Condé Nast Traveller Names Australia’s Palm Cove the Best Beach in the World for 2024

March 05, 2024

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An aerial shot of The Reef House resort in Palm Cove, recently named the best beach in the world by Conde Nast Traveler - Luxury Escapes

Flourishing wildlife, stunning natural landscapes and a charming cobble-paved esplanade have earned Queensland’s Palm Cove the prestigious title of the world’s best beach, according to Condé Nast Traveller.

Queensland’s Palm Cove has been honoured as the best beach in the world by Condé Nast Traveller, with the magazine highlighting the region’s charming palm trees, stunning tropical climate and pristine sandy shores as standout features.

Nestled in the north of the sunshine state, close to Cairns, Palm Cove offers “the epitome of a tropical paradise” and remains refreshingly devoid of the usual beach crowds. Visitors can easily spot dolphins and whales from the iconic jetty and enjoy proximity to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Daintree Rainforest and the turquoise waters of the Great Barrier Reef.

Three other Australian coastal destinations made it into the top 10, including Byron Bay’s immensely popular Wategos Beach, Sydney’s spectacular Mona Vale Beach and chic Noosa Beach. Just across the pond, New Zealand’s South Island beach Awaroa claimed tenth position.

The Reef House Adults Retreat, Palm Cove, Queensland 1

The Reef House Adults Retreat, Palm Cove, Queensland 2

The Reef House Adults Retreat, Palm Cove, Queensland 3

The Reef House Adults Retreat, Palm Cove, Queensland 4

The Reef House Adults Retreat, Palm Cove, Queensland 5

The Reef House Adults Retreat, Palm Cove, Queensland 6

Palm Cove, Queensland

The Reef House Adults Retreat

Luxury Escapes inclusions (select packages):

Daily breakfast

Enjoy the resort’s signature inclusions

Be welcomed with a bottle of wine on arrival

Guaranteed leisurely 12pm late checkout

One-time gourmet lunch for two (2+ nights)

+3 more

9.4Exceptional563 reviews

3 nights from

US$824 /room

taxes & fees apply

Valued up to US$1,085-24%

View offer

Find the full list of the world’s best beaches here and check out the top 10 below.

1. Palm Cove Beach, Australia

2. Honopu Beach, Kauai, Hawaii

3. Breckon, Shetland, United Kingdom

4. Wategos Beach, Australia

5. Ora Beach, Indonesia

6. Mona Vale Beach, Australia

7. Dune du Pilat, France

8. Noosa Beach, Australia

9. Awaroa, South Island, New Zealand

10. Die Plaat, South Africa

Looking for more beach inspiration? Here are The Best Beach Clubs in Thailand.

Written by Ruby Staley

From exploring the world to kicking back with a good book, Ruby loves doing it solo. A passionate Euro enthusiast, catch her dreaming about Amsterdam or slurping down pasta a la vodka in moments between scribbling down her thoughts.

Read more articles by Ruby »

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