Noted for its wide sandy beach, Yorkeys Knob is bordered by two tidal inlets, Thomatis Creek to the south and Moon River to the north. These watercourses effectively separate the residential beachside suburb from its immediate neighbours, Holloways and Trinity Beaches.

Yorkeys Knob, or "The Knob", as it is affectionately called, receives its name from both a natural topographical feature and a British immigrant from Yorkshire, named George Lawson, who lived in the area in the late 1800s.  Because of his Yorkshire origins, locals gave Lawson the nickname "Yorkey".

The rocky, bush covered Knob is the first headland encountered as one journeys along the coast in a northerly direction from the Cairns inlet.

The beach has always been a favourite with locals, both those who live permanently at the beach and those who simply visit for an outing and a swim.  There is road access along most of the beach's foreshore as well as grassy parkland and picnic areas.

Yorkeys Knob has its own shopping complex as well as an 18 hole golf course fronting on to Half Moon Bay.

In keeping with most of the beach communities along the Marlin Coast, Yorkeys Knob is developing into a prime tourist destination because of its superb natural attributes and its strategic geographical location, being only 15 minutes drive from the central business area of Cairns as well as central to most of the major attractions in the area, including the mountain township of Kuranda, the internationally recognized Skyrail and the Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park.

Adjoining Yorkeys Knob and sheltered on the northern side of the rocky headland is Half Moon Bay. Here the visitor will find the Yorkeys Knob Boating Club amenities, which includes a yachting marina and an all weather boat ramp giving recreational fishermen access to the nearby fishing grounds and reef areas.