Yorkeys Knob Cairns is the wide local beach 15 minutes north of the city, with a November to May stinger net at the northern end, kite surfing Yorkeys Knob on the open sand, and Half Moon Bay Marina around the point. The signed southern end is dog friendly Yorkeys Knob, south of Sims Esplanade and Kempton Street.

🏝️Why Visit Yorkeys Knob?

Yorkeys Knob Cairns is the wide local beach 15 minutes north of the city — a seasonal stinger net at the northern end, kite surfing Yorkeys Knob on the open sand, and Half Moon Bay Marina around the point. The signed southern end is dog friendly Yorkeys Knob, south of Sims Esplanade and Kempton Street, with BBQs, two playgrounds and parking on the esplanade.

👙Things to Do at Yorkeys Knob

🏊 Swimming — Inside the northern stinger net and between the flags. Full rules below.
🪁 Kite and foil — Wide sand and SE trades. Full rules in the kite section.
🐕 Dog walking — Signed off-leash at the southern end only.
🍖 BBQs and picnic lawns — Electric BBQs and shade along Sims Esplanade.
🛝 Two playgrounds — Northern foreshore playground and a southern adventure playground.
⚓ Marina and club — Half Moon Bay Marina and Yorkeys Knob Boating Club. Details below.
⛳ Golf — Half Moon Bay Golf Club sits above the marina. 18 holes.

🏊‍♂️ Yorkeys Knob Stinger Net & Swimming

🛟 Stinger net — Northern end, November to May, near the surf club and northern playground.
🚩 Flags — Swim only between the red and yellow flags.
📅 Patrols — Seasonal. Stinger season plus weekends, public holidays and school holidays outside that window. Not a daily year-round patrol.
🐊 Crocwise — Yorkeys Creek and Richters Creek mouths. Do not swim at the creek ends, at dawn, dusk or night.
👕 Stinger suit — Wear one in season even inside the net.

⚓⛳ Half Moon Bay Marina

⚓ Half Moon Bay Marina — About 197 berths with Yorkeys Knob Boating Club. Fuel, amenities and a bistro looking over the boats.
🍽️ Club dining — Seafood and sunset drinks on the deck. Courtesy bus runs for members and diners.
🚫 Not the swim beach — The marina is around the point. The net and flags are on the open sand at Sims Esplanade.
🅿️ Club parking — Separate from the beach bays. Use the club car park for marina visits.

🪁Kite Surfing Yorkeys Knob

🪁 Kite surfing Yorkeys Knob — Wide beach and consistent SE trades, roughly April to November. Foil and wing use the same stretch.
🌬️ Best window — Dry-season trades (May to October). Check wind and patrol before you set a kite near the net.
🚫 Give the swim zone room — Launch away from the flags, the net and the playgrounds.
🏫 Local schools — Kite Rite and Pacific Watersports operate from this foreshore.

🐶 Dog Friendly Yorkeys Knob

🐕 Official off-leash — Southern end of the beach, south of the corner of Sims Esplanade and Kempton Street.
🦮 On-leash default — Mid-beach, northern swim, paths, playgrounds and all of Sims Esplanade.
🚫 Stinger net — Dogs prohibited inside the net and on the sand directly in front of it.
🚫 Playgrounds — No dogs on the play equipment or the playground sand.
🚿 Dog wash — Taps and hoses along the esplanade.
🧹 Effective control — Pick up waste. If a stretch is not signed off-leash, use a leash.

🌤️Best Time to Visit Yorkeys Knob

☀️ ☀️ May to October — Drier, clearer, best kite window.
🪼 November to May — Stinger net at the northern end. Suit on.
🚩 Patrols — Seasonal. Swim between the flags when they are up.
🌡️ Climate — Hot wet summers, warm dry winters.

