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 May 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 $980,000, up 15.3% over the past 12 months (realestate.com.au, to May 2026), sitting just below Palm Cove on price but considerably more affordable on listing frequency.
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 combination attracts buyers who want a prestige northern beaches address without paying the Palm Cove premium.
Homes and prices
Three-bedroom homes trade around $1.04M and four-bedroom properties around $955,000 (realestate.com.au, to May 2026). The overall median of $980,000 is the second highest of the main northern beaches suburbs. Units form a meaningful part of the market, 53 sold at $515,000 median, with a 6.1% gross 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 and a more private feel than the resort-town atmosphere of Palm Cove itself. Smithfield for retail and services is 20 to 25 minutes south. Cairns CBD is around 40 minutes.
The Clifton Beach market
The 62 median days on market (realestate.com.au, to May 2026) is higher than inner Cairns suburbs, which is typical for upper-end beachside properties, the buyer pool is smaller and more specific. The 15.3% growth and 75 houses sold confirm genuine market activity. Verify current data before any pricing decisions.
What buyers love
Second-highest median house price on the northern beaches at $980k
Some homes offer elevated views across the Coral Sea
Quieter residential character than Palm Cove's resort village
15.3% growth over 12 months with strong $828/wk rental income
Units offer 6.1% gross yield for lower entry-point investors
Things to consider
62 days median on market, buyers for this price range take longer to find
About 40 minutes to Cairns CBD by car
Lower gross yield on houses at 3.9% 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 $980,000 as at May 2026, up 15.3% over the prior 12 months (realestate.com.au). Get a local appraisal for a property-specific figure, the range between entry and top-end properties here is wide.
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 (May 2026). Clifton Beach is quieter and slightly more accessible on price at $980k, 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 6.1% gross yield at $515,000 median, which is worth considering for investors who want northern beaches exposure at a lower entry. The house rental return is strong at $828/wk but the yield at 3.9% reflects the higher purchase price. Always get a rental appraisal for your specific property.
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