CASSOWARY COAST- MISSION BEACH

In the middle of the Cassowary Coast, less than two hours drive from Cairns or Townsville, is Mission Beach. Flanked by World Heritage listed rainforest, with a wide, flat beach stretching for 14 kilometres - not to mention Dunk Island and the Great Barrier Reef lying just offshore - Mission Beach is one of our favourite spots in Tropical North Queensland... and therefore the world!

SCROLL DOWN OR USE THE LINKS ABOVE TO FIND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT MISSION BEACH. OR CLICK ON ANY OF THE HIGHLIGHTED TOWNS ON THE MAP TO VISIT SOME OF THE OTHER GREAT DESTINATIONS ON THE CASSOWARY COAST.

Mission Beach was named after an Aboriginal mission which was established here in 1914 by the Queensland Government to avoid opium addiction among Aborigines and to ease conflict with the European settlers. It was more a penal settlement than a religious mission. In 1918 the Mission was destroyed by a cyclone, and the Aborigines living there were moved to Palm Island.

Nowadays, Mission Beach is a thriving but idillyc and relaxed beachfront town with more than 14 kilometres of pristine golden sandy beaches lined with palm trees. It is one of the Tropical North's best kept secrets. Surrounded by two World Heritage areas, the Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics Rainforest, Mission Beach is the perfect place to break away from your everyday life. The beaches in the Mission Beach area are, without a doubt, the best mainland beaches within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area and are virtually unspoilt by man's intrusion. So why not leave your stress at home and prepare yourself for a place where the only traffic jam will be caused by cassowaries crossing the roads??? well, that's if you are lucky enough to see one. As locals say, it is paradise!

Bingil Bay is only about five kilometres north of Mission Beach. A very picturesque beach with fringing coconut trees, Bingil Bay is considered by many to be the prettiest beachfront in the area.

Wongaling is Mission Beach's central hub, with a supermarket, a video/dvd hire, a pharmacy, a bottle shop and a few specialty shops along with some cafés and restaurants. Dunk Island is only 10 minutes away by water taxi from Banfield Parade, in Wongaling Beach.

It is actually in South Mission Beach where the original mission was located. It is the southern-most beach in the Mission Beach area, a friendly township ideal for people who want to relax. The views of Dunk Island are dramatic and thanks to the boat ramps as well as the tranquility, South Mission Beach is a very popular holiday destination for families, fishermen and executives running way from stress alike.

Just offshore from Mission Beach are some of the world's most magnificent islands, many of which are declared national parks. These islands are a beautiful spot to spend some time, whether it is only a few hours or a few days. And the best way to get to the Great Barrier Reef.

There are numerous holiday resorts and accommodation houses available to suit every budget and occasion, including luxury beachfront apartments, villa's resorts, motels, hostels, caravan parks and camping sites, cabins, bed and breakfasts and farmstays. All accommodation facilities have been built to take advantage of the magnificent ocean views, golden beaches and tropical gardens.

Of course, Mission Beach offers a excellent variety cafés, wines bars and restaurants as well as all the other facilities you will need for your perfect vacation.

ATTRACTIONS AND THINGS TO DO - MISSION BEACH

PARADISE ESTATE WINES
6-3 Dewar Street, Mission Beach (MAP)
Phone (07) 4088 6888 / Fax (07) 4088 6889
After hours Phone/Fax (07) 4068 7535

www.paradisewines.com.au

Paradise Wines is Australia's first and largest winery to specialise in gourmet banana wine. Paradise Wines has blended its banana table wine with tropical fruits grown from the region to create a range of wines that have a richness, texture and style of their own.

Their cellar door is under the same roof as their tanks, pumps and bottling line so that you can see a working winery while you tease your tastebuds with the range of tropical wines. Give yourself a relaxing break and let the team at Paradise Estate Wines indulge you with a remarkable experience full of surprises, fun and friendship.

QUICK CAT CRUISES
Clump Point Jetty, Mission Beach (MAP)
Phone (07) 4068 7289 / Fax (07) 4068 7185

www.quickcatcruises.com.au

The Great Barrier Reef and Dunk Island in one day!

Take a relaxing and personalized cruise with Quick Cat Cruises to the Outer Barrier Reef, and visit Dunk Island on the same day. It's the quickest and most comfortable way to experience a tropical island, the rainforest, the reef and a sandy coral cay all for the one price.

Guests have a short stopover at Dunk Island (approximately 30 minutes), and 3 magical hours on the Great Barrier Reef at Beaver Cay, a Marine Sanctuary, exploring the colourful array of corals, and marine life, including awesome giant clams and a myriad of brightly coloured fish.

