Mission Beach is an absolute must for nature lovers,
ancient rainforests run right down to pristine paradise beaches
and this is one of the few places in Australia where you can see
the endangered cassowary. The name Mission Beach covers not just
one beach but a string of beaches including Bingil Bay, Garners
Beach, Mission Beach, South Mission Beach and Wongaling Beach.
Mission Beach is 20km. drive off the main Bruce Highway that runs
up the east coast, and just north of Tully which is officially Australia's
wettest town, hence the dense tropical rainforests that cover this
area.
This road connecting Mission Beach with the highway is named Cassowary
Drive. You will see numerous signs warning you of the danger of
cassowaries unexpectedly crossing the road. Take this serious as
they really do this and a collision with one of these 2 metre tall
birds will hurt both the bird, your rental car and your wallet.
The first European people to explore the Mission Beach area were
Edmund Kennedy and his party, they landed just south of Mission
Beach in 1848. This was where they started their ill fated journey
up to Cape York, Kennedy was speared to death by Aborigines later
on this journey. They were followed by settlers who established
crops such as coconuts, coffee, mangoes, bananas and a timber mill.
In 1914 the Queensland government set up an Aboriginal mission at
South Mission Beach to house the remainder of the local indigenous
population. A powerful cyclone hammered the area in 1918 in which
this mission was destroyed but its name remains till today and this
is where the area nowadays owes its name to. In the 1980s the area
started changing from a sleepy beachside settlement to a popular
holiday destination.
Mission Beach's most spectacular animal would have to be the
cassowary, up to two metres tall, covered in coarse black double
stranded feathers, and with brilliant colors of red and blue on
its neck and head. This elusive flightless bird is highly endangered
and lives only in the Wet Tropics area of North Queensland, another
patch of remote rainforest high up on the Cape York peninsula,
and New Guinea.
The cassowary (Casuarius casuarius johnsonii) has been wandering
around this planet since before the super continent Gondwana broke
up in to several continents, and they have relatives in several
distant continents. They belong to a family of birds called ratites
and are related to the Emu, the Ostrich, the Kiwi (though there
is a dramatic difference in size) and the South American Rhea
- a little known bird that resembles a small emu and runs around
plains in Patagonia. They are also related to the now extinct
Moas of New Zealand and the Elephant Bird of Madagascar. In New
Guinea there are two other species of cassowary too but in Australia
the only species is the Southern Cassowary. More
about the cassowary...
Cassowaries like to chase people so if you come
face to face with one do not turn your back and run, this will
encourage him to chase you and you can run for miles, the bird
can do 50km/h so you are not going to outrun him anyway. Back
off slowly, hold something in front of you, go behind a tree or
raise your arms up to look taller. Most people that report cassowary
attacks have simple been chased for some distance, if the bird
did not catch up with you it means he was not even trying to catch
up! More on cassowary
attacks...
Annual events
Mudfest - usually held in June, a music and dance festival with
various arts and crafts stalls.
Mission
Beach Bed and Breakfast
Hibiscus
Lodge Bed and Breakfast, - Hibiscus Lodge is a colonial
Queenslander set on 2.5 acres of tropical gardens surrounded by
rainforest with the beautiful Mission Beach just a five minute
walk away.
Tropical
Escape Bed & Breakfast - Luxury B&B on 1.5
acres of rainforest and tropical garden. Walk 8 mins to pristine
beach via shady beach access track. Pool, BBQ, 2 lounge areas
with pool table & bar. Walk to shopping village, pub and restaurants.
Not suitable for children
Mission
Beach backpackers accommodation
Scotty's
Beach House |
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Scotty's Beach House
is the only hostel on the beach with a bar and grill.
Relaxing hammocks in a garden setting with the largest
pool in town, great music playing in the open yard
makes it easy to meet new people. For the people
that like to party, our adjascent bar and grill
offers excellent meals at discount prices and happy
hour that offers $4.50 jugs of beer and $1 glasses
of wine. For people that wish to have a quiet one,
our 24 hour kitchen and 24 hour television room
are ready for you. No matter who you are, how old
you are or what you want to do, Scotty's Beach House
is the place for everything.
More
info and online reservations.... |
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Mission Beach camping
Hideaway Holiday Village - Porters Prom
Beachcomber Coconut Village - Kennedy Esp South Mission Beach
Dunk Island View Caravan Park - 175 Reid Rd
Mission
Beach resorts
The
Horizon |
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Perched high on the
point above Mission Beach and nestled amid the rainforest
with breathtaking views of white sandy beaches and
near the Great Barrier Reef, is The Horizon at Mission
Beach. This property offers boutique accommodation
on the hillside with 55 rooms, each having a private
balcony or terrace overlooking the ocean or the
rainforest. Other facilities include a bar, restaurant,
a free-form swimming pool to relax, an all weather
tennis court to play and a dedicated conference
centre for business purposes.
