[3][4] The residential development in the suburb is only three streets deep from the beach and is surrounded by undeveloped land.

It is accessed by the Cape Pallarenda Road which runs north along the coast from Rowes Bay.

There were two coastal artillery batteries in Pallarenda: The area was attacked early in the morning of 27 July 1942 during a Japanese air raid on Townsville.

It is believed the name Pallarenda was given by naval officer George Poynter Heath in 1864,[10] possibly from castaway James Morrill who lived with local Aboriginal people.

To the south of Pallarenda there is a horse exercise beach and a dog off-leash area.