SUBURB GUIDE
Holloways Beach
A quiet creek-mouth beach suburb minutes from Cairns Airport, with an unhurried village feel and direct beach frontage.
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.
Holloways Beach is one of the closest beach suburbs to Cairns city and the airport, a low-key residential pocket where the Barron River meets the Coral Sea. It has a long stretch of beach, a small cafe and shop precinct, and none of the resort bustle of the suburbs further north. The median house sale price is $710,000, up 14.1% over the past 12 months (realestate.com.au, to May 2026).
What Holloways Beach is like
Holloways Beach is the beach suburb for people who want to be close to the city without paying city prices. It sits roughly 15 minutes north of the Cairns CBD and just a few minutes from the airport, yet it keeps a quiet, slightly tucked-away character. The beachfront is long and largely undeveloped, the streets are flat and walkable, and the local cafe strip near the Esplanade gives the suburb a genuine village heart. It suits buyers who value proximity and pace over polish.
Homes and price ranges
The housing mix runs from older lowset beach cottages and elevated Queenslanders through to renovated and newer family homes. Three-bedroom houses trade around $688,500 and four-bedroom homes around $754,000 (realestate.com.au, to May 2026). Units are a sizeable part of the market here, with 39 sold in the past year at a median of $390,000 and a strong 5.9% yield, giving investors and first home buyers a low entry point close to the water.
Who it attracts
Holloways Beach pulls owner-occupiers who want beach access close to work, downsizers after a simpler coastal base, and investors drawn to the rental demand from people working in the city and at the airport. The relaxed beach lifestyle, short city commute, and lower price point than the premium northern beaches make it a practical entry into beachside living for a broad range of buyers.
The Holloways Beach market
With 47 houses sold in the past 12 months and a median of 31 days on market (realestate.com.au, to May 2026), this is a more active market than the suburb's quiet feel suggests. The 14.1% growth over 12 months reflects steady demand for affordable beachside homes close to Cairns, with interstate buyer interest typically lifting through the dry season from May to October. Always verify current figures before pricing decisions.
What buyers love
One of the closest beach suburbs to the Cairns CBD and airport
Long, largely undeveloped beachfront with a quiet character
Lower house median than the premium northern beaches
47 house sales in 12 months, healthy buyer depth for a small suburb
Local cafe and shop precinct gives a genuine village feel
Things to consider
Limited local retail, relies on the city or Smithfield for major shopping
Low-lying creek-mouth location means flood and storm-tide mapping is worth checking
Frequently asked questions
What is the median house price in Holloways Beach?
The median house sale price in Holloways Beach is $710,000 as at May 2026, up 14.1% over the prior 12 months (realestate.com.au). With 47 houses sold in the year, the comparable base is solid for a suburb its size. Get a local appraisal for a property-specific figure.
How far is Holloways Beach from Cairns?
Holloways Beach is about 15 minutes north of the Cairns CBD by car and only a few minutes from Cairns Airport, making it one of the most conveniently located beach suburbs in the region. That proximity is a big part of why it holds steady owner-occupier and rental demand.
Is Holloways Beach a good place to invest?
Holloways Beach offers a lower entry price than the premium northern beaches, with houses showing a 4.9% gross yield and units a stronger 5.9% as at May 2026 (realestate.com.au). Demand is supported by its closeness to the city and airport. As with any low-lying coastal area, check flood and storm-tide mapping and insurance costs before buying.
Thinking of selling in Holloways 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