CALYPSO DIVE
Wongaling Beach Road, Mission Beach (MAP)
Phone / Fax (07) 4068 8432

www.calypsodive.com

Scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef with Calypso Dive from Mission Beach is all about magnificent reef trips that cater for introductory and certified divers and snorkellers. Starting out from Mission Beach and Dunk Island, you'll visit some of the Reefs most spectacular areas. Explore magnificent unspoiled sites or dive the 'Lady Bowen' wreck or even snorkel around your own deserted island.

Whether you're certified or a beginner, coming to them from Cairns or Townsville, their team of professional instructors offer individual attention, absolute adventure and unsurpassed value for money.

PAULS XTREME SKYDIVING
Tollfree 1800 005 006 / Fax (07) 4051 2626

www.xtremeskydiving.com.au

An experience you will never forget... guaranteed!

Pauls Xtreme Skydiving operates full day tours to Mission Beach from Cairns. You can also join Pauls Xtreme Skydiving if you are staying at Mission Beach.

Pauls Xtreme Skydiving uses the Tully airport to take off from, then flying over rainforest to get out over the ocean. As you climb to height, you can see Dunk Island and many of the smaller uninhibited islands around the area. On jump run, you'll fly along the coastline as you throw yourself (and your instructor) at the ground taking in some of the most amazing views of the reef and the beach. Under the parachute, you may even get to see some wildlife swimming in the ocean if your lucky. Landing on the beach, this is one spot you won't be forgetting in a hurry!

JUMBUN ABORIGINAL TOURS
Jumbun Aboriginal Community, Murray Upper
Phone (07) 4066 5654 / A/H 0405 315 090

www.jumbunaboriginaltourism.com.au

A unique cultural experience!

The Girramay and Jirrbal Elders of the Jumbun Aboriginal Community invite you to visit their small community and immerse yourself in their unique rainforest culture. The community is located at Murray Upper, between Cardwell and Tully/Mission Beach (Just follow the signs to the spectacular Murray Falls). The tour begins at the Community Store.

Your two and a half hour tour begins with an introduction to local Girramay and Jirrbal culture. You will be shown the precious artefacts kept in the community "Keeping Place" and enjoy refreshments. You will then meet your guides at Moombay, a beautiful site on the Murray River and a favourite camping spot of the Old people that is still being used today. During a guided rainforest walk you will be introduced to the rich cultural knowledge about the plants and animals around you. You will see mija (shelters) which rainforest Aboriginal people used to live in, and demonstrations of basket weaving and traditional jewellery-making. A unique cultural experience that will stay with you well beyond your holiday.

NATURAL SITES

BEACHES
Probably the most popular attractions of Mission Beach, and the whole Cassowary Coast are the beaches. At Kurrumine beach, where fringe coral merges with the open beaches, snorkeling is about as good as it gets. Bedarra Island is said to have more beaches than guests, Dunk Island has won the title of Australia's most beautiful tropical rainforest island and Cardwell, in our opinion, has one of the most impressive beaches of the world.

CLUMP POINT
Clump Point, at the northern end of Mission Beach, is the departure point for cruises to the Great Barrier Reef, Dunk Island and daily island-hopping tours. The lookout at Clump Point offers breathtaking 360º views over the sea, Dunk and the Family Islands, with the rugged peaks of Hinchinbrook Island off in the distance, the golden curve of the beach and the rainforest-clad mountains behind. It has always been an Aboriginal meeting place of great significance for the Djiru people, the traditional owners of this land. Boat Bay, the northen-most point of Clump Point is a wonderful place for catching Barramundi.

BUSHWALKING

Whether you are a vigorous bushwalker or you are looking for sun, the Cassowary Coast won't leave you dissapointed. Mount Bartle Frere and Mount Bellenden Ker are the two highest mountains in Queensland, and are visible from most places in the area. The valley that lies between the mountains is filled with wonderful walking trails walks and it is the place where you will encounter many of the region's extraordinary flora and fauna. The summit trails can be quite strenous and only suitable for the fit and adventurous. The Eubenangee Wetlands, north of Innisfail, provides easy tracks to waterfalls and is a paradise for birdwatchers. And if you are in the area, visiting the Wallaman Falls, Australia's tallest waterfall, about 305 metres, located west of Cardwell. However, check our NATIONAL PARKS page for more information about National Parks' walking tracks and other attractions in the area.

