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Major city · Australia

Mission Beach

Give Mission Beach 2 nights if you want Dunk Island and a rainforest walk; 1 night is enough for the beach alone.

Not yet checkedSourcesWhat these labels mean

Mission Beach is a string of four beach villages joined by about 14 km of sand between Cairns and Townsville, with the Great Barrier Reef and Wet Tropics rainforest on its doorstep. It is a slow base, not a sightseeing stop: most people come for two nights to walk, swim in the stinger nets and take a boat to Dunk Island.

basic guide: no trip line yet
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
More ways in
Print / PDF guide
Local time, weather, currency, airports
Weather
see forecast
Currency
AUD
Best months
May–Oct (dry season)
avoid Nov–Apr (wet season, marine stingers, cyclone risk)
Airports
CNS · TSV
Nights
2
Rules in force · 7
  • Oceania ↗Oceania's island states guard their farms and reefs at the border: tick 'yes' on the arrival card for any food, plant, animal product, soil or used outdoor gear, and let the officer decide.
  • Oceania ↗Across the tropical South Pacific, cyclones are possible from November to April: choose insurance that covers weather delays and keep one spare night before a long-haul departure.
  • Australia and New Zealand ↗Both countries drive on the left, with long distances between fuel stops in the outback and on New Zealand's back roads; fatigue causes more visitor crashes than speed.
  • Australia ↗Almost every visitor needs a visa or an electronic authorisation (ETA or eVisitor, depending on passport) before boarding: apply only through the official Department of Home Affairs site or the official AustralianETA app, and check the rules for your passport.
  • Australia ↗Declare all food, plant material, seeds, wood and animal products on your arrival declaration; undeclared items can bring on-the-spot fines or visa cancellation. When unsure, declare it.
  • Australia ↗Drive on the left. An overseas licence in English (or with an official translation or International Driving Permit) is accepted for visitors; check the state rules and your rental contract.
  • Australia ↗Swim between the red and yellow flags on patrolled beaches; rip currents cause most beach drownings.

Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide

Checking your follows…
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾

Not in this guide yet

  • Walking areas with bag rules
  • Day plans checked against opening hours
  • Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
  • Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Mission Beach000 ▾
  • Police, fire, ambulance000
  • From a mobile112

Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.

EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Mission Beach, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Show all 12 answers

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeA$4.50–6 (≈ US$3–4)
  • Beerschooner at a pub / can at a bottle shopA$8–12 (≈ US$6–8)A$4–7 (≈ US$3–5)
  • Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Dunk Island water taxi, returnA$50–70 (≈ US$35–50) (check)
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a weekA$20–40 (≈ US$14–30)
  • Budget bedHostel or backpacker bed, a night, per personA$40 (≈ US$30)
  • Mid-range bedMotel or resort double room, a night, per roomA$200 (≈ US$140)
  • High-end bedMotel or resort double room, a night, per roomA$400 (≈ US$300)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget A$90 (≈ US$60) · Mid A$170 (≈ US$120) · High A$300 (≈ US$200)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

14 km of linked beach villagesDunk Island and the Family IslandsCassowary sightings in the rainforestReef and rainforest day trips
Airports
CNS Cairns Airport (About 2 h 15 min by road south; airport transfers run by prior booking) · TSV Townsville Airport (About 2 h 45 min by road north)

Best months at a glance

From the guide's best and avoid lists

  1. Jan

    Avoid

    31°C (88°F)

  2. Feb

    Avoid

    31°C (88°F)

  3. Mar

    Avoid

    30°C (86°F)

  4. Apr

    Avoid

    29°C (84°F)

  5. May

    Best

    27°C (81°F)

  6. Jun

    Best

    25°C (77°F)

  7. Jul

    Best

    25°C (77°F)

  8. Aug

    Best

    26°C (79°F)

  9. Sep

    Best

    28°C (82°F)

  10. Oct

    Best

    29°C (84°F)

  11. Nov

    Avoid

    30°C (86°F)

  12. Dec

    Avoid

    31°C (88°F)

Best: May–Oct. Avoid: Nov–Apr. Month by month →

Warmest Jan (31°C (88°F)), coolest Jul (17°C (63°F) low), wettest Feb (16 rain days), driest Jul (7). Averages, not a forecast.

