23 fun things to do in Mission Beach with kids

Looking for the best things to do in Mission Beach Queensland? We’ve found the best activities for you and your family.

Mission Beach is made up of four coastal villages – Bingil Bay, North Mission, Wongaling Beach and South Mission. The villages are linked by 14 kilometres of palm-fringed beach. The laid-back seaside enclave is flanked by rainforest, fruit fields and reef. You won’t find traffic lights, chain stores or crowds here.

The Family Islands group – including unspoiled Dunk and Bedarra – float just a few kilometres offshore.

The four villages offer excellent accommodation options for families and plenty to see, taste and do with activities ranging from the sedate to the extreme. To travel from Cairns to Mission Beach is approximately a two-hour drive south.

Snorkelling in Mission Beach

Mission Beach is one of the closest mainland towns to the Great Barrier Reef. From land, you can swim out to the reef at Coral Bay. Or join a tour company to find a range of great snorkelling spots only accessible by boat. Climb aboard Mission Beach Dive’s Reef Goddess to make the most of a fish-filled day on the outer reef. 

Mena Creek Falls

Mena Creek Falls are located within Mena Creek Environmental Park. Access to the falls is free on the south side; the north side is within Paronella Park. The south side has a picnic area with toilets.

After you relax in the picnic area, walk over the suspension bridge that spans across the falls. At the moment you cannot swim at the falls due to crocodiles in the area. At night, the water is beautifully illuminated by powerful lights.

Josephine Falls

The swimmer-friendly Josephine Falls can be found in Wooroonooran National Park, just one hour north of Mission Beach. Josephine Falls cascade over large rocks into a beautifully clear swimming hole. The running water creates a cool environment to escape hot days in the tropics.

Once you park, the falls are an eight-minute walk via a sealed path. There are many great short walks through the surrounding World Heritage-listed rainforest. The Noongyanbudda Ngadjon Aboriginal people maintain a close spiritual connection with the Josephine Falls.

Cardwell Spa Pools

A geological mystery, these iridescent baby blue pools are located just under an hour south of Mission Beach. Scientists think the blue colour may be from sedimentary rocks dissolving magnesium and calcium in the water. The best time to visit the pools is from May to September due to water levels. Make a day of your visit and explore the surrounding waterfalls and swimming holes in the area.

A chocolate factory tour at Charley’s Chocolate Factory

Charley’s Chocolate Factory is a working cocoa farm 10 minutes inland from Mission Beach. The Cocoa Tree To Chocolate Bar tour begins at the cocoa tree nursery to see how cocoa is grown, then through every step of it being made into chocolate.

It would be cruel not to give out samples! Kids can enjoy tasting chocolates on the tours which are held every Thursday and Sunday at 10.30am.

Keep reading:

• 20 awesome things to do in Cairns with kids
• The best things to do in Atherton Tablelands with kids

Spot a southern cassowary

Mission Beach has one of the highest concentrations of southern cassowaries in Australia. You can identify the endangered bird by its long legs and vivid blue face. Keep an eye out all around Mission Beach to see them foraging in gardens or swimming across rivers. The is a cassowary conservation park at South Mission Beach and Garners Beach is also a popular place to see these blue beauties. You might even see these bold birds foraging in gardens or patrolling the beach at Etty Bay. But beware – these ‘living dinosaurs’ are wild animals, and deceptively dangerous – so always keep a safe and respectful distance.

Visit Dunk Island

Dunk Island is a 1,000-hectare island four kilometres from Mission Beach. Most of the island is a tropical rainforest that is part of the Family Islands National Park. There are heaps of walking tracks to spot rare seabirds and explore rainforest. Hike to Mt Kootaloo for glorious views back to Mission Beach. Then head to the pristine beaches and snorkel through mangroves, keeping an eye out for turtles. Kids will love jumping into the turquoise water from the jetty. The Mission Beach Water Taxi will get the family to Dunk Island in 10 minutes.

Read: Best island camping spots in Australia

Bike riding

Mission Beach has kilometres of beachside riding tracks. Once you’ve done the beaches, take to the rainforest on the Musgravea Track in Djiru National Park.

Most of the Musgravea Track is an old logging route that runs alongside the Hull River and Jurs Creek. The track has a few river crossings over picturesque bridges. Make sure you pack insect repellent before entering the rainforest. You can hire bikes from Mission Beach Bike Hire.

See a crocodile

Cruise along the Johnstone River with Snapping Tours. Tour guides will point out crocs resting on sandbanks and lurking in the river. The two-hour croc cruise will get you up close and personal with the crocodiles of the area. You’ll also see other wildlife and learn about the history and biodiversity of the area.

Djiru National Park

The Traditional Owners of Djiru National Park, the Djiru Aboriginal people, welcome you to their Country and ask that you respect their special place.

The 900,000-hectare national park is home to butterflies, cassowaries, turtles, wallabies and lizards. They live among the national parks’ tropical rainforest, eucalypt forest, wetlands and mangrove forests. The national park has barbecue facilities and is great for bushwalking, bike riding, picnics and wildlife spotting.

The children’s walk on the Licuala Rainforest Circuit

The Licuala Rainforest Circuit is a 1.6-kilometre loop within the national park. The track passes by rare Licuala Fan Palms, the palm forests make up half Australia’s palm forests. Kids brochures have been created for this walk to educate kids about cassowaries and their habitat. Follow the cassowary footprints along the trail to find a surprise nest of cassowary eggs.