More
info and reservations.... |
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Licuala
Lodge |
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Liculala
Lodge is an award winning timber pole house set
in the peaceful and tranquil township of Mission
Beach. They have a great swimming pool, guest accommodation
is separate to the main house, and they serve a
famous 'All you can eat Breakfast', and included
in the tariff are complimentary drinks - tea, coffee,
soft drinks and BEER - how good is that !! More
info.... |
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Mission Beach Eco Lodges
Sanctuary at Mission Beach |
Sanctuary at Mission
Beach is an affordable accredited rainforest eco-lodge
at Mission Beach, North Queensland, Australia, half
way between Townsville and Cairns. Set on 18 hectares
of lush tropical rainforest overlooking the Coral
Sea, Sanctuary is as much a refuge for travellers
as it is for wildlife. Blessed with an abundance
of nature, there is much to see and do in Mission
Beach. The closest mainland point to the Great Barrier
Reef means that travel times are shorter and with
only two reef boats, your experience of this amazing
natural wonder is shared by only a select few. Just
offshore are many deserted islands to sail or sea-kayak
to and explore, most of which are protected National
Parks. |
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Standby rates in Mission Beach
Standbyrates.com.au
is a great place to shop for some last minute discounts,
find luxury accommodation for the price of budget accommodation
!
How to get to and around Mission
Beach
Unless you live in north Queensland you will have
to fly to the nearest international airport Cairns first, or to
Townsville airport.
Cheap flights are readily available on the internet now as competition
along the east coast is tough, try the handy search box below
or see more cheap
flights to Cairns and Townsville here.
Getting around the Mission Beach area is easy, the Mission Beach
Bus Service does a regular run around the area and there are bicylces
for hire. You can reach Mission Beach from Cairns with Coral Reef
Coaches, and other companies like Greyhound stop here on their
route along the east coast.
Or rent a car to get around! RentNewCars.com.au
is an Australian company that exclusively distributes Europcar
& Thrifty's Australian fleet of 16,000 new vehicles and offers
access to over 200 locations around Australia via the RentNewCars
web site. They also guarantee that through their True Quotes™
Promises that your final corrected payment will be the same as
what they quoted - and if they are wrong then they will refund
you DOUBLE the difference to your credit card.
Mission Beach tours
and things to do
Bedarra Island
Bedarra
Island Resort |
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The Bedarra Island Resort
is located in the tropical North Queensland coast,
midway between Townsville and Cairns, neighbouring
the Dunk Island. During leisure, you can indulge
in various activities in the surrounding area. The
Resort boasts 16 guestrooms, all of which are comfortable,
well furnished and equipped with modern amenities.
Enjoy a drink at the bar and dine at the in-house
open terrace restaurant that serves a variety of
delicacies. Recreational facilities include a spa,
swimming pool, gymnasium as well as a tennis court.
Other services offered are internet access, currency
exchange, safe deposit box and fax.
More
info and reservations.... |
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Dunk Island
Dunk Island is only just off the coast of Mission
Beach. You can go to Dunk Island on a day trip and hang out at
the resort or do the walking track around the island, or make
it an overnight stay;
Dunk
Island Resort |
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Situated on Dunk Island,
one of Australia's most beautiful tropical rainforest
islands, the Dunk Island Resort offers comfortable
rooms including suites equipped with all necessary
modern amenities. Dining options include the Beachcomber
Restaurant, EJ's on the Deck as well as wining options
like the Plantation Bar and Lounge, Cascade Pool
Bar and the BB's on the beach cafe. Other facilities
include reception, laundry, safe deposit box, two
swimming pools, gym, a squash court as well as facilities
for the disabled.
More
info and reservations.... |
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Scuba diving
Tour operators! Put your business in this spot!
Skydiving
Paul's
Parachuting has been operating for over 14 years
in Tropical North Queensland, they offer a range of different
jumps and you can land onto the spectacular Mission Beach. You
have the choice of freefall heights from 10,000ft through to the
massive 14,000 ft, which gives you an amazing 60 second freefall.
More
info....
Walking
The Visitors Information Centre has a Walking Track Guide showing
you some great walking tracks around the Mission Beach rainforest,
varying in length from half an hour to several hours. They include
Bicton Hill Lookout, Edmund Kennedy Walking Track, Lacey's Creek
and Licuala Walking Track, this is the one to do if you like the
majestic fampalms. If you want to learn more about this ancient
ecosystem you can also join a guided tour.
Mission Beach Adventure Tours offer a walking trek led by members
of the Girramay tribe, who provide bush tucker, boomerang and
spear-throwing demonstrations, as well as a barbecue lunch, tel:
(07) 4068 7877. They also offer horseriding through the rainforest
to a swimming hole.
Mission Beach Rainforest Treks are another organisation who provide
guided walks and camping treks, tel: (07) 4068 7122.
White water rafting
R
'n' R Rafting has a good choice of rafting trips,
ranging from 1 to 4 days, and on different rivers. More
info...
