Mission Beach

Defined by a tropical seaside landscape, Mission Beach is both a beach and a town with a population of about one thousand residents. Composed of national parks and tree-lined hillsides which give way to golden-sand beaches, the alluring qualities of this rugged coastal paradise are nothing short of exceptional.

The region forms part of what is called the Cassowary Coast — named after Australia’s enigmatic flightless bird, the cassowary. The town has emphatically embraced this with many businesses featuring the cassowary as part of their shopfronts.

The good news is you have a great chance of seeing a cassowary in and around the greater Mission Beach area — more so than most other parts of the state. For those that are super keen, walking the lovely Licuala Fan Palm Walk may provide a sighting as the cassowary is partial to the fruits that drop from the fan palms.

North of Mission Beach, you have a very good chance of seeing cassowaries on the beach of Etty Bay, with the curious birds making their way down to the shoreline in search of native fruits. With sheltered picnic tables and electric barbeques by the sea, it’s a good place to picnic while you wait, increasing your chances of a sighting and photo opportunity.

If you’ve got a few dollars to spare, Mission Beach is on the cusp of the Great Barrier Reef with snorkelling, diving, and great fishing all on offer, so be sure to book a tour while in town if this is of interest.

Lying just four kilometres off the coast, Dunk Island is an ever-present landmark of Mission Beach, which you can get to by ferry. From day trips to budget camping to luxurious resort-style accommodation, there’s something here for everyone, and a visit is worthy of your consideration.

There really is a wide variety of things to do here. And yet, despite being a tourist hot-spot, there are quite a few free destinations in the Mission Beach area with hardly a soul to interrupt the experience. If you like to get away from it all, you’ll be in your element in this ruggedly beautiful coastal stretch.

Making your way down to the seemingly endless foreshore of Mission Beach is easily the most popular attraction for visitors to the region. With a raft of accommodation options spread down the length of the beach, it never feels too crowded — which is rare for such gorgeous scenery. The large stand of palm trees which line the foreshore is an iconic signature of the beach. Visitors are left with little to do except bask in the sun and shade of these trees, creating memories and forgetting all others at the same time.

A walk along Mission Beach at sunrise or sunset is highly recommended to immerse yourself in this idyllic location fully.

You’ll also find a sensational trail running the length of the foreshore called the Ulysses Link Walking Track, which is unbelievably lush for vegetation so close to the shore. The walk is named for the revered Ulysses Butterflies, which frequent here. Seeing a brilliant flash of blue from one of these large, enigmatic butterflies can depend on the time of year that you visit. Tip: The walk makes for a great return option if you plan to walk the beach.

To fully appreciate the area, a trip to Bingil Bay is only a short drive from the northern end of Mission Beach. As such, it’s similar in many ways to Mission Beach with its palm tree-lined foreshore and clean sand. Bingil Bay has a unique atmosphere with the headlands on either end providing a feeling of isolation and intimacy. The beach also sports its own river outlet in the middle of the beach — which adds another element to the scene.

Apart from a small campground, you won’t find a string of accommodation options running the length of Bingil Bay — which usually has the net effect of barely a soul to interrupt the views.

For some, the best part of Bingil Bay is the small campground which lies just behind the foredune. If the thought of waking up to a glorious palm tree-adorned sunrise sounds appealing, this is a good option. Note: There are limits on the size of trailer allowed into this campground.

You’ll also find some great sheltered picnic tables complete with electric barbeques right on the foredune, providing astounding coastal views. Combined with tall palm trees offering shade and ambience — this is an excellent way to savour the experience.

Pretty much unknown to the tourist population, the Kennedy Walking Track is a sensational walk which takes in some of the best examples of coastline in the area. The walk begins at the southern headland of the incredibly long Mission Beach — some 13km out of town and down the coast. Depending on your fitness/interest level, there are various stages of the Kennedy Walking track to complete, each offering quite distinctive scenery.

The walk commences via an easy-going boardwalk — blessed with serene coastal views. Before long, the boardwalk ushers visitors to a small patch of sand dubbed Lovers Beach. Here, the boardwalk opens up to a viewing deck with some of the closest views over to Dunk Island. With tropical vegetation surrounding the viewing platform and a picnic table on-hand, it’s a great spot to slow down and enjoy the views.

The next major attraction is Lugger Bay — a secluded beach that is about as pristine as you will get in this area. It’s a long beach — with ample room to find your very own patch of bliss. Far from the well-trodden tourist trail, the best part about Lugger Bay is the lack of crowds, which gives the beach a heightened sense of escapism.

For some, the Kennedy Walking Track is too long to complete in its entirety at around 8 kilometres return, with many turning around at Lugger Bay. Having said that, while the remaining track is slightly hilly, you’ll be rewarded with some epic coastal scenery.

You can pick up the trail to Kennedy Bay at the far end of Lugger Bay, about 100m before the end of the beach. This final section of the walk weaves along a rugged headland. With expansive views of the coast and the many islands that punctuate the ocean, it’s an enthralling escape from the more refined attractions.

You’ll finally end at Kennedy Bay — which historically was the starting point for Edmund Kennedy and his crew of twelve men in an overland quest to explore Cape York. For those who make it this far, you’ll find an interpretive sign at Kennedy Bay with more information about this pioneering snippet of Queensland’s colonial history.

If you’re travelling further through Northern Queensland, or as a day trip out of Mission Beach, Josephine Falls is unquestionably a must-see. Firstly, the waterfalls are superb, with viewing platforms perfectly positioned to take in the atmosphere. Secondly, at the base of the waterfalls, you’ll find numerous waterholes which need to be seen to be believed — so clear and enticing is the water which sparkles in the sunlight.

The walking track into Josephine Falls is a pleasure, with a rainforest that only gets greener and denser the closer you get to the falls. At the falls themselves, the surrounding tropical vegetation is so lush and dense that you’ll be gob-smacked by its natural qualities. At the lower pool, a smooth granite rock face doubles as a natural waterslide—an exhilarating slippery dip carved and polished by flowing water.

To be sure, Mother Nature was having a good day when she created Josephine Falls. If you’re passing by, be sure to add this one to your bucket list.

A little further north of Josephine Falls, another sensational waterhole can be enjoyed at the amazing Babinda Boulders.

Arriving at the carpark, visitors are greeted with large grassy lawns complete with sheltered picnic tables and barbeques, which make the perfect setting for lunch. You’ll also find a great kids’ playground adjacent to the picnic area, making Babinda Boulders a great family-friendly destination.

From the picnic grounds, there are several attractions to see. Firstly, you’ll find two large waterholes to enjoy — each with crystal clear water that is refreshingly invigorating. The swimming holes also feature smooth granite boulders rising up from the riverbed, which people inevitably use to make a splash. Indeed, fun in the sun is the name of the game here — all within a gorgeous natural setting.

Starting at the picnic ground and taking off in the opposite direction, you’ll find the sensational Devils Pool Walk. This captivating boardwalk leads you downstream from the swimming holes alongside a smooth granite riverbed. The rainforest along this trail is stunning, making the short walk a worthwhile addition.

The first significant feature along the walk is Babinda Falls — which is more of a moody cascade flowing across smooth granite. At the end of the trail, the Devils Pool viewing platform provides sublime views with tropical surrounds that will have you in awe.

Overall, there’s plenty to see here and well worth stopping for — or combined with Josephine Falls, a great day trip out of Mission Beach.