CAIRNS SUBURB GUIDE
Clifton Beach
The northern-most accessible beach suburb before Palm Cove, elevated homes, strong growth, and a quieter pace.
Median house price
12-mo growth
Median days on market
Median rent (house)
Gross yield (house)
Houses sold (12 mo)
Source: realestate.com.au suburb profile, 12 months to June 2026. Figures are suburb-wide; your specific property may differ.
Clifton Beach sits between Kewarra Beach and Palm Cove at the top end of the northern beaches strip, offering a quieter residential character and some genuinely elevated homes with range and sea views. The median house sale price is $995,000, up 15.7% over the past 12 months (realestate.com.au, to June 2026). It sits just below Palm Cove on price, with far fewer listings coming to market.
What Clifton Beach offers
Clifton Beach has a reputation as the quieter alternative to Palm Cove: it borders Palm Cove to the north and shares some of the same lifestyle characteristics without the resort pricing. The suburb has elevated sections where homes look across the Coral Sea, and a flat beachside strip where properties back onto the sand. The beachfront pocket along Arlington Esplanade and Upolu Esplanade is the premium address, with sales in the $1.3M to $1.45M band captured in our market research. The combination attracts buyers who want a prestige northern beaches address without paying the Palm Cove premium.
Homes and prices
Bed-level medians sit at $1,045,000 for a 3-bed and $952,500 for a 4-bed (realestate.com.au, to June 2026), an inversion drawn from a small number of premium 3-bed sales, so position and quality matter more than bedroom count here. The overall median of $995,000 is the second highest of the main northern beaches suburbs, and the recorded 12-month top sale reached $2.6M. Units form a meaningful part of the market, 55 sold in the profile year at a $520,000 median after 21.6% growth, with a 6.0% REA-displayed yield that attracts investors who want northern beaches exposure at a lower price point.
Lifestyle and access
Palm Cove's famous Esplanade and dining strip is minutes north by car. The suburb has its own beach access points, including a netted swimming enclosure, and a more private feel than the resort-town atmosphere of Palm Cove itself. Smithfield for major retail and services is around 15 minutes south. Cairns CBD is around 30 to 35 minutes.
The Clifton Beach market
realestate.com.au recorded 97 Clifton Beach sales in the 12 months to July 2026, about 1.9 a week, with a recorded-sales median of $895,000 across all property types. The 56 median days on market (to June 2026) is higher than inner Cairns suburbs, which is typical for upper-end beachside properties, where the buyer pool is smaller and more specific. The 15.7% growth and 71 houses sold confirm genuine market activity. Verify current data before any pricing decisions.
Recent Clifton Beach sales
| Address | Sold | Property | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Avalon Point | $930,000 | 4 bed house | Mar 2026 |
| 10/35-41 Upolu Esplanade | $485,000 | 2 bed unit | Jul 2025 |
Recorded sales from realestate.com.au public sold results, 12 months to July 2026, sold by TS Property Group, Alexie's agency (2 of the suburb's 97 recorded sales in that period). Prices are the published sold figures.
What buyers love
Second-highest median house price on the northern beaches at $995k
Some homes offer elevated views across the Coral Sea
Quieter residential character than Palm Cove's resort village
15.7% growth over 12 months with strong $830/wk rental income
Units offer a 6.0% yield for lower entry-point investors
Things to consider
56 days median on market, buyers for this price range take longer to find
About 30 to 35 minutes to Cairns CBD by car
Lower gross yield on houses at 4.1% than more affordable suburbs
Frequently asked questions
What is the median house price in Clifton Beach?
The median house sale price in Clifton Beach is $995,000 as at June 2026, up 15.7% over the prior 12 months (realestate.com.au), with the recorded 12-month top sale at $2.6M. Get a local appraisal for a property-specific figure. The range between entry and top-end properties here is wide.
Which Clifton Beach pockets are the most sought after?
The beachfront strip along Arlington Esplanade and Upolu Esplanade is the premium address, with sales in the $1.3M to $1.45M band captured in our research, and the elevated sections with Coral Sea views carry a premium over the flat inland streets. Units around the Esplanade complexes offer entry from roughly $485K.
How does Clifton Beach compare to Palm Cove?
Palm Cove is the more famous resort village with the iconic paperbark Esplanade and a $1.19M median. Clifton Beach is quieter and slightly more accessible on price at $995k, with a longer days-on-market figure reflecting the smaller buyer pool at that price level. Both suburbs attract lifestyle buyers and relocators.
Is Clifton Beach good for investment?
The unit market offers a 6.0% REA-displayed yield at a $520,000 median (to June 2026), which is worth considering for investors who want northern beaches exposure at a lower entry. The house rental return is strong at $830/wk but the 4.1% yield reflects the higher purchase price. Always get a rental appraisal for your specific property.
Thinking of selling?
Ask about selling in Clifton Beach.
Selling resources
Nearby suburb guides
Thinking of selling in Clifton Beach?
Get an honest, no-obligation appraisal from a specialist who knows this suburb inside-out.
What's My Home Worth?By Alexie Aristides, Your Cairns Selling Specialist