The Australian Bucket List

Queensland

Mission BeachMission Beach couldn’t ask for a better position. In its front yard, the World-Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef, and in its backyard, World Heritage-listed tropical rainforest. This special place is packed full of experiences.

There are no crowds at this seductive and easy-going destination which is perfect for relaxation or discovering adrenalin pumping outdoor activities. This is the birthplace of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, so exploring the reef is a must. Reef boats leave from the Clump Point jetty, join a kayaking tour or hire a dinghy and take a picnic to a deserted Great Barrier Reef island. Mission Beach has 14 kilometres of sandy beaches, so it is easy to find a quiet place to relax with a book or indulge by checking into the couple's room at a day spa and relaxing with the fabulous beach views. Four villages are collectively known as Mission Beach: South Mission Beach, Wongaling Beach, North Mission Beach and Bingil Bay. Lush rainforest touches the shores of Mission Beach, hiding the elusive southern cassowary. Look for these majestic creatures on an easy rainforest walks and keep an eye out for the brilliant blue Ulysses butterfly, another local icon. Nearby is the spectacular Misty Mountains Trail, a series of long-distance walking tracks through the high-altitude rainforest. Several follow the ridgelines used by the area's traditional owners, the Jirrbal and Mamu Aboriginal people. The serene beauty of Mission Beach hides another side to this friendly beachside retreat - adrenalin-pumping adventure. Skydive from a plane on to the beach, head into the heart of the rainforest for white water rafting or explore the area on a jet ski or mountain bike. Luxurious resorts, elegant hill-top apartments and beach houses are favourites for those wanting to escape from their busy lives or choose from family-friendly motels, beach caravan parks and popular backpacker hostels. Mission Beach is about a two-hour drive south of Cairns.

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Things to do

Go diving off Mission Beach

Welcome to Mission Beach Dive where they will create your Outer Great Barrier Reef Experience! They can help you whether you wish to take your family snorkeling, a couple's special dive or snorkel charter, advance your dive training, and more. They offer two distinctively different vessels and activities to choose from with different price ranges to suit all budgets.

Take the water taxi out to Dunk Island

Dunk Island a stunning island just off the coast of Mission Beach in north Queensland. Most of the island is a national park, with unique tracts of rainforests, pristine beaches and abundant species of wildlife. There are plenty of walking trails on the island, so you can fully experience the beauty of the rainforests. Be sure to walk to the top of Mt Kootaloo for spectacular views of the Dunk, and the mainland. While Dunk Island is perfect for day trips, there are nine campsites in the national park. Facilities include toilets, showers barbecues and drinking water. You can get to Dunk from Mission Beach by boat and bus transfer.

Stay at Castaways Resort and Spa

Castaways Resort and Spa Mission Beach is your absolute beachfront escape in the tropics. Idyllically bound by the Great Barrier Reef and World Heritage Wet Tropics Rainforest, Castaways is the perfect destination for couples, families with children, and groups of friends. Mission Beach remains one of the yet to be discovered jewels of the Tropical North. A tropical playground located just 90 minutes south of Cairns; Mission Beach boasts more activities than any other destination in the North with over 20 nearby islands, white water rafting, reef trips, and beach landing skydives just to name a few. Mission Beach is actually the closest land waypoint to the Great Barrier Reef. Giving you more time snorkeling and less time on a transfer. For the ideal beach holiday, Castaways Resort and Spa is flawlessly positioned on coconut lined lawns just twenty metres from the white sands of Mission Beach and the sparkling waters of the Coral Sea. The resort features a day- spa, conference and wedding facilities, restaurant and cocktail bar, and accommodation all boasting expansive views to Dunk Island and the Coral Sea.

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