Name: Island Views
Address: 79-81 Williams Esplanade Palm Cove,Williams Esplanade, Cairns, Cairns, Cairns, 4879, Australia
Rating: 9

Air conditioning

Elevator/lift

General

Family room

Rooms

Free Wi-Fi

Internet

Free parking

Parking

Swimming pool

Outdoor pool

Pool and beach

Babysitting and childcare

Family/Kid Friendly

Kids

Pets Not Allowed

Pets

Location

At the apartment

Palm Cove Beach

Vie Spa Palm Cove

Cairns Airport

Island Views

Cairns

During our 2-week trip to FNQ, we spent 2 nights at the Pullman Reef Casino hotel before taking the 25-minute drive to Palm Cove with Pieter from Zoom FNQ, a very reliable transfer service we used to and from Cairns airport and to and from hotels to Palm Cove. 
We'd booked apartment 6 at Island Views (The Boutique Collection) for a week and were delighted with it. There are 16 apartments in the complex, some of which are owner-occupied and apt 6 is on the second floor so it is very private and looks across at the beach. Apartments 9 to 16 on the 3rd and 4th floors would probably have a bit better view. We booked it as a 2-bedroom apartment but all 3 bedrooms were open for use. The design is excellent with an enormous king master bedroom and ensuite with an amazing spa bath and push back doors opening onto a large covered balcony. That balcony has a dining table in front of the separate push back doors which lead inside to a large living room and kitchen. This living room has plenty of seating and a large TV with the free to air stations. The kitchen is very well appointed with lots of cupboards and an island bench with many drawers of crockery, cutlery glasses etc. A family could move in and live there very comfortably without needing to bring anything except their luggage. Off the kitchen is a second living room with a large TV which has access to streaming services and would be ideal as a kids retreat. A hallway leads to a second bathroom and a second bedroom with king bed and a 3rd bedroom with 2 singles. Both of these bedrooms have doors out to a rear balcony. All bedrooms have plenty of wardrobe space but none have a TV.
2 sets of lifts service the complex and each lift opens to 2 apartments (apts 5 and 6 in our case). The lifts go down to the basement and each apartment has an allocated long and wide parking space.
As with many places in FNQ, the pool is not heated which meant that, during the winter months, the water is a little cool. However, we still swam in the pool most days and pretty much had the whole pool area to ourselves each time.
The ground floor apartments are just above the pool so don't have much privacy and could get noisy if lots of kids are swimming. They probably don't get as good a view of the beach as the higher apartments. We didn't swim at the beach but a lot of people were doing so.
We had no need of a car during our stay as everything you need is within walking distance. Aside from lots of restaurants and takeaway places, there is a small supermarket and a general store as well as clothes shops and a chemist. We had dinners at Kushi (twice) and Beach Almond and lunches at Portofino (twice), O'Donnell's Irish and Reef House. Our dinner at the Life saving Club  was just okay as was take away pizza from Il Forno (all reviewed separately).
There's a bottle shop down at the far south end of the cove but I couldn't be bothered walking there so I paid above the odds for takeaway grog at the life saving club bottle shop.
We were very disappointed to leave at the end of the week and will stay at Island Views longer next trip. Edwin from Zoom FNQ was there on time to pick us up for the drive back to Cairns and our 5-night stay at Shangri-La Hotel. The daily cost for our stay at Island Views was more than the daily total cost for the 2 rooms we each had at both of the hotels but the extra cost was well worth it.


A great week in a great apartment.

We stayed here for a week and it was just perfect. It's the best appointed apartment I have ever stayed in. Great bbq area on our balcony as well. Easy walk for shopping and coffee and food. A real retreat in 26 c every day. Easy access to the beach. 

Just perfect 

We stayed ten days in apartment 16 and couldn’t have been happier. It was clean, very spacious and extremely well equipped in terms of crockery, utensils etc. Bed was comfortable, bathroom has a bath, tv is modern with all major apps including Foxtel. Plant of air con, although the louvres and balmy breeze are enough most of the time.

The outdoor area off the lounge and bedroom is the star of the show, with superb views over the palm trees over the Coral Sea. It’s huge and well furnished, and we spent all our at home time out there. Car parking is secure and lift is footsteps from car space. 

The pool is a domestic size,  with a few sun lounges.  It’s not a resort type pool. But with your own huge terrace within the apartment, all you really need it for is a refreshing dip. 

The location is as good as it gets, right across the road from the beach, and short walking distance to everything.

I have stayed at Drift and Alamanda, and this was my favourite although I like the others too.

We will definitely stay again next time we’re in Palm Cove.

Couldn’t fault it - perfect accommodation

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay in apartment 11 at island views. It was perfectly located with fabulous sea views .The block was situated about half way down the esplanade but not affected by foot traffic ,cars or nearby restaurants. We only had the front bedroom and didn’t use the second living area but could see how this would work well for a family. Having said that I do feel that the accomodation  was more suited to couples and couples sharing as there are plenty of other places more suitable for families with children .The furniture was quite modern but still comfortable and the b b q on the balcony and good quality out door settings were great.. it was such a good place to sit for breakfast and lunch and a pre dinner drink.The lap style pool was small,nice and kept very clean .A couple of minor improvements in the kitchen department such as a good quality non stick frying pan( instead of 4 old ones ) and a sharp knife would have been terrific but seriously these are very little concerns,which perhaps no one else has mentioned. Otherwise kitchen was perfectly equipped. Underground entry and parking was easy and secure and the lift access direct to apartment also super. Dealing with The Boutique  Collection was stress free and we would definitely like to return .Really wished we could have stayed longer. Loved it .

