Paradise Palms

The pool and playground were a hit, and the staff were great. It’s a fantastic spot for younger teens and little kids. Dinner was where things went sideways: just two people were covering both the bar and restaurant, so we waited 10 minutes to be seated. Our table hadn’t been properly cleared after lunch, and we moved to a cleaner one nearby that still wasn’t ready for dinner. I could see how swamped the waitress was, so I asked for a broom and cloth, though she came over and cleaned it herself. Then we waited around 20 minutes to order, and by then I was pretty frustrated. The food arrived quickly and was excellent. We also got an amazing deal, $60 for three adults and two kids, with our first drinks included. I think a staffing mix-up caused the poor start, but at that price it was still worthwhile. It’s a great family place, and we’ll definitely come back.

The surroundings are beautiful and the resort is very clean, but it seems to be running with very few staff. Breakfast was pretty average, with almost no fruit, and things like milk, juice, cutlery and hot food were often running low or gone. There was hardly any staff around to help. There’s no Wi-Fi in the rooms, the golf course has no driving range, and the pool isn’t heated. The putt-putt course wasn’t great and had leaves all over it. The kids’ playground does have a fun jumping dome. I’ll stay somewhere else next time.

Everything’s all in one spot, which made it a fantastic outing. My grandsons swam, played mini golf and had a great time at one of the best playgrounds in the region. Such a beautiful place, definitely worth the drive from Cairns city. The boys already want to go back tomorrow!

It’s so sad to come back after seven years and find the place closing. I remember how lovely it was to watch the golfers, have a delicious lunch, then grab a drink and relax by the fountain. You could hear the kids laughing in the pool and on the putt-putt course. It used to have such a great feel, and there’s still a great place here, but now the atmosphere has gone. It just needs some love.