Travel & Holidays Which beach to holiday at in North Queensland?

I know the further north you go, the worse the beaches get, as a rule of thumb.

However we want to escape some of the winter again and fly north for a week. Can you recommend beaches anywhere in QLD that are nice?
We went to Magnetic Island last year and loved it, but what to go somewhere different.
We like places that are a bit sleepy, but not too far (within 10km ideally, but can stretch to 20km) from a supermarket.

Sand (not mud) and blue (not brown) water is a must. Also, we'd prefer being able to get an Airbnb over a hotel.
Any recommendations?

So far, I really only have Mission Beach on the list, but that's a little bit of a pain to get to, given that it's two hours drive from the airport.

 

Hervey Bay is quiet and sleepy (loads of retirees there). If you head there there are plenty of things to do with day trips (4WD tours) to Fraser Island, Whale watching, lots of things. Not sure how much will be operating at this point in time with the current pandemic situation though.

Due to Fraser being East of Hervey though you won't get much in the way of waves there but it is a "pretty" beach.

Further up you have cairns and Palm cove and all those, never really rated FNQ myself but thats just me, I prefer the beaches on the GC over anywhere but then I may be a little biased

 

@Kinnon owns an awesome airbnb property in Cairns close to beach and shops. Trinity Beach, about 15m north of cairns cbd

 

Suggest Bargara, fly in to Bundaberg, hire a car.
Lovely beaches and pretty village atmosphere.

 

Thanks for the suggestion and I like Hervey Bay, but it's too cold for a proper winter escape.

Thanks, is it a nice beach with blue water and croc free?

Thanks, but not far enough north.

 

Mission Beach or any on Hinchinbrook Island.

 

It seems that you may have to compromise on either your dislike of crocs or your desire to head further north. Croc country is pretty much anywhere past Rocky isn't it? Definitely Croc country up around Cairns, so anywhere there would be off the list if that's in your requirements.

What about somewhere around Airlie Beach/The Whitsundays? I imagine there ought to be plenty of holiday accommodation around there.

 

Four Mile Beach, Port Douglas.

 

The only nice beaches you'll find in FNQ not abundant with silt or crocs are in the islands. Wasn't impressed with any on the mainland including Palm Cove and Four Mile. And I wouldn't swim in them without looking over your shoulder every 2 secs.

Islands are exy so if you want to stay on the mainland, perhaps Sunshine Beach or Noosa may be preferable.

 

Palm Cove

 

What about the other side of the country, maybe Monkey Mia, Karratha or Broome?

 

I really like Bowen.. in particular Horseshoe Bay and Rose Bay.
I stayed at Whitesunday Sands Resort one night for a work trip and it felt like I was the only person there.. a really nice vibe to that place and the whole peninsular..

 

I loved Fitzroy Island off the coast in Cairns, especially Nudey Beach was beautiful

 

Depends if it's been raining recently and how windy it's been

If you want to avoid crocs then don't look above the tropic of capricorn.

There's also been crocs spotted on or near the islands and even the reef. You can never be too complacent.

 

Crocs and Irukandji
Irukandji jellyfish: Everything you need to know - Australian Geographic

 

Wow - spent a number of my early years growing up on Horseshoe Bay Rd. Most people don’t even know where Bowen is!
Few (old) memories there.
Watch out for Box Jellyfish in the warmer months though. Good suggestion.

 

Other than for Bowen mangoes, I think many Queenslanders don't know where Bowen is, including me until I went there.
The first time I went I only saw the main foreshore and thought it was a little uninspiring like another Bargara, but the whole Horseshoe Bay headland is beautiful.. up there with a whitesunday island, imo.

 

Forget the beaches, Fitzroy Island otherwise the southern end of the Atherton Tablelands. Cool this time of year but Very sleepy, there are some Great Lakes nearby:
Mountain Lakes: Barrine & Eacham - Atherton Tablelands

 

The one with the least amount of crocs and stingers would probably be the shot.

 

Horseshoe Bay is beautiful. The day I was there, though, it was very very crowded. July if I recall correctly.