Ellis Beach, Cairns: Swimming, crocodiles & caravan park rates

Ellis Beach is one of the quieter Cairns beaches. It offers patrolled stinger net swimming and a beachside caravan park. Crocodiles are rare, but not unheard of.

Where is Ellis Beach, Queensland?

Ellis Beach is one of the Cairns Beaches north of Cairns, Queensland. It is at the northern end of the Cairns beaches, just to the north of Palm Cove. 1km long Ellis Beach is a much quieter beach than Palm Cove Beach, making it an attractive alternative for anyone wanting a more chilled-out experience.

To book a stay at the Ellis Beach caravan park (in either a caravan or cabins), head here.

Can I go surfing at Ellis Beach, Cairns?

The Great Barrier Reef a few kilometres off shore acts as a protective fence for Ellis Beach and the other Cairns Beaches. There’s also significant protection from the rocky outcrop at the southern end of the beach and Double Island.

Essentially, it’s exceedingly rare for there to be any significant surf at Ellis Beach.

Save time queuing – Book these Cairns attractions in advance

From the air: Outer Reef helicopter flight | Sunrise hot air balloon ride | Skyrail Rainforest Cableway.
At night: Sunset dinner cruise | Pub and club tour | Aquarium by Twilight experience.
For wildlife: Birdworld Kuranda | Kuranda Koala Gardens | Cairns Zoom and Wildlife Dome | Cairns Aquarium | Rainforestation Nature Park
For culture: Cairns Museum tickets | Street art walking tour | City and surrounds highlights bus tour.
For thrills: AJ Hackett giant jungle swing | High speed jet boat tour | Barron Gorge white water rafting | Mulgrave River tubing.

Is it safe to swim at Ellis Beach?

The surf may not be substantial, but Ellis Beach is prone to marine stingers. You can never guarantee that a box jellyfish or Irukandji isn’t in the water with you, and stinger suits are advised. This is particularly the case during the wet season between November and May, when marine stingers are more prevalent.

Between November and May, the Ellis Beach Surf Lifesaving Club puts up a stinger net on Ellis Beach, and patrols it. This essentially makes for a safer swimming zone.

Trip-booster! 8 great day trips from Cairns to power-up your holiday

Kuranda combo package – take the Kuranda Scenic Railway up and the Skyrail cable car down.
Green Island tours with beach time, glass bottom boat and snorkelling. (Or pick a Fitzroy Island trip instead).
Moore Reef day tour – with underwater observatory, snorkelling gear, glass bottom boat & semi-submersible cruises.
Great Barrier Reef snorkelling cruise – with snorkelling stops at two excellent spots on the Reef.
Cape Tribulation rainforest day tour – with Mossman Gorge Aboriginal cultural experience and Daintree River crocodile-watching cruise.
Atherton Tableland waterfalls and rainforest tour – including wildlife-spotting and a swim in a volcanic lake.
Outback 4WD tour – visiting Chillagoe Caves, Aboriginal rock art and Granite Gorge.

Search for discount deals here

Are there crocodiles at Ellis Beach?

The other potential killers in the water are saltwater crocodiles, which kill one to two people a year in Australia.

Crocodiles have been sighted at Ellis Beach in the past, and you can never 100% guarantee there isn’t one there. Swimming is conducted at your own risk.

However, crocodiles don’t hang out on beaches, or in the coastal waters off beaches, all that often. They prefer the murkier, slower-moving waters of creeks and billabongs.

Ellis Beach is in Zone D of the Queensland Crocodile Management Plan. This is the transitory zone, where crocodiles aren’t often spotted. Any more than two metres long or seen behaving dangerously is targeted for capture and removal.

Ellis Beach caravan park prices & accommodation options

Accommodation is available at the Ellis Beach caravan park – officially known as the Ellis Beach Oceanfront Holiday Park.

Rates at the Ellis Beach caravan park start at $53 per night for a powered caravan site, or $60 for a beachfront powered caravan site. There’s also an array of cabins and studios, with the cheapest options costing from $130 per night.

Bookings for accommodation at the Ellis Beach caravan park should be made online.

All prices are correct at the time of writing, but subject to change in the future.

Cairns to Ellis Beach distance and driving time

By car, the distance from Cairns to Ellis Beach is 28km. That makes for a driving time of around 27 minutes up the Captain Cook Highway. You’ll go past on the drive from Cairns to Port Douglas or Cairns to Cape Tribulation.