The Mission Beach Australia Traveler Guide was written for the budget traveler that wants to experience the best of this region. Mission Beach is an area in Queensland, Australia that is known for its clean and clear waters. Mission Beach is only a short one hour drive from Cairns, which is a popular tourist city. The Mission Beach Australia Traveler Guide includes the best places to stay, eat, and things to do.
If you book a snorkeling or diving excursion here, you’ll find yourself on a massive ship with over 100 other vacationers. But if you want a more personal tour, there is a fantastic option!
We Recommend leaving Cairns entirely and heading to the town of Mission Beach. The city itself is fantastic with a kilometer-long shore of the same title, perfect for intimate or family getaways.
Here it is possible to research the Cairns Great Barrier Reef considerably more thickly and with fewer tourists blocking your view.
Mission Beach Weather
The Weather Mission Beach is on stage, exactly like the rest of Australia. The ideal time to visit would be somewhere around June and July when the temperature rarely goes above 25°C (77°F). Queensland rates are among the warmest travel destinations, with temperatures up to 68.9 °C (156 °F), so it is a treat!
How to Get to South Mission Beach
You will Want 2h to get to the beach from Cairns. The cheapest way would be to drive there yourself. However, you can also catch a bus.
They are usually really nice and air-conditioned, with comfy seats and WiFi access, and about $60. It is also possible to take a train, but they take an extra hour to get there, and the cost is comparable.
If You are traveling from Townsville, the buses require a bit longer at 3h 25m, and the tickets go for $70. Trains once more take an excess hour, so we recommend a bus from both of those locations.
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Mission Beach Dive
Mission Beach Dive Is a small but superbly organized for diving and snorkeling excursions to the world. They are keen on attempting to make every guest feel right at home throughout the trip.
True to the motto of experiencing the reef far from the crowds, their ship, the”Reef Goddess,” does not match over 25 people. You may depend on every excursion with South Mission Beach Dive for a pleasant and professional experience.
Their afternoon tours to The Great Barrier Reef start at 8:30 a.m. facing this Mission Beach Dive office. You can find their office in Wongaling Beach, and you can begin your journey from that point.
Don’t worry if they request that you leave your shoes at the workplace. You definitely will not need them in the world, and they will be waiting where you left them!
If This is the situation, you’ll cross the broad beach barefoot, where the little ferry boat will be waiting. In under 15 min, you need to be ready and equipped to start your experience.
Tours & Things to do hand-picked by our insiders
The boat excursion to the Outer Great Barrier Reef generally takes about 1.5 hours. Some ships even have on-board kitchens and personnel so that you can find a dinner or a coffee during the excursion.
Experience the Great Barrier Reef
Snorkeling Here at the Great Barrier Reef area is highly recommended. It is a relatively remote place, so it is possible to see the water anywhere about you and immerse yourself in the environment.
Many lively corals Grow across the reef rocks, and countless fish in all shapes and colors swim around. It is a beautiful sight and more than worth it for diving and snorkeling enthusiasts.
Your other Selection to get a tour along the Barrier Reef Is a pontoon that covers the area between the Airlie and the Mission Beach. These tours offer you a plethora of alternatives and start from around $269.
You can indulge in snorkeling, both regular and scuba diving, exploring the Whitsunday Islands and their wondrous marine life.
You Can also take a semi-submersible submarine ride and witness the submerged plant life from their observatories. With all these options to choose from, you do not even need to be a swimmer for a journey like this.
The food on those tours is also fairly delicious, so there is no need to bring any with you.
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Watching Cassowaries in Mission Beach
Just The mention of cassowaries is sufficient to fill some individuals with enthusiasm and amazement. These large flightless birds using the glowing blue feathers and long necks, will be the nearest thing we have to a dinosaur.
They are arguably the most damaging species of bird that is present but also equally intriguing. Unfortunately, the birds, which are around 1.80 meters tall, are now critically endangered.
There Are just about 4000 cassowaries left from the wild, so it can be incredibly challenging to find one unless you know precisely where to look. They are a native Australian animal and a whole area around Mission Beach that the Cassowary Coast is devoted to.
You can find many roaming cassowaries, but it would be best to respect them from a distance. Since cassowaries are fearless birds, you can occasionally catch them drifting through the middle of the village!
You Can also see them around the street’s sides, so look out whether you’re driving through the area. Numerous signs along the roads of Queensland warn about the crossing cassowaries, so drive slowly just in case.
You do not want to be accountable for additional shrinking down the populace of those endangered birds.
Things to do at Mission Beach
1. Go Skydiving
Mission Beach is a tropical paradise for skydiving. It’s long contrasting beaches, and islands strung together are still an excellent background for a hop. The dense rainforests complement the blue and white shores and make every moment of the drop memorable.
The jumps usually occur from the height of 5 kilometers, but this may vary significantly.
Many consider Mission Beach is the best place for sky diving. The costs start from $199, but experiencing skydiving with these environments is essential if you are a fan of the sport.
2. White Water Rafting at Tully River
Fans Of rafting also haven’t anything to be concerned about! The Tully River is a famous gathering spot for rafters and has been ever since 1984. Rafters usually have a grill in the riverside in the daytime as they prepare to fight the river.
