Looking for apartment recommendations in Cairns. Want to be close to the Esplanade in safe and clean apartment for my mom and daughter while me and my husband are out on the Great Barrier for 7 days. Thanks for your recommendations.

ardeisfka - there's a huge choice, if you have a budget in mind it would help narrow down the field a bit.

We stayed just north of Cairns at Palm Cove in Villa Paradiso (http://www.villaparadiso.com.au/). Had a terrific family stay in a very nice (moderately priced) 2 bedroom apartment. We liked Palm Cove much better than Cairns. It's a nice village of vacation properties where you can walk about to shops, restaurants, grocery store AND the beach. (There are no beaches in Cairns). It was a very safe setting and I think your Mom would feel comfortable wandering about on her own even in the evening.

Have a great trip.

Not trying to nitpick here, packed2 go, but Cairns has plenty of beaches, Palm Cove is one of them. Whilst Cairns city doesn't, after all its a deep water anchorage for ocean going ships, it does have a stinger and crocodile safe artifical and large swimming lagoon. Probably a far safer bet than Cairns' and Port Douglas beaches at the moment, many are closed now due to marine stingers, rough weather which involves the hauling in of stinger nets, and crocodiles.

When do you plan to visit?

It is quite significant.

Palm Cove is fabulous in October !!

Muck

We are going the first two weeks of October '08. Want to be in Cairns b/c we depart from there for our fishing trip so we will stay with them the night before and after our return...then heading to Sydney for the rest of the trip. Price range: under $200 would be nice. Want a clean and safe apartment that is easy to get out and about to things (daytime mostly). Daughter will be 17 months and needing outdoor play time. Thanks for your suggestions.

ardiesfka, suggest you wait closer to October and check www.wotif.com for best rates.

Muddies Playground on Esplanade is immensely popular with little kids and toddlers, as is the nearby kids' section of the public swimming lagoon with sandy beach - there's a multitude of safe and clean apartments around both those areas.

I am looking at the Cairns Aquarius for our October visit. Anyone with a review of the apartment? Thanks!