5 days of bliss 

We stayed at Island Views for the first time in January 2020 - it will not be our last. If you are wanting somewhere to absolutely relax then this is your place. The owners have thought of everything you could possibly need. The apartment is incredibly well appointed, super clean and in a fabulous location. The only problem is that we didn't stay long enough. We intend to extend our stay next time. We cannot wait to return! Thank you so much for a wonderful stay.

Fantastic Stay!

We had an amazing stay at Island Views The apartment was stunning, very well furnished, very clean and maintained, stunning ocean views and had everything we needed for a very comfortable stay. We look forward to returning next year and staying for a longer period !

Amazing stay at Island Views Palm Cove

We stayed here for 3 nights or so in May 2019, the standard of fittings and layout of the apartment make this a very flexible apartment - was sold to us as a 2 bedroom apartment but found that it actually is a 3 bedroom apartment (with extra cost billed if third bedroom was used).

The kitchen was well equipped and everything worked and was clean in both bathrooms, management were very keen to get any feedback and answer any questions. I was expecting this apartment to be noisy with foot traffic and road noise but was not a problem. No large trees immediately near this unit hence not much noise from the endless flying fox noise and smell that has hit other places much worse.

Unit 3 Island Views Ground Floor

My wife and I stayed at the Island Views Apartments for 4 weeks in Jan / Feb 2019. This is our second visit, the first being 3 years ago and we were so impressed last time that we were eager to stay here again. So much so, that we requested the exact same apartment for this trip and located on the third floor, offers excellent views of the beach.

We were not disappointed and were given a very warm welcome on our arrival with a “Welcome Back’ card in our apartment, a nice touch. But apart from the welcome, the superb views, the spacious facilities, basement garage parking and the well-furnished living area and balcony, the apartment was again scrupulously clean on check-in. It is superbly equipped and is serviced/cleaned every 4 days with a complete change of bedding and towels. During our first few days, we had a minor malfunctioning toilet and, once reported, was repaired within 24 hours. An excellent service.

These apartments are not for those on a budget, but we believe that you get what you pay for and in this case you certainly do. Located right in the heart of Palm Cove, we cannot recommend them highly enough and go a long way to making any stay here a memorable one.

Excellent All Round.

We stayed in Island Views in December 2018- family of 6. We have stayed many places in Palm Cove but this was our favourite. The units are so well equipped for large family very spacious and comfortable and clean. Beds were good as well. The beautiful balcony's are amazing and having a bbq as well just made it. Our trip was not without a few hiccups - the door to the balcony needed repairs and the air conditioning in the main bedroom was out of order which we just managed to cope with as it was really hot there in December, the owners were aware and tried to help but needed parts to fix but that happens. Would stay again.

Very nice

I am so very pleased I chose Island Views for my recent trip to Palm Cove.  I stayed in Unit 10 on the third floor and the apartment was everything I needed and more.  3 tv's, 2 lounge areas, a fully stocked  eat-in kitchen with everything you could possibly need, internal laundry, large ensuite bathroom with a rainfall shower and then there is that balcony!  Just perfect to sit in the evening and watch the approaching thunderstorm while enjoying a glass or two of Rose. Not one mosquito either!  I rented the apartment as a 1 bedroom, but it can also be rented as a 2 or 3 bedroom as there were 2 other bedrooms as well as a spa bath in one of the other bathrooms.  If you have rented the apartment as a 1 bedroom, just be mindful not to use the other bedrooms as you will be charged for cleaning if you do.  You are given a starter pack of shampoo/conditioner/body lotion and soap plus some milk in the fridge and tea and coffee and you will probably find some of the previous occupants have left behind some essentials like cooking oil, cling wrap, foil, washing up liquid, dishwasher tablets and washing powder.  To be honest, there are so many great restaurants within walking distance that cooking does not really become a priority, however for a longer stay you are all set.  The swimming pool was very inviting and I spent a lot of time in there in the late afternoon/early evening after the sun had gone.  I will warn you, once you get in it is very difficult to get out!  You just float and look up at the stars in the sky.  The pool's waterfall is only in operation during the day.  As I travelled off-peak I managed to secure a fantastic deal for my 7 night stay and after seeing most of the other 5 star accommodation on offer I knew I had made the right choice.  Island Views is unique and as you check-in off site a short distance from the property, you don't have a busy foyer like you often find in other hotels. The Island Views staff will drive you to the apartments and the lift from the carpark takes you direct to your apartment.  I was very fortunate that I had perfect weather for the entire week of my stay as the rain started the day after I left.  At night you go to sleep to the sound of the waves rolling in.  It is pure bliss.  If you enjoy a good market, there is a great one along Williams Esplanade on the first Sunday of every month from April to December.  I made sure I timed my trip to coincide with the market.  A stay at Island Views is one you will remember for years to come.

Island Views

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