The Mission Beach area also provides a comprehensive range of walking experiences that allows the visitor to explore the beautiful rainforest and coastline. These tracks vary from 1.5 kilometres long to seven kilometres and are suitable for the whole family. The Licuala Fan Palm Walk in the Licuala National Park, where you may see the rare Cassowary, the famous iridiscent blue Ulysses butterfly, scrub turkeys or wallabies; the Bicton Hill walk, a four kilometre circuit track in the Clump Mountain National Park; the Cutten Brothers' Walking Track, dedicated to the pioneering efforts of the Cuttens and situated on the Clump Point Jetty; the Dunk Island Walking Track, a nine kilometre walk that will take you around the island; or the Edmund Kennedy Walking Track, that stretches for seven kilometres, from South Mission Beach to Tam O'Shanter Point, Turtle Bay, Kennedy Bay and back. Check the Visitors Information Centre for a Walking Track Guide.

BIG CASSOWARY
We have to start by pointing out the monument to Mission Beach's most notorius character... the Cassowary. Located at Wongaling Beach, the Big Cassowary, a five metre high monument, could be the only place in Mission Beach where you spot one. They're generally a rather shy and elusive bird.

If you're keen to view a Cassowary in the wild, please visit our BIRDWATCHING page for more details on the best spots, and also for safety tips.

To discover the numerous other 'Big Things' in Tropical North Queensland, please visit our BIG THINGS page.

SPORTS

WHITE WATER RAFTING
But if there's something the Tully River is famous for, it's white water rafting. If you want to have a exciting and adventurous day, this is the way. Grade four Tully River, with notoriusly named rapids such as 'Alarm Clock', 'Wet and Moisty', 'Staircase' or the dramatic 'Theatre' is great for practising such an exhilarating sport. Book a tour with one of the many companies that will provide you with an unforgettable rafting experience and make your friends back home wish they were here.

DIVING AND SNORKELLING
Mission Beach is one of the closest access to the Great Barrier Reef. Although it is very popular with tourists and holiday makers, it still doesn't have the hustle and bustle of other tourists destinations. So if you want to avoid crowds and go for a quieter holiday without missing out on any of the facilities a tourist destination offers, Mission Beach is the place for you. Don't forget that Dunk Island is just off the coast and it also provides fantastic diving and snorkelling.

FISHING

Mission Beach is not the only place in the Cassowary Coast good for fishing. The three rivers of the area, the Tully, the Murray and the Hull - along with the numerous creeks - provide fishermen with lots of different catches. Sooty Grunter, Jungle Perch, Eel-tailed Gudgeon, Tarpon, Mangrove Jack, and of course, Barramundi, the main species of fish in the Murray, are some of the popular target species.

TOURS

MISSION BEACH ADVENTURE TOURS Phone (07) 4068 7877 Mission Beach Adventure Tours offer a walking tour led by members of the Girramay tribe, providing bush tucker, boomerang and spear-throwing demonstration as well as a barbecue meal. RIVER RAT ECO CRUISES PO Box 155, Mission Beach Phone (07) 4068 8018 Join one of a number of different fishing and birdwatching tours on the Hull River. Learn how to set traps for the elusive Queensland mud crab. Into the evening you'll be equipped with a spotlight as we go in search of the infamous saltwater crocodile. QUICK CAT SCUBA ADVENTURES Phone (07) 4068 8707 / Mobile 0407 130 137 Quick Cat Scuba Adventures operates diving and snorkelling services on board Quick Cat Cruises. Their destination is Beaver Cay Marine Sanctuary, on the Outer Barrier Reef, but the tour also includes a visit to Dunk Island on the same day. MISSION BEACH BOAT HIRE Mission Beach Mobile 0438 689 555 Mission Beach Boat Hire offer the rental of boats, dinghies, sailing catamarans and sea kayaks for the exploration of the local coast and Dunk Island.

CORAL SEA KAYAKING PO Box 292, Mission Beach Phone (07) 4068 9154 / Mobile 0419 782 453 With Coral Sea Kayaking you can enjoy Dunk Island as nature intended. Simply glide along the surface of the water and enjoy the views of the colourful corals and watch the turtles and rays swim past. FISHIN' MISSION PO Box 217, Mission Beach Phone (07) 4088 6121 / Mobile 0427 323 469 Fishin' Mission offer fishing tours to suit everyone's taste. Whether is it game fishing, reef or island fishing, Fishin' Mission cover every single angle to provide you with a fishing experince you will enjoy to the limit. JUMP THE BEACH PO Box 972N, North Cairns Phone (07) 4052 1822 / Fax (07) 4052 1833 If you are an adventurous person or want to try something new and exciting, tamden skydiving is for you. They also offer bungy jumping and water rafting in the Tully River. Or you can go in for jet skiing, kayaking, hot air ballooning and nearly everything and sport you can think of.

