Mission Beach Holiday Houses & Accommodation

Mission Beach is a scenic beachfront town located between Townsville and Cairns on Australia's Queensland coast. With the Great Barrier Reef on one side and a World Heritage rainforest on the other, this aquatic paradise is a perfect base for visiting nearby Bedarra, Dunk, and Hinchinbrook islands.

The Coral Sea surrounds Mission Beach on the east and comprises four villages, including South Mission Beach, North Mission Beach, Wongaling Beach, and Bingil Bay. It connects these small townships, from Garners Beach in the north to Kennedy Bay in the south.

Long unspoilt beaches, mild tropical weather, lush rainforest and cool freshwater streams make Mission Beach ideal for exploring. Mission Beach offers a wide array of accommodation choices including relaxed bungalows, beach houses, spacious holiday homes, and modern apartments. A holiday rental in Mission Beach makes for a fantastic base to enjoy this coastal town and surrounding areas.

What to eat on your Mission Beach holiday

Mission Beach offers fabulous beachfront cafes, fine dining restaurants, bars, and fun venues to explore its diverse cuisine. The Mission Beach Resort Bistro serves excellent food in an elegant setting, with meal deals to keep the entire family happy. A sports bar menu is also available for lunch and dinner seven days a week.

With plenty of vegetarian options, baked goods, home-made condiments, and use of fresh dairy products sourced locally, you’ll be sure to find your favourite dish at Shanti Cafe. It offers a diverse menu with a fusion of international flavours for breakfast and lunch in a relaxed atmosphere.

Nestled within Mackay’s Motel, The Pavilion serves authentic Italian and French dishes in a tropical garden setting. The Pavilion also offers a full bar, and the menu is updated regularly using the freshest of ingredients. They also serve kid-specific cuisine.

Nana Thai Café, in neighbouring Wongaling Beach, offers authentic Thai cuisine in a relaxed garden setting. Enjoy the alfresco dining with the warmth of a spicy curry, noodle, or rice dish, a delicious duck dish, scrumptious seafood, or a vegetarian platter and an extensive selection of entrées.

Mission Beach's arts and cultural scene

The Helen Wiltshire Gallery in Mission Beach exhibits paintings, sculpture, ceramics, prints, and jewellery by talented local artists. The artists represented by the gallery reflect the vibrancy of the region, which is home to some of North Queensland's most exotic flora and fauna.

Art print Frame at Stephens Street features Aboriginal artwork, didgeridoos, artefacts, glass art, Arthur Leydin prints, and ceramics from local artists.

At the Mission Beach Community Arts Centre, you can enjoy a range of local cultural activity, including gallery shows, arts workshops, and a shop featuring Mission Beach artists' creations.

Family Holidays at Mission Beach

Most rental accommodation in Mission Beach is located close to the stretch of perfect golden beaches the area is known for. But it's not just the sand and sea that families can enjoy here.

Set on the edge of lush tropical rainforests, Mission Beach even has its own cocoa plantation. Charley's Chocolate Factory lets you see, touch, and taste the entire chocolate making process. Watch how harvested beans are transformed into rich, delicious chocolate bars before your very eyes. Afterward, enjoy an Aussie-style farm lunch.

If you're looking for a little adrenaline rush together, then test the tumbling waters of Tully Gorge on a white water raft. Raging Thunder Rafting is a local adventure tour company, with experienced guides who will take you through the 45 rapids and swirling waters of this beautiful national park.

Sun, Sea, and Sand at Mission Beach

The 14km coastline of Mission Beach is actually made up of three main beaches, several villages, and countless secluded coves. Mission Beach is also the closest access point on the mainland to the Great Barrier Reef. This means you have wonderfully diverse marine life just outside your holiday rental for swimming and snorkelling adventures.

For the perfect place to escape the crowds and relax, head for Garners Beach. These picture-perfect pockets of beach are surrounded by bush that form a spectacular frame for its thin strips of white sand. It's relatively undeveloped, with only a few houses in the area.

If you want to explore further, a water taxi to nearby islands is a wonderful day trip idea. Dunk Island, known to locals as the 'island of peace and plenty', is just a short trip away. It offers a relaxing 3km walk between beaches, crossing through rainforest. There's also the 11km circuit hike which takes in views of Mount Kootaloo summit, returning via the beautiful Coconut Beach.

Festival and events to check out while visiting Mission Beach

The Mission Beach Community Cassowary Festival at the end of June celebrates the region's unique natural environment, including rainforest, reef, and diverse wildlife. Held in the beautiful parks and gardens next to the Coral Sea, the festival involves children’s activities, food stalls, and loads of entertainment.

Held at Babinda Showground, October's Babinda Harvest Festival is an annual event which celebrates the beginning of the sugarcane harvest in the region. The festival features colourful parades, musical performances, market stalls, kids' activities, and more.

Tastes of the Tablelands Festival is hosted by the Rotary Club of Atherton in October, and showcases a variety of fresh and innovative produce from growers and farmers from the region. The event offers non-stop entertainment, cookery demonstrations, children’s activities, and workshops.

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