Adventure in Tully

Known for its sugarcane and banana farms, the hinterland town of Tully also bears the dubious honour as one of Australia’s wettest towns. This is marked by the Golden Gumboot, a 7.9-metre concrete golden boot with a frog on its side.

All that water makes for raging rivers, so be sure to take an adrenaline-pumping whitewater rafting tour with Raging Thunder through Tully Gorge. Hurtling through the grade three and four rapids is a must for adventure-seeking families.  Children need to be 13 years or older, and those under 18 must be accompanied by a responsible adult. 

Paronella Park

Paronella Park is a Spanish-style castle built upon a five-hectare wonderland. The stone castle is almost covered by the 7,000 plants and trees that were planted in the park. Entry gets you a 30-minute storytelling tour, then you are free to explore waterfalls, bridges, tunnels, feed the fish, and see a blanket of tropical plants.

Bring a picnic to enjoy amongst moss-clad ruins and play tennis on the two on-site courts. Or, take a stroll across the suspension bridge to absorb the negative ions from the Mena Creek Falls tumbling below.

Cost: adult tickets are $50 and children are $28.

The Ulysses Walking Track

The Ulysses Track is named for the electric blue Ulysses butterflies that can be sighted around Mission Beach. The 1.5-kilometre track runs the length of Mission Beach foreshore. Indigenous and historical stories are depicted along the path through carvings, mosaics and sculptures.

Mamu Tropical Skywalk

Walk in the clouds at Mamu Tropical Skywalk in Wooroonoon National Park. Elevated walkways, a cantilever and an observation tower take visitors high into the rainforest canopy. On the ground, there are lots of walking tracks with posters to identify the flora and fauna of the rainforest.

Safe swimming in the stinger nets

One of the best ways to spend a day at Mission Beach is simply by playing on the sand and swimming in the azure water.

Marine stingers can sting swimmers on Tropical North Queensland’s beaches from October until May. To avoid them, swim in either of the two stinger nets at North Mission and South Mission Beach. 

Visit the Outer Great Barrier Reef

Book a day company to visit the Outer Great Barrier Reef. Once you are there you can try snorkelling or diving or just enjoy the refreshing water. Companies like Mission Beach Dive are located in the centre of town and offer a variety of tour options.

Lacey’s Creek Walk

Lacey’s Creek is a great swimming spot for kids with crystal clear waters running through the pebbled creek. The walk is 1.5 kilometres through the rainforest where you can spot cassowaries.  You also might get to see a turtle in Lacey’s Creek from the viewing platform.

Fruit Forest Farm Tour

Take a tractor and trailer tour of Fruit Forest Farm to meet the farmers and experience a bounty of fruits. Tours operate from April to September on Saturdays from 2.30pm to 4.30pm.

Mission Beach Aquatic Centre

For a day of safe swimming and splashing about head to the Mission Beach Aquatic Centre. The public pool has a 50-metre lap pool, toddler splash pool with water spraying mushrooms, water slides, a playground and a hydrotherapy pool.

Horse riding

Reinsdown Horse Riding is 25 minutes from Mission Beach. It offers a personalised trail ride and farm experience. The property is also a working cattle and horse farm. Kids will love stopping to pat the cows before hitting the rainforest trail with stream crossings.

Mission Beach Markets

Mission Beach Markets are on every first and third Sunday of the month at Ulysses Park. Here, you can buy locally-made handicrafts, clothes and delicious food.

Skydive Mission Beach

An awesome thing to do in Mission Beach for teenagers aged 16 and over. Skydive Mission Beach will whisk you away from the swaying coconut trees on Mission Beach and 15,000 feet into the air.

Cost: $309 per person

Where to stay in Mission Beach

Tasman Holiday Parks – South Mission Beach

Tasman Holiday Parks – South Mission Beach offers incredible facilities for families. Located within cooee of Dunk Island and backing onto a cassowary conservation area, you’ll be spoilt for choice with camping, caravan sites, cabins and villas. Spend your time at the licenced beachfront café and kiosk, shaded kids’ pool, tennis/basketball court and shaded playground. Enjoy a South Mission Beach-front location, glorious views to Dunk Island and the cassowary conservation area that the parks packs onto.

Castaways Resort & Spa

This four-star stay has direct access to the white sand of North Mission Beach with absolute beachfront accommodation. The award-winning Castaways Resort & Spa boasts rooms and apartments that are perfect for families. Enjoy an on-site restaurant, swimming pool and day spa.

Kurrimine Beach Holiday Park

This family-owned and -operated holiday park offers an even quieter escape in a sleepy fishing hamlet. Your family will be well equipped with free barbecues plus a water park and huge swimming pool with inflatable toys. There’s also a playroom, surrey bikes, giant chess set and an obstacle course. 

Mission Beach Resort

Centrally located at Wongaling Beach, Mission Beach Resort offers four-star accommodation that is tailor-made for families. Expect spacious rooms and apartments, and a range of activities for all ages. Mealtimes are made easy at the Family Bistro, complete with a fenced kids’ play area.

This article originally appeared in Holidays with Kids magazine. Subscribe to the latest issue here.

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