'We found an Aussie paradise only a short flight away. Three generations loved it.'

We gather at Melbourne airport, excited to be travelling for the first time as a group of five.

There's Grandma (that's me!), Grandpa (my husband), Dad (our son) and Mum (together, "the New Parents"). And the star of the show – our two-month-old granddaughter ("Baby").

It's Baby's first holiday. We are flying to Cairns in Far North Queensland and then heading about a half-hour drive north to Palm Cove.

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We've all been to Palm Cove before and we love it. The familiarity of Palm Cove is one of the reasons we are heading there for Baby's first holiday. Staying in Australia combined with a short-ish flight.

Palm Cove paradise.

Palm Cove is an absolute Australian gem – a tropical and exotic paradise which seems like another country, yet, is only a three-hour flight from Melbourne.

Named Best Beach in the World by Condé Nast Traveller in 2024, Palm Cove has it all – a beautiful sandy beach, loads of palm trees, ancient melaleuca trees, boutique shops, accommodation (from campsites through to luxury), beachfront yoga, adventure activities, cafés and restaurants.

While it's probably a bit sleepy for teenagers, it's a perfect holiday spot for adults, babies and young children.

Image: Supplied.

We arrive in time for dinner — takeaway fish and chips in our apartment from Lucky Fish.

These are not your average fish and chips. Here, you can choose from a variety of fish. We choose coral trout. Scrumptious! Mornings settle into a pattern.

Grandpa and I get up first, (Baby is a great sleeper – unlike her father as a baby). Our Palm Cove morning ritual is a walk along the jetty.

My husband likes to see what the locals are catching off the jetty and I like taking in the views of Double Island and along the gorgeous stretch of white sand beach.

From the jetty, we walk a kilometre on the paved path to the waterfront Nu Nu Restaurant.

Often, we stop at Nu Nu for a coffee. We spy frolicking dolphins out the front on a few mornings.

Every day, we walk past play equipment right on the beach at Palm Cove. On this first morning, we pass a set of grandparents doting on their toddler grandson with no parents in sight. Future dreams!!

Market day in Port Douglas.

Sunday is Market Day in Port Douglas, and we always go for a look. The coastal road between Palm Cove and Port Douglas (about 45 kilometres) is glorious, and the market is lively.

We are here in January – the Wet Season – and there are significantly fewer stalls than we have seen before, but we still enjoy our wander and the novelty of pushing Baby in her stroller. We walk up and down the shops on Macrossan Street and have lunch at Hemingway's at Crystalbrook Superyacht Marina.

Image: Supplied.

A day trip into an ancient rainforest.

The next day is another big day – this time a trip to Kuranda. We take the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway up to Kuranda and the Kuranda Scenic Railway back down.

I don't love heights, so I am nervous about the Skyrail, but it is amazing. So amazing that I wonder why I have never done it before. It is easy too, as we can keep Baby in her stroller and wheel her in and out of the gondola. There are two stops on the way to Kuranda – Red Peak and Barron Falls (Din Din in the traditional language).

Image: Supplied.

At Red Peak and Barron Falls, there are boardwalks which are perfect for the stroller. There are signboards and guided ranger tours. There has been a lot of recent rain, so the falls are thundering and both the water flow and the noise are impressive.

We drink in the damp, earthy smell of the rainforest and our journey is capped off by seeing a Ulysses butterfly flying past our gondola. With its iridescent electric blue wings, it is striking against the dense green of the rainforest.

I may have been hesitant about riding in the gondola, but none of us want the Skyrail experience to end. Despite strong winds, the ride is very smooth – we truly glide through the rainforest.

When we are forced (!) to leave the Skyrail, we wander through the main street of Kuranda. I have enjoyed the markets when I have been to Kuranda previously, but the markets are not open on a Monday, (note to self – I should have checked this)

We take a Kuranda Riverboat cruise along the Barron River. Warren is both our captain and guide, and he educates us as we travel for 45 minutes. He tells us that the river is brown and dirty due to flooding, and he shows us turtles on logs drying out their shells. He also tells us that we are looking at some of the oldest rainforest in the world. WOW!

We love the riverboat tour – scenic, informative and relaxing. Baby is able to stay in her stroller, but a warning – there are a few stairs to access the jetty. Handy to have extra adults on hand.

Tummies are grumbling, so we call into the Kuranda Hotel for lunch, then walk to Kuranda Rainforest Café for coffee.

Our trip back to Cairns is via the Kuranda Scenic Railway. This is accessible with lift access to the train platform. We have allocated seats for this feat of engineering, which opened in 1891. We stop at Barron Falls to gain another perspective of the raging torrent of water and then continue on, passing mini waterfalls and travelling through tunnels dug by hand.

The scenic railway train and waterfall. Image: Supplied.

We are all wiped out when we return home, so Japanese takeaway dinner from Kushi-Yakitori Bar hits the spot.

Lovely, lazy days on repeat.

After a couple of big days, Baby requests some quiet time. Jokes — Baby is happy and cooing every day, but the adults are tired. Our days settle into a lovely pattern of morning walks, waterfront coffee, swims (including Baby's first swim), self-catered lunches, reading and cuddles with Baby.

Palm trees overlooking the beach. Image: Supplied.

One night, we go to Nu Nu Restaurant for dinner. What a treat it is to stroll to and from dinner and, better still, not take a long-sleeve top. In Palm Cove, balmy nights are a given and the stars are a bonus, breathtaking show.

We have an outdoor table at the front of the restaurant, with uninterrupted views of rows of palm trees, fringing the Coral Sea. We start with sunset cocktails — a yummy Davidson Plum gin sour for me. We choose the Taste of the Tropics tasting menu. Flavours to die for. The next day, we repeat the 'walk, waterfront coffee, swims, lunch, reading and cuddles with Baby', pattern. That evening, we have the delight of looking after Baby while the New Parents have a date night dinner.

Another night, us Grandies have a date night at The Reef House Adults Retreat.

Leonie and her husband at dinner. Image: Supplied.

Another front table outdoors with Coral Sea views. This time, sitting amongst ancient melaleucas. At the Reef House, as with other buildings in Palm Cove, construction is around these magnificent trees. Dinner is three courses of delicious.

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All too soon, it is time to come home. What a first holiday for our group of three generations.

The first of many, I hope.

Until next time, Palm Cove – our very own Aussie slice of paradise.

Below, I've listed my tips when travelling with multiple generations.

Useful items the new parents brought for baby (apart from formula, bottles, wipes, nappies, etc):

Tips for flying with a baby:

Tips for grandparents (in my vast experience of two months):

Tips to make a multi-generational trip with a baby easier:

The writer and her family travelled to Palm Cove at their own expense. They were guests of Tourism Tropical North Queensland on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, Kuranda Scenic Railway and at Nu Nu Restaurant. The writer and her husband were guests of The Reef House Adults Retreat for dinner.

Feature image: Supplied.