After having a look at Goldsborough National Park I carried on south with a view to getting to a free camp south of Tully but the signpost for Mission Beach caught my eye and I remembered hearing so much about it as the jumping off ground to Dunk Island. Unfortunately Dunk was ruined by a cyclone and the rebuilding is still going on but Mission Beach is one of those magic places and I booked in at the council run caravan and camping ground. The cost for an unpowered site is $17, powered was $20 but they didn't have any left so I was given a site right on the beach, well a few metres of sand seperated me from actually being on the beach. I am so impressed with this place that I have placed a reserve on a powered site if one becomes available by check out time tomorrow for a week. I can stay on the unpowered site for $105 but the powered is only $3 more per day $130. So that is a change in my travelling progress I haven't had a week in one spot since Parry's Beach near Denmark back in February and then I was delaying my progress to go across the top in winter.
Have a look at these pics buy they do not do the place justice. The tide was out and I couldn't get the palm trees and the sea in the one shot. Have plenty of time to do better and am considering getting the fishing rods out again and going on plenty of walks might even consider having a little snooze in the afternoons.......................living the life of Riley..............How apt. John Riley
Cruising Granny said
04:23 AM Jun 7, 2012
I love the crab balls on the sand. The little buggers work so hard as the tide runs out, pulling all the sand out of the hole, roll it in search of food, putting it down, then do it all again, and the more they do it, the further from the hole the balls get. Then the bloody tide comes in and stuffs up all the hard work so they have to do it all again next tide. So if you're ever on a beach where there are crab balls, sit comfortably close by and watch them. It's exhausting. And I was buggered too. Take some refreshments to indulge during the entertainment.
Happywanderer said
04:31 AM Jun 7, 2012
CG, I have often seen the crab balls but never even thought about all the hard work involved. I will take more notice in future and like you will sit and watch their work. Maybe take my thermos along and enjoy the occasion. Thank you for that insight.
bill12 said
12:47 PM Jun 7, 2012
Sorry, mate. It must have been a high download time last night. Came through alright this morning. Good spot. in the rainforest.Bill
jilly888 said
09:26 PM Jun 7, 2012
Hi John,would you have the phone number for the council c/p,we hope to stop at mission beach on our trip and would be around there sometime in July it would be good if we could call them a few days before we arrive and try to book a powered site.Many thanks Jill
yeoeleven said
09:58 PM Jun 7, 2012
jilly888 wrote:
Hi John,would you have the phone number for the council c/p,we hope to stop at mission beach on our trip and would be around there sometime in July it would be good if we could call them a few days before we arrive and try to book a powered site.Many thanks Jill
Hi Jill, the number is 0740302222 but they are not interested in forward booking but give them a ring. There are not many powered sites here and I am fortunate in being able to get one when the previous occupant left.
I will be here for a week and will leave next Thursday if anyone has Mission Beach on their agenda please PM and we will make a meet up time. The council has another park at Bingil Bay you could ask about that one too.
John
Beth54 said
11:12 PM Jun 7, 2012
It certainly looks a lot better than when I saw it last July.
Keith19837 said
03:20 AM Jun 8, 2012
Pretty big tidal difference. I can't work out a scale but what is it: 100+ metres of extra beach exposed?
Cruising Granny said
05:39 AM Jun 8, 2012
You're welcome HW. Glad I could pass on that little bit of nature study. Enjoy.
yeoeleven said
07:51 PM Jun 8, 2012
Keith19837 wrote:
Pretty big tidal difference. I can't work out a scale but what is it: 100+ metres of extra beach exposed?
Have no idea of scale but I measured the low tide as being 100mtrs below the high tide mark and between the high tide and the palm trees was 10mtrs.
John
yeoeleven said
01:25 AM Jun 10, 2012
I was able to book in for a week with a powered site and have spent a couple of days walking to the nearest beaches, Wongaling to the south and Bingil Bay to the north.
The weather is great and this delay will hopefully allow the weather on the Gold Coast return to normal.
pauline said
01:53 AM Jun 10, 2012
How will you drag yourself away from there John ?
yeoeleven said
03:38 PM Jun 10, 2012
pauline wrote:
How will you drag yourself away from there John ?
Not very easily Pauline but have to plan somewhere interesting to go to straight after and have selected Murray Falls Camps6 #27 it has an excellent write up in the promotional literature from Mission Beach with waterfalls swimming pools and walks. Will make for an interesting continuation of my trip. John
jimricho said
09:22 PM Jun 10, 2012
Hi Yeo11,
Have a beer or two for me at "the Shrubbery". A beaut little watering hole right on the beach in the centre of the village. You can watch the parachutes landing on the beach right out the front!
