). The Cairns golf course is some km out of the city. Paradise Palms course is beautiful but is fairly expensive.
mar - I deliberately didn't mention Novotel golf course right at Palm Cove as its being chopped up for "villa" development. It seems the developers won't be happy until they've grabbed every inch of available land at Palm Cove.
Beachfront Palm Cove caravan park has gone too - to make way for yet another 5 star resort. Nearby Ellis beach has reasonably priced absolute beach frontage cabins on a pristine beach, but without a car its a bit of a hike from golf courses.
Hi:
I just returned from a holiday in Australia and New Zealand. We started in the Cairns area. I wanted to thank the authors in this thread for the suggestion of Yorkeys Knob. My sister and I stayed at Villa Marina and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. It was 1/2 block from the beach and Peter, the proprietor, was extremely helpful and generous. We stayed in the deluxe holiday (self contained) unit with two twins and a queen with plenty of space for $119 during high season.
When we went to Cairns to take a trip to the reef we were so happy we had decided to stay in Yorkey's Knob. It was quiet and peaceful... except for the occasional laugh of a kookaburro.
My suggestion is to rent a car.