MARKETS

MONSTER MARKETS
The Monster Markets are held on the last Sunday each month from Easter to November at Recreation Centre. They commence at 8:00am and finish around 1:00pm. The markets mostly feature local fruit and vegetables, log furniture, arts and crafts, bric-a-brac, trash and treasure and plants. Relax and enjoy North Queensland produce as imported goods are not allowed.

MISSION BEACH MARKET
The Mission Beach Market, located in the park opposite the Hide Away Caravan Park, is held on the first Saturday and third Sunday of each month. Open from 6:00am to 12:00pm, the market offers a wide array of tropical fruit and vegetables, trash and treasure, clothing and craft items.

For more details about these and other markets in the region, visit our MARKETS page.

EVENTS

Mission Beach has numerous regular activities and festivals for all to enjoy and take part in.

MISSION BEACH AQUATIC FESTIVAL
The Mission Beach Aquatic Festival is an annual event for the whole family. During two days Wongaling Beach is thriving with stalls, games, competitions, beach volleyball, treasure hunt, tinnie races, lolly drop and live music as well as lots of activities on the water. Food and drinks available.

MISSION BEACH STATE SCHOOL BANANA FESTIVAL
The Mission Beach State School Banana Festival, held in August in the grounds of the state school, is a great fun day for the kids and those not so small! Includes stalls, fun foods, live bands and more at the primary school grounds.

For more details about these and other events in the region, visit our TROPICAL NORTH QUEENSLAND EVENTS CALENDAR.

ACCOMMODATION - MISSION BEACH

Mission Beach is the most visited destination on the Cassowary Coast, and has a great supply of accommodation. Mission Beach holiday accommodation varies from spacious holiday homes to luxury resorts to home style bed and breakfast accommodation, not to mention a selection of caravan parks and campgrounds, with some offering self contained villas and modern ensuite cabins. There is self contained apartment accommodation and affordable motel lodging as well. Mission Beach has long been a favourite destination among backpackers too, and there are a number of backpackers hostels to choose from. If it's family friendly accommodation you're looking for, or budget accommodation while you enjoy the Cassowary Coast, Mission Beach has something for everyone. Please visit our MISSION BEACH ACCOMMODATION section, or use the buttons in the right hand column to choose the style of Mission Beach accommodation that suits you.

DINING - MISSION BEACH

FRIENDS RESTAURANT
Porters Promenade, Mission Beach (MAP)
Phone (07) 4068 7107

Friends meet at Friends!

Friends licenced restaurant is one of Mission Beach's most acclaimed dining experiences, where you can enjoy the gourmet delights of inventive Australian cuisine influenced by the zesty tastes of the Mediterranean and Asia.

At Friends the food is entirely our focal point, where our chef Mick Hannaford will tempt your taste-buds with our innovative and exciting menu. Using the finest ingredients from the abundant surrounding hinterland, we ensure the flavours are in perfect harmony with the wines you can select from our extensive and well balanced wine list. If it's a quality meal you crave, you need look no further.

Bookings Advised - Phone (07) 4068 7107

THE GREEK TAVERN & SOMETHING ELSE!
1 Banfield Parade, Wongaling Beach (MAP)
Phone (07) 4068 8177

www.cairnsunlimited.com/thegreektavern.htm

Fully licenced... with views to Dunk Island!

True Greek food comes to Mission Beach.
Formerly "Millers", the restaurant has reopened as "The Greek Tavern & Something Else" offering predominantly Greek, Cypriot, and Mediteranean Cuisine, but also catering for other tastes such as Malaysian-Chinese and Australian. Great tropical setting on the beach with views to Dunk Island, seating up to 80 people. They have a fully licenced bar, with BYO wine only. Open Monday from 5 pm to late and Tuesday - Sunday 11.30am to late. Available for private functions, large groups, and catering . Bookings preferred.

Located on corner Webb Road and Banfield Parade, Wongaling Beach.

