80 Kewarra Street, Kewarra Beach, Australia | (251) 219-4428
Stunning location on a wide, private beach
Inviting heated pool and separate main pool
Resort buildings sensitively integrated into the lush rainforest
Quiet, calm atmosphere is ideal for couples
Competitively priced compared to nearby luxury hotels
Well-regarded restaurant on-site serves three meals a day
Day spa offers well-priced treatments
Decor in rooms is dated and shows signs of wear and tear
Bathrooms are basic and need updating
Wi-Fi can be unreliable
Kewarra Beach Resort & Spa is a popular beachfront property that is a competitively priced alternative to the luxury retreats of Cairns and Port Douglas. The resort is located on a gorgeous private beach and bungalows are integrated into the lush rainforest at the shoreline. It offers a back-to-nature experience with all the basic comforts that guests would expect, plus good dining and two inviting pools. However, this is not the place for urban luxury seekers; in some cases the rooms and bathrooms are looking tired and Wi-Fi can be unreliable.
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Scene
Secluded beachfront cabins and bungalows
Kewarra Beach Resort & Spa is a low-key property. There are often weddings in the area and many guests are honeymooners. The resort offers a romantic atmosphere and is integrated into 74 acres of rainforest (don't be surprised if you have to brush aside some foliage or dodge local critters on the way to your cabin). The pristine private beach is equally quiet and romantic, setting a peaceful vibe for guests.
Location
Less than an hour from Cairns, and close to Palm Cove
The small community of Kewarra Beach sits off the Captain Cook Highway amid dense rainforest. The resort itself is at the end of a quiet suburban street -- about as far removed from reality as you can get in the greater Cairns area.The resort is a 40-minute drive north of Cairns or 30 minutes' drive from the airport. It's also close to the popular community of Palm Cove (10 minutes away by car or a gentle 30-minute walk along the beach). If booked in advance, taxis from Palm Cove will pick you up from the resort -- but if you want to explore the region it's best to have a car. Airport transfers to and from the resort must be arranged in advance.
Rooms
Rooms are set in the rainforest, but some are showing age.
Kewarra Beach Resort & Spa offers beachfront and rainforest cabins. Both have their advantages -- the rainforest cabins are closer to the swimming pools and farther from the parking lot, while the beachfront cabins are spaced slightly farther apart. The cabins themselves have similar features. The interiors of the cabins are a mix of rustic and contemporary, with hardwood floors, bamboo furnishings, and big hanging nature photos (for example, of seashells or river rocks), but they're beginning to show their age. There are pine wood decor and brown bedspreads, though some modern touches include flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, good air-conditioning, and minibars. Spacious balconies are also a nice feature.
Features
Two pools and an open-air restaurant
The resort's biggest draw is its location, and there's plenty of fun to be had exploring the rainforest and walking along the beach. When those novelties wear off, two lagoon-like swimming pools complete with small waterfalls and rock caverns are a pleasant distraction. The White Lotus day spa provides well-priced massages, facials, and hand and foot treatments. Paperbark, the resort's restaurant and bar, offers alfresco dining for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with a strong emphasis on local seafood.