They supply transportation to the rafting locations from all significant cities in the area and storage to set your valuables.
3. Water Taxi and Kayaking
These may take you away from Wongaling Beach to the nearby Dunk Island and are a fun little diversion. Water taxies take up to 24 passengers, and therefore they are more akin to water buses, but they maintain comfort as a priority.
4. Clump Mountain National Park and the Bicton Hill
About 4.6km north of Mission Beach lies the Clump Mountain National Park. This park aims to preserve the tropical rainforests and some endangered species.
This type of rainforest was widespread throughout Queensland but is currently a rarity due to forest clearing. It also fosters the local cassowaries, so it’s an excellent place to start if you are put on seeing one.
The Main characteristic, however, is the Bicton Hill. It is a steep walking track that guarantees spectacular views for all determined enough to get to the top. Along with the park itself, this area holds cultural significance for the native people, namely the Djiru tribe, who used the summit of Bicton Hill as a scouting lookout.
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5. In Mission Beach, You Can Visit Attie Creek Falls
An hour south from Mission Beach is your tropical town of Cardwell. Here you can find some of the more exotic waterfalls in Queensland, and Australia generally. The Attie Creek provides picnic opportunities to make a stand and respect the nature around you, while the falls themselves are half an hour of walking away.
There are usually people around since the place is rather famous, but additionally, it is secluded. It is excellent if you would like a quiet break from the travel and a hike through the woods.
6. Charlie’s Chocolate Factory
May draw you in anticipating a wild cinematic theme park will turn into something completely different, but equally impressive. Chocolate Factory aims to provide a realistic tour of the actual process of making chocolate. Namely, the transition from”Tree into Bar.”
It’s authentic, without trying to”sugar-coat” this process. It is also one of those few areas where you can witness this whole process for a part of a guided tour. The tour includes the history of cherry, visiting the plantations, and the machines they use.
They also allow you to take part in the actual process of making chocolate! Tour guides are hospitable and friendly, and costs go out of $22 for kids around $34 for adults.
7. Hike on the Famous Walking Tracks
Mission Beach has lots of opportunities for trekking for nature fans and joggers. The beautiful forests offer you a clean atmosphere and relaxing greenery and are all well worth your time.
There are a variety of sorts of paths available, all to meet different needs. Some kids play around, along with other people such as botanists, bird watchers, and connoisseurs of nature in general.
8. Ulysses and the Cutten Brothers Walk
Ulysses Link is a 1,5 kilometer-long trail that takes approximately half an hour to stroll through. It’s a popular path for families and larger groups, and it provides a unique perspective of the Mission Beach region.
Winding Throughout the regional attractions, along the shores, and offering a fantastic view of all of the neighboring islands. Ulysses walk was named after blue butterflies, which may be seen all around the area, and it’s somewhat near the nearby Dunk Island.
The path intertwines with all the Cutten Brothers Walk, and both share some of those streets and neighborhoods.
9. Rainforest Walk
There Are multiple paths you can take through the regional rainforests, alluring, and teeming with life. Licuala State Forest is an excellent start if you want to walk through the infrequent fan palm trees.
The forest spreads throughout the Mission Beach region and hides the impressive Licula Fan Palms, which are more than 15 meters tall.
They Additionally contain fleshy orange fruits, the food of choice for your regional Cassowaries, as well as the birds themselves. If you can spot one, keep your distance, and try not to excite them. Cassowaries are lovely to check at but are somewhat irritable by nature.
10. Kennedy Track
In the southern part of Mission Beach, Kennedy Track is enormous compared to some others and around seven kilometers-long. It takes more than four hours of walking to complete. Therefore it isn’t ideal for kids or the elderly.
To achieve this track From the Visitor Centre, take the Tully street and then go for South Mission Beach. The road itself is quite varied and starts at a eucalypt forest. While hiking, you will have a crystal clear view of the Coral Sea, the Barnard Islands, and others.
This Trail links the northern Mission Beach and the Wongaling Beach, with the accessibility to Cassowary Drive. Alongside it, you are going to see many villages the route cuts through. The walkway is equally for pedestrians and people with bikes, so it is rarely vacant.
12. Musgrave Bike Track
Regarding bicycle tracks, you will find a few more immersive and scenic compared to the Musgrave Track. It goes along the old woods road that was used to transport timber in the sixties.
The route requires a certain amount of fitness as it moves along the forest terrain. It can sometimes feel as though you’re drifting through a jungle, surrounded by enormous trees and wildlife.
Mission Beach Accommodation
There Is a selection of hotels to select from in Mission Beach, and you can not go wrong with any. Castaways Resort is the right choice because they serve the best breakfast in the area.
Aside from that, they give cozy rooms, a gorgeous pool in front of the resort, and a nice view from the balcony, filled with palm trees and endless beaches.
There’s Also Cassawong Cottages as a pet-friendly alternative, using free WiFI and a beautiful garden. The rooms are outfitted with giant TVs, DVD players, and espresso machines. This is an excellent alternative if you want to prepare your food.
Your rooms are equipped with all the tech you’ll request, but there’s also the barbecue grill, free parking, and laundry facilities. It is quite close to this Licuala State Forest, so it is a good starting point for an increase. There are many other options to select from, but these three are our top picks.
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