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Mission Beach: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

31°C (88°F)

24°C (75°F)

15 rd

Feb

31°C (88°F)

24°C (75°F)

16 rd

Mar

30°C (86°F)

23°C (73°F)

15 rd

Apr

29°C (84°F)

22°C (72°F)

13 rd

May

27°C (81°F)

20°C (68°F)

11 rd

Jun

25°C (77°F)

18°C (64°F)

8 rd

Jul

25°C (77°F)

17°C (63°F)

7 rd

Aug

26°C (79°F)

17°C (63°F)

7 rd

Sep

28°C (82°F)

19°C (66°F)

7 rd

Oct

29°C (84°F)

21°C (70°F)

9 rd

Nov

30°C (86°F)

23°C (73°F)

11 rd

Dec

31°C (88°F)

24°C (75°F)

13 rd

High / low, both scales · rd = rain days

Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

A car is the practical choice: the villages sit 14 km apart along one coastal road. Local buses are limited, so without a car you are tied to your village and pre-booked tours.

See & doDay-trips, door to door

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Dunk Island

go

Door to door: About 30 min each way

Water taxi or tour boat from Wongaling Beach

Reef and rainforest walking on the island; check sailings and weather before booking.

Cardwellcaution

Door to door: About 1 h

Drive south on the Bruce Highway

Small coastal town and a forest walk; pair it with a look at Hinchinbrook Island.

Cairnsskip

Door to door: About 2 h 15 min

Drive north on the Bruce Highway

Too far for a comfortable return day; treat it as the airport, not a day trip.

Ingham

caution

Door to door: About 1 h 30 min

Drive south on the Bruce Highway

Regional town with the TYTO wetlands; a wet-day option rather than a highlight.

Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Mission Beach village

Main strip with cafés, the tavern and the closest access to the northern beach.

Wongaling Beach

South end, bus terminal and shopping village; widest choice of mid-range rooms.

Bingil Bay

Quietest village, backed by rainforest; few services, so you need a car.

PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
A$90–150 (≈ US$60–100) excl. bed
Mid
A$150–260 (≈ US$100–180) excl. bed
High
A$260 (≈ US$180)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Motel or resort double room1 × 2 nights × A$200A$400
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × A$170A$680
Airport transfer from Cairns, one way2 × A$90 · checkA$180
Dunk Island water taxi, return2 × A$60 · checkA$120
eSIM, about a week of data2 × A$25A$50
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeA$143
Trip total≈ A$393 per person per day, bed includedA$1,573≈ US$1,100

2026 estimate in Australian dollars; flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

CoffeeA$4.50–6 (≈ US$3–4)
Counter meal at a pubA$22–35 (≈ US$15–25)
Beer: schooner at a pub / can at a bottle shopA$8–12 (≈ US$6–8) / A$4–7 (≈ US$3–5)
Fish and chipsA$15–25 (≈ US$10–17)
Dunk Island water taxi, returnA$50–70 (≈ US$35–50) (check)
eSIM or data SIM, about a weekA$20–40 (≈ US$14–30)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

A relaxed beach town, but the sea is the risk: swim between the flags or inside the stinger nets, and stay out of the water in the warm months outside them. Roads are the other hazard, for cassowaries as much as cars.
  • Marine stingers (box jellyfish and Irukandji) are present in the warm months: swim only inside the stinger nets, and outside them only in the netted season.
  • Cassowaries cross the roads here: slow down, and never feed or approach one.
  • Cyclones are possible between November and April; check warnings before you travel.
  • Mobile coverage is patchy in the rainforest villages.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
000
From a mobile
112

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

Mission BeachMission Beach

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance000
  • From a mobile112

Embassy

No consulates in Mission Beach; the nearest are in Cairns. Most embassies are in Canberra.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Cairns Airport → Mission Beach, transfer: about A$90 (≈ US$60) one way, about 2 h 15 min (check)
  • Greyhound or Premier bus, Cairns → Mission Beach: about A$40–60 (≈ US$30–40), about 2 h 30 min (check)
  • Dunk Island water taxi, return: about A$50–70 (≈ US$35–50), about 30 min each way (check)

Say or show

  • Thanks — Thank you
  • Where's the beach access? — Where is the beach access?
  • Is it safe to swim here? — Is it safe to swim here?
  • One coffee, please — One coffee, please
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
  • Where's the toilet? — Where is the toilet?

English is the local language; the phrases above are the local wording.

Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Mission Beach. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: May–Oct (dry season) · avoid Nov–Apr (wet season, marine stingers, cyclone risk) · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 4 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for CNS and TSV: transfer cutoffs, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
  2. Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Mission Beach village, Wongaling Beach, Bingil Bay and Clump Point.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (Dunk Island, Clump Point Lookout, community arts centre) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Wet-season and stinger fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to Australia

Sources

Ask about Mission Beach

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