Machans Beach
QLD 4878 · Cairns
943 (2021) → 964 est. (2025)
Based on transport, liveability & education. Safety is scored separately below.
Machans Beach is a suburb in Cairns, QLD 4878, about 1397km from Brisbane CBD. Recent property sales in Machans Beach are too limited to report a reliable median price. The suburb has 1 school, a transport score of 0/100, and is right by the coast. Machans Beach has an overall score of 33/100, based on transport, liveability and education, plus a separate residential safety score of 19/100.
Demographics
Age distribution
Top countries of birth: England (4.98%), New Zealand (3.61%), PNG (1.8%), Germany (0.85%), Italy (0.74%)
Top languages: Japan (0.74%), French (0.53%), Khmer (0.42%), Portuguese (0.42%), Australian Indigenous Languages (0.32%)
Source: ABS Census 2021
Residential Safety
Small population (under 3,000) — crime rates may be volatile due to low sample size.
QLDdoesn't publish crime data at the suburb level. The rates shown are the Cairns local-government-area average applied to this suburb, so other suburbs in the same LGA share the same figures.
Recorded residential incidents (latest year), with rate per 100,000 residents:
Includes street and public-place assaults — supplementary context, not part of the safety score.
Residential incidents over time
Sum of the five residential categories above — not all recorded crime.
Area crime context
An independent score — crime data quality varies by state, so safety is shown separately and is not part of the overall score.
Source: Queensland Police Service (LGA-level) · Updated 2025
Schools
Limited school choices
Below average for school access — fewer schools nearby, and families may need to travel for preferred options.
Average ICSEA of schools within 10km 995 (below the national average of 1000).
In suburb
- Machans Beach State SchoolPrimary · GovernmentICSEA 947
Nearby (within 10km)
- Freshwater State SchoolPrimary · Government · 4.1kmICSEA 1060
- Mother of Good Counsel SchoolPrimary · Catholic · 4.8kmICSEA 1091
- Edge Hill State SchoolPrimary · Government · 5.2kmICSEA 1020
- Caravonica State SchoolPrimary · Government · 5.3kmICSEA 1009
- Yorkeys Knob State SchoolPrimary · Government · 5.4kmICSEA 1000
- Freshwater Christian CollegeCombined · Independent · 5.4kmICSEA 1042
- Whitfield State SchoolPrimary · Government · 6.2kmICSEA 969
- Peace Lutheran CollegeCombined · Independent · 6.2kmICSEA 1060
- Cairns State High SchoolSecondary · Government · 6.9kmICSEA 1023
- The BUSY SchoolSecondary · Independent · 7kmICSEA 969
- St Andrew's Catholic College Redlynch ValleyCombined · Catholic · 7.1kmICSEA 1067
- Woree SHS - SchoolTech CampusSecondary · Government · 7.1km
Source: ACARA 2023
Transport
Source: TfNSW GTFS
Liveability
Amenities within 2–3km
Counted within a short distance of the suburb centre (so nearby facilities count), with the in-boundary count shown beneath.
Source: Bureau of Meteorology · OpenStreetMap
Fitness
Decent access
Around the national average — a reasonable mix of fitness facilities, with more variety a short drive away.
Facilities within 3km of the suburb centre. The Fitness Score is a national percentile of these counts per resident.
Source: OpenStreetMap
Outdoors
Outdoor paradise
Top 20% nationally — abundant parks and green space, plus trails, bike paths and places to enjoy the outdoors.
Within 3km of the suburb centre. The Outdoor Score is a national percentile led by parks and green space.
Source: OpenStreetMap
Culture
Some cultural venues
Around the national average — a handful of cultural venues, with more on offer a short trip away.
Within 3km of the suburb centre. The Culture Score is a national percentile weighting theatres, museums, galleries, libraries and arts centres most heavily.
Source: OpenStreetMap
Entertainment Scene
Solid scene
Well above average for licensed venues — you won't struggle for a night out or a good meal.
Government liquor register data is not yet available for QLD. Venue counts are estimated from OpenStreetMap within 2km of the suburb centre.
View nearby venues on the Entertainment Map →
Source: OpenStreetMap
Childcare
Strong options nearby
Well above average for childcare services — good choice and quality, with most families finding a place without a long drive.
View childcare centres on the map →
Source: ACECQA National Quality Framework Register
Nearby suburbs in Cairns
Compare Machans Beach with another suburb
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Frequently asked questions about Machans Beach
Is Machans Beach safe?
Machans Beach has a residential safety score of 19/100, based on residential crime (break-ins, theft from dwellings, vehicle theft, domestic assault and robbery) per resident relative to the NSW median. Its total recorded incident rate is 11,851 per 100,000 across all categories.
How far is Machans Beach from Brisbane CBD?
Machans Beach is about 1397.1 km from Brisbane CBD.
What schools are in Machans Beach?
Machans Beach has 1 school, with an average ICSEA of 947 (the national average is 1000). Schools are listed factually, not ranked.
What is public transport like in Machans Beach?
Machans Beach has a transport score of 0/100.