Mission Beach

 

In Mission Beach you can still come face to face with a cassowary
Photo by Rob Lapaer of Rainforest Hideaway B&B, Cape Tribulation, N.Qld.

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

Licuala Lodge 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....

 

Mission Beach backpackers accommodation

Scotty's Beach House 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....

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 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. Mission Beach Contact via email Visit website for more info.... Phone 07 - 4088 6064

Standby rates in Mission Beach

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 sites 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 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....

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 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....

 

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...