Cyclone Yasi really trashed Dunk Is and nearby very up-market Bedarra Is, both owned by the same company. I did hear they were in financial difficulties as a result.
Jim
(PS: If you detect a note of envy in this post...you're spot on!)
yeoeleven said
02:54 PM Jun 13, 2012
jimricho wrote:
Hi Yeo11,
Have a beer or two for me at "the Shrubbery". A beaut little watering hole right on the beach in the centre of the village. You can watch the parachutes landing on the beach right out the front!
Cyclone Yasi really trashed Dunk Is and nearby very up-market Bedarra Is, both owned by the same company. I did hear they were in financial difficulties as a result.
Jim
(PS: If you detect a note of envy in this post...you're spot on!)
Jim it really is a cool place the Shubbery and am planning to watch the State of Origin there tonight the beer will not be flowing I can't stand the stuff but a lemon lime and bitters will be fine. One of our members Campfire called in to Mission Beach yesterday and we will be watching the game with keen interest willing the maroons on.
Last night I was struggling to look at least respectable for my first meal out in a long time especially in the company of a lovely lady, we had Chinese and talked endlessly and I really enjoyed her company.
After having a look at Goldsborough National Park I carried on south with a view to getting to a free camp south of Tully but the signpost for Mission Beach caught my eye and I remembered hearing so much about it as the jumping off ground to Dunk Island. Unfortunately Dunk was ruined by a cyclone and the rebuilding is still going on but Mission Beach is one of those magic places and I booked in at the council run caravan and camping ground. The cost for an unpowered site is $17, powered was $20 but they didn't have any left so I was given a site right on the beach, well a few metres of sand seperated me from actually being on the beach. I am so impressed with this place that I have placed a reserve on a powered site if one becomes available by check out time tomorrow for a week. I can stay on the unpowered site for $105 but the powered is only $3 more per day $130. So that is a change in my travelling progress I haven't had a week in one spot since Parry's Beach near Denmark back in February and then I was delaying my progress to go across the top in winter.
Have a look at these pics buy they do not do the place justice. The tide was out and I couldn't get the palm trees and the sea in the one shot. Have plenty of time to do better and am considering getting the fishing rods out again and going on plenty of walks might even consider having a little snooze in the afternoons.......................living the life of Riley..............How apt. John Riley
Then the bloody tide comes in and stuffs up all the hard work so they have to do it all again next tide.
So if you're ever on a beach where there are crab balls, sit comfortably close by and watch them. It's exhausting. And I was buggered too. Take some refreshments to indulge during the entertainment.
Hi Jill, the number is 0740302222 but they are not interested in forward booking but give them a ring. There are not many powered sites here and I am fortunate in being able to get one when the previous occupant left.
I will be here for a week and will leave next Thursday if anyone has Mission Beach on their agenda please PM and we will make a meet up time. The council has another park at Bingil Bay you could ask about that one too.
John
It certainly looks a lot better than when I saw it last July.
Have no idea of scale but I measured the low tide as being 100mtrs below the high tide mark and between the high tide and the palm trees was 10mtrs.
John
I was able to book in for a week with a powered site and have spent a couple of days walking to the nearest beaches, Wongaling to the south and Bingil Bay to the north.
The weather is great and this delay will hopefully allow the weather on the Gold Coast return to normal.
Not very easily Pauline but have to plan somewhere interesting to go to straight after and have selected Murray Falls Camps6 #27 it has an excellent write up in the promotional literature from Mission Beach with waterfalls swimming pools and walks. Will make for an interesting continuation of my trip. John
Have a beer or two for me at "the Shrubbery". A beaut little watering hole right on the beach in the centre of the village. You can watch the parachutes landing on the beach right out the front!
Cyclone Yasi really trashed Dunk Is and nearby very up-market Bedarra Is, both owned by the same company. I did hear they were in financial difficulties as a result.
Jim
(PS: If you detect a note of envy in this post...you're spot on!)
Jim it really is a cool place the Shubbery and am planning to watch the State of Origin there tonight the beer will not be flowing I can't stand the stuff but a lemon lime and bitters will be fine. One of our members Campfire called in to Mission Beach yesterday and we will be watching the game with keen interest willing the maroons on.
Last night I was struggling to look at least respectable for my first meal out in a long time especially in the company of a lovely lady, we had Chinese and talked endlessly and I really enjoyed her company.
John