Mission Beach

Mission Beach is the perfect spot for a day off from the stress of travel. This sleepy little region encompasses four villages: Bingil Bay, Mission Beach, Wongaling Beach and South Mission Beach, strung along 14km of lush tropical rainforest on the coast. Its long sandy beaches fringed with palms and mangroves are a lovely place to swim or sunbathe, while the centre of Mission Beach town has quite a few dining options as well as some nightlife. There is no shortage of activities in the area, from hiking to snorkelling and trips to Dunk Island and the Great Barrier Reef. You can kayak all the way out to Dunk Island or hop aboard a ferry, which only takes 10 minutes. White water rafting trips are a popular excursion, most of which take place on the Tully River. This is also a great place to organise a sky dive, as the views are spectacular and it is one of the few places where you can land on the beach.

There are some lovely walking trails in Mission Beach, but for the more adventurous, trekking up into the rainforest is also an option. Mission Beach is home to Australia’s largest bird, the endangered cassowary, and if you are lucky you may see one on the side of the road. This area is also home to 60% of all Australian butterfly species, and numerous other types of wildlife, such as the white-lipped green tree frog.