Beach Number:

qld0724

Includes Beaches:

Cairns Cairns Esplanade Lagoon

State/Region:

QLD - Cairns North

Post Code:

4870

General Beach Hazard Rating:

1/10 ( Least hazardous)

Beach

Cairns is largely built on a low, sandy beach system which, fed by sands from the Barron River, has built out up to 4 km into Trinity Bay. Today, the seaward end of the system is fringed by mangroves to the north, bordered by wide Trinity Inlet to the south, while along the Cairns Esplanade is 1.5 km of high tide beach and another 1 km of seawall. The beach is somewhat artificial, as there has been extensive reclamation of the mangroves and tidal flats, and placement of sand to produce a recreational area along the wide foreshore reserve that runs the full length of the Esplanade.

The beach is a steep, narrow strip of sand at high tide, and tidal flats up to 1.5 km wide at low tide. It has excellent access and parking along the full length and numerous facilities in the backing reserve.

Swimming

This is not a popular beach for swimming, owing to the shallow tidal flats. Best at high tide.

Surfing

None.

Fishing

Only at high tide.

General

Cairns' gateway beach, however it's really a converted tidal flat which, none the less, has a magnificent foreshore reserve and provides good access to, and view of, Trinity Bay.