Zeal has Cove on the rise
A FLURRY of business activity and real estate action at Palm Cove is cementing its position as the jewel in the northern beaches crown.
The sale of Apres Beach Bar in February and the reinvention of several beachside cafes and restaurants marks a high tide for Tourism Palm Cove’s marketing efforts.
“There are new elements in Palm Cove, it’s growing up a little bit,” Tourism Palm Cove president Richard Hewitson said.
“The Palm Cove brand has really seen growth.”
He said hospitality providers were gearing up for a strong season on the back of effective marketing by Tourism Palm Cove and a growing appreciation of the idyllic northern beaches as a tourist destination in its own right.
“All the operators are excited and they have seen the season get longer and longer,” Mr Hewitson said.
“We are in Far North Queensland and everywhere else is cold. Just look outside, it’s a no-brainer.
Palm Cove restaurateur and chef Nick Holloway, of Nu Nu, said the influx of new faces to the beach strip had created a new vibrancy.
“We have seen businesses upgrade their offerings – what Chill Cafe and Portofino have done on the corner have created a lot of energy at this end of the street,” he said.
“You can’t ignore the blueprints – the architecture, the fact that the street meanders along the foreshore, Palm Cove is such an iconic vista.”
Cairns Chamber of Commerce President Nick Loukas said that Palm Cove was “absolutely” a jewel in the Cairns crown that was attracting business as well as tourists.
“It is a beautiful place to work and Palm Cove has large tourist numbers,” Mr Loukas said.
“It is definitely maturing and it is continuing to attract a higher spending tourist as well.
“It is getting more expensive to live, but it is a desirable place for locals.”
editorial@cairnspost.com.au facebook.com/TheCairnsPost www.cairnspost.com.au twitter.com/TheCairnsPost