CAFE COCONUTS Porters Promenade, Mission Beach Phone (07) 4068 7397 OCEANIA BAR AND GRILL 52 Porter Promenade, Mission Beach Phone (07) 4088 6222 THE LONGHOUSE RESTAURANT Eco Village Resort Clump Point Road, Mission Beach Phone (07) 4068 7534 SHRUBBERY TAVERNA 44 Mariners Parade, Mission Beach Phone (07) 4068 7803 PICOLO'S PARADISO Davies Street, Mission Beach Phone (07) 4068 7008 ZESTIVALE Castaways on the Beach Resort Pacific Promenade, Mission Beach Phone (07) 4068 7444 A festival of taste, a place where food, wine, service, ambience and experience combine to create a place to come together and celebrate a special event, or just another day in paradise. ANDYS PIZZERIA 45 Porters Promenade Phone (07) 4088 6866 Dine in or takeaway. BYO. Open for lunch from 11.30am to 2:00pm, and dinner 5:00pm to 9:00pm. Closed Tuesdays.

CONNOR'S CORNER 29 Bingil Bay Road, Bingil Bay Phone (07) 4068 7146 BLARNEY'S BY THE BEACH 10 Wongaling Beach Road, Wongaling Beach Phone (07) 4068 8472 CAFE RUSTICA 24 Wongaling Beach Road, Wongaling Beach Phone (07) 4068 9111 Open Wednesday to Saturday from 5:00pm. Sunday 10:00am to 9:00pm. Closed Monday & Tuesday. Great range of Italian cuisine. Takeaway or dine in. SCOTTY'S BAR AND GRILL 167 Reid Road, Wongaling Beach Phone (07) 4068 8676 PUNJABI INDIAN RESTAURANT Wongaling Beach Shopping Village Phone (07) 4068 8611 Authentic Indian Food. Dine in or takeaway. Open 7 days. ULYSSES RESTAURANT The Horizon at Mission Beach Explorer Drive, South Mission Beach Phone (07) 4068 8154 Offering a selection of modern Australian cuisine, fresh local produce and friendly North Queensland service. Extensive wine list, cocktails galore and a range of excellent beers.

GETTING TO MISSION BEACH

QUICK CAT CRUISES
Clump Point Jetty, Mission Beach
Phone (07) 4068 7289 / Fax (07) 4068 7185

www.quickcatcruises.com.au

Quick Cat Cruises offers boat transfers to Dunk Island from Clump Point Jetty, in Mission Beach, four times a day. The transfer takes about 20 minutes. Quick Cat Cruises provide coach connections from Cairns Airport, Cairns, Northern Beaches and Port Douglas. One way tickets vary from $24 from Mission Beach to $94 from Port Douglas. Kids pay 50% of adult fares. Private charters are also available upon request.

Of course if you've got a desire for the freedom and flexibility that can only be had at the wheels of your own vehicle, please visit our CAR HIRE page. We may be called Cairns Unlimited, but we can get you a great deal on a rental car or campervan anywhere! Simply fill out our obligation free enquiry form, and we will get back to you - usually the next working day - with the best deal on a vehicle to suit your needs.
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Mission Beach Dunk Island Connections provides daily transfers from Port Douglas to Dunk Island, picking up or dropping passengers in Cairns, Innisfail and Mission Beach.
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Premier / Pioneer Motor Service also run a bus service from Brisbane to Cairns and viceversa. The buses stop at Proserpine, Airlie Beach, Bowen, Home Hill, Ayr, Townsville, Ingham, Cardwell, Tully, Mission Beach, Innisfail and Gordonvale.

Gordonvale, Babinda, Innisfail, Mission Beach, Tully and Cardwell are a scheduled stop on the regular Cairns to Brisbane Greyhound bus route, with up to five departures every day. A Greyhound 'bus pass' will give you the flexibilty to stop off at interesting destinations along the way.

Mission Beach and Tully are two of the essential stops on all of the Oz Experience East Coast routes. Oz Experience has a range of passes and itineraries around the country.

The Tilt Train stops at the cities of Ingham, Cardwell, Tully, Innisfail, Babinda and Gordonvale on its way to Cairns from Brisbane. Allow around 12 hours to make the whole trip.

The Sunlander travels from Cairns to Brisbane and return. It has stops at Ingham, Cardwell, Tully, Innisfail, Babinda and Gordonvale. The Sunlander leaves Brisbane on Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. Please note that the Sunlander with Queenslander Class only runs on Sundays and Thursdays. The whole journey from Ingham, the first city of the Cassowary Coast, to Cairns takes around seven hours

Trans North Bus & Coach offers a service from Mission Beach to Bingil Bay and return. The buses run a number of times each day, from Monday to Saturday, except Public Holidays, stopping at different spots on their way (Bingil Bay and Clump Point amongst others).

Mission Beach has a local taxi service. Phone 0429 689 366.


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Dive the Reef with Calypso Dive

• CASSOWARY COAST MAP