Unless you go in June/July/August you need a car, especially for rainy days, but also to go to Palm Cove and Cairns.
The hotel is forty miles from the airport. The transfers to and from the hotel basically cost the same as two days car hire for a couple, more for a family.
Oh, also Cash and Points is poor value there. There is always a rate for less than $200 per night on sale, except the Australian winter school holidays.
Thanks for the tips. How is the drive from Cairns airport to there? Arriving about 1 PM on a weekday. Not use to driving on left side, so getting out of the city could be a little stressful.