Frequently Asked Questions

Where are the nearest shops and supermarket?

There are a handful of local shops less than a minutes walk from The Beach House where you can buy the basic necessities. There is a small ‘corner store’ for groceries, a newsagent, a video rental store, a takeaway and a bottle shop. There are two major shopping centres with two or three supermarkets in each just 15 minutes drive either north or south of The Beach House. If you drive south into the city, you will find Cairns Central on McLeod Street; and Smithfield Shopping Centre is on the highway 15 minutes north of Holloways Beach.

Where are the nearest restaurants?

There is a choice of three eateries in Holloways Beach, all within 2 minutes walk of The Beach House. There’s Coolums Restaurant right on the beach for a romantic dinner, or a relaxed Sunday lunch. Right next door to Coolums is the more informal Straight on The Beach cafè and bar, which is great for a sandwich lunch or the best value breakfast in Cairns. And there’s Holloways Pasta and Pizza near the local shops which also does home deliveries if you’re feeling particularly laid back. You will also find a selection of recommended restaurants in and around Cairns in the Information and Instruction Manual which we leave for all our guests at The Beach House.

Will I need to rent a car?

It’s entirely up to you, but we would recommend you do rent a car for at least part of your visit. Holloways Beach is about 15 minutes north of the city and, while there is a good local bus and taxi service, a rental car will give you the freedom to explore the area while you are here. And there is so much to see and do around Cairns.

Will the house be stocked with provisions?

No, apart from a ‘starter kit’ of tea, coffee, milk, dishwasher and washing powder, we don’t stock the house with any food.

Are there swimming towels at The Beach House?

Yes, there are 6 swimming towels, and all other bed linen and bath towels are also provided.

Can we swim in the ocean all year round?

Yes. During the ‘stinger season’ from around December to April each year, there is a large swimming enclosure about 100 metres up the beach which is perfectly safe to swim in and we strongly recommend you do not swim outside this enclosure during these months as Box Jelly Fish can be in the water. At other times of the year you can safely swim in the ocean directly outside The Beach House. If you have any concerns, talk to the life guards on the beach right in front of the restaurant and they will let you know where it is safe to swim.

What should we bring with us?

Cairns is a very relaxed tropical environment, so we suggest you pack lots of swimming gear, sarongs, shorts and T-shirts. And don’t forget the sun cream! If you come during the cooler months (around May to September) you may want to pack a light sweater for the evenings, but it should still be lovely and warm during the day. We suggest you also bring your favourite CDs if you want to listen to music. There is a book, magazine and DVD library, with a small selection for children, but you may also want to bring your own movies or you can rent them from the local store.

The house is described as two ‘pavilions’. Does this mean there may be another party of people there at the same time?

No. We never rent the house out to more than one party of guests at a time. The main pavilion contains the living areas, kitchen and master suite (bedroom, living area and bathroom), while the second pavilion houses two other bedrooms, a shared bathroom, small living area and laundry. The two pavilions are divided by the central courtyard and swimming pool and together they comfortably sleep six people.

Is the swimming pool fenced?

Yes, the pool is fully fenced with a childproof self closing gate.

What is the minimum number of nights I can stay?

The Beach House is rented out for a minimum of four nights.

How many people can The Beach House accommodate?

With three double bedrooms (one of them with two twin beds), The Beach House is perfect for six people; however there is a sofa bed in the main living area and we allow a maximum of eight guests. The tariff of $358 per night (or $2,200 per week) is for six people. For an additional one or two guests there is a surcharge of $60 per night.

Does The Beach House have a phone?

Yes. The number is (outside Australia +61 7) 4055 0366. The phone is available for guests to use for local calls only. If you need to make any international or interstate calls, or calls to a mobile number, we recommend you purchase a Telstra Phone Away Card.