🗺️ Yorkeys Knob parking and Getting There

🚗 Drive — 15 minutes north of Cairns CBD on the Captain Cook Highway. Turn right at Yorkeys Knob Road to Sims Esplanade. Sealed the whole way.
🚌 Bus — Sunbus Route 110 between Cairns City and the village, stops near Sims Esplanade and the foreshore park.
🅿️ Beach parking — Free bays on Sims Esplanade and at the surf club. Weekend bays fill. Read the signs.
⚓ Marina parking — Use the Boating Club car park for Half Moon Bay Marina.
🚗 No 4WD — Zero beach driving.
⛺ No free sand camping
💡 Check before you go — Cairns Regional Council for parking. Translink for bus times

💡 Local Tips

🌅 Walk the full strip — About 1.5 km of sand between the northern net and the southern dog end.
🪁 Kite after the flags are understood — Do not drag lines through the swim enclosure.
🐊 Creek mouths are not a swim — Stay out of Yorkeys Creek and Richters Creek.
🍽️ Eat at the club — Best water view is the Boating Club deck over the marina, not a beach kiosk inventing a resort strip.
🐕 South for dogs, north for the net — Do not mix those two ends.

📍Nearby Attractions

🌴 Trinity Beach (8 km): Popular Northern Beaches spot with stinger net, cafes and family facilities
🏖️ Palm Cove (12 km): Iconic palm-lined beach, restaurants and resort atmosphere
🌊 Holloways Beach (5 km): Quieter neighbouring beach with good walking and dog areas
🏞️ Barron Gorge National Park (12 km): Rainforest walks, waterfalls and Skyrail access
🐠 Great Barrier Reef Tours: Day trips and outer reef experiences depart from nearby Cairns marinas

📆 Events & Markets Nearby

🥭 Rusty’s Markets — Friday to Sunday in Cairns CBD.
🎨 Tanks Markets — Last Sunday of most months at Tanks Arts Centre.
🎉 Cairns Festival — August to September in the city.
💡 Confirm dates — Check Cairns Regional Council before you drive.

For a full list of what’s on in the region, visit the
👉 Cairns & Northern Beaches Region Attractions | Best Things to Do in Far North Queensland

🏕️Accommodation Near Yorkeys Knob

🏠 Holiday apartments — The main stay behind Sims Esplanade. Walk to the sand and the club.
🏡 Holiday houses — Residential streets behind the beach.
🏕️ Nearby parks — No free beach camping. Use a booked park in the Northern Beaches, not the sand.

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🍴 Places to Eat & Drink

Yorkeys Knob offers a relaxed beachside dining atmosphere with local cafés, pubs, and the popular Yorkeys Knob Boating Club overlooking the marina. Enjoy breakfast by the water, fresh seafood for lunch, or sunset drinks with ocean and mountain views — then share your favourite food and drink experiences below!

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🧭Plan Your Trip to Yorkeys Knob

Yorkeys Knob combines coastal relaxation with adventure, offering safe swimming, kite surfing, dog-friendly areas, and a full-service marina. Just minutes from Cairns, it’s ideal for families, water sports enthusiasts, and day-trippers. Whether you’re enjoying a sunrise walk, fishing from the marina, or launching into the Great Barrier Reef, Yorkeys Knob provides an unforgettable slice of tropical Queensland.

💬 Share Your Yorkeys Knob Beach Photos & Reviews

📸 We’d love to see your favourite moments from the Cairns & Northern Beaches Region! Upload your photos, share your experiences, and leave a review to help other visitors discover the stunning tropical coastline stretching from Cairns to Port Douglas.

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💙 Explore More Beaches Nearby

Discover more of Cairns’ northern beaches:
Machans Beach ➜ | Holloways Beach ➜ | Trinity Beach ➜ | Palm Cove ➜

🌊 About This Beach Directory

🌴 Note: This directory doesn’t include every beach in Queensland — there are simply too many! We’ve selected the most significant and unique beaches based on a range of factors including natural beauty, accessibility, and local popularity.

💌 If you think we’ve missed one that deserves to be featured, we’d love to hear from you!

📧 Email us at Admin@QldBeach.com with your photos and tell us why your favourite beach should be added.

☀️ Happy surfing, swimming and sunning from the Queensland Beach Guide team!

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_{Last updated: June 2026}

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