Book all tours
at your accommodation at the Great Barrier Reef - Pick up is Free
Mission Beach offers a variety of activities - from the sedate through to the extreme.
And all the tours can be booked here at your accommodation in the Great Barrier Reef area. Most of the operators offer special deals for guests staying at Mission Beach - so we can normally save you a few dollars.
Calypso
Dive and Snorkel
Mission Beach scuba diving with Calypso Dive on the Great Barrier Reef offers a
complete scuba diving service designed to ensure you experience the very best
from the magnificent Great Barrier Reef. Starting out from Mission Beach and
Dunk Island, you'll visit some of the Reefs most spectacular areas. Explore
magnificent unspoiled sites or dive the 'Lady Bowen' wreck or even snorkel
around your own deserted island. Whether you're certified or a beginner, Calypso's team of professional instructors offer
individual attention, great adventure & unsurpassed value for money.
Xtreme Team
 Xtreme Team is the only rafting operation based out of Mission Beach in North
Queensland, Australia. It is an elite group of professional river guides with
with a vision of creating the ultimate rafting experience. It combines the
intimacy of a small company with the professionalism that a large orginisation
provides. Xtreme numbers are limited to provide you with the most time on the
water and the least waiting time. The Xtreme team guides are chosen not
only for their river skills, but for their great love of rafting and the natural
environment. Trips leave daily for the Tully River ex Mission Beach. So make sure that you stay at accommodation here at the Great Barrier Reef.
(A note from Mick and Sue - this is a great day out. If you only have time to do one thing here at your Tropical North Queensland accommodation in Mission Beach, Great Barrier Reef,
then make it White Water Rafting - you will love it ! An absolute
must if you come to Mission Beach And if you book it here we'll give you a bottle of bubbly or a bottle of red or white - how good is that !!).
Sky
Diving
 Paul's
Parachuting is the original skydiving operation in Cairns in Tropical North Queensland, Australia - operating since 1990 with an excellent safety record -
a reflection of the care taken by all of their instructors. Paul's Parachuting
has Tandem jumps available to you in Cairns and Mission Beach. Don't you just love coming to Mission Beach?? Both locations
offer the most stunning views over the ocean, islands, beaches and tropical rainforest
and the Great Barrier Reef. (But I reckon the views are better
at Mission Beach -
well I would wouldn't I??) Certainly an experience you will never forget. They also offer solo
skydiving courses for those, who want to take the next step in skydiving.
Special Deals and Package Deals are also available at Paul's Parachuting. Don't forget - these guys will pick up from our accommodation
and drop you off at the accommodation after your dive. How's that for great service.
Fishing
in North Queensland
 Unbelievable
Reef, Island, River and Estuary fishing, and Eco Tours in the Great Barrier
Reef areas of Mission Beach and Hinchinbrook Island in tropical North Queensland. Fully guided fishing charters and tours in this world acclaimed
sports fishing and World Heritage Listed wilderness region. The
experienced local guide takes all the hassles out of finding the fish and
provides free tuition in tropical fishing techniques.
And of course they pick up at the accommodation, at the ungodly ?? hour of 7:00 am -
which means an early breakfast for you, and they will drop you back at the accommodation around about 4:00pm. Great fun.
Great Barrier Reef - Other tours and activities
DUNK ISLAND is 4.5 km from the shore at Mission Beach. Most
of the island is National Park. Lots of great walking
tracks on the island, from easy to difficult. Snorkelling,
Water Skiing, Parasailing, Sailboarding etc... are
all available at the Island.
To get to Dunk Island from Mission Beach there are a couple of operators, and they pick up from this Queensland accommodation
WATER TAXI - departs from the beach 5 times each day.
QUICK CAT FERRY - departs
from Clump Point jetty at 08.30, 10.00 and 14.00. These guys also offer as options lunch on Dunk and a Bedarra and Family Islands cruise.
The ferry leaves from Clump Point Jetty (approx 6 kms from the Lodge), and they do make a small charge for pick-up.
WATER SPORTS
If you fancy a paddle, sail or cruise then go and see Gary at Mission Beach Water Sports located at South Mission Beach. He also has everything for the beach including sunshades, deck chairs, beach volleyball, cricket sets etc..
SEA KAYAKING
This is a great way to explore the tropical waters and the rainforest of Dunk Island. Attie a local guide who runs Coral Sea Kayaking has amazing knowledge of the ocean and the rainforest - a walking encyclopaedia. The full day tour includes a magnificent lunch on one of the island's secluded beaches. Attie and Dave also run extended trips to Hinchinbrook Island. Check out their website.
WALKING TRACKS
 There
are 5 principal rainforest walks available - Lacey
Creek, Licuala Forest, Bicton Hill, Cutten Brothers
and the Kennedy Track. They range from 1.2 km to
7.8 km. There is even a kiddies walk of 350 m. And of course the famous Licuala Lodge Rainforest Walk where you can spot all sorts of wonderful creatures.
CROCODILE SPOTTING/WRESTLING
 A night cruise tour through mangrove everglades and
into tributaries of the upper Hull river. Money
back (I think!!) if you don't manage to spot any crocs (and a full refund if you win your wrestling match)
GOLF COURSES - There are 9 hole courses at El Arish and Tully (approx
20 mins by car), and a course at Innisfail - less than an hour's drive.
HORSE RACING
 The nearest track is at Innisfail - next to the Golf
course. There are about ten meetings throughout
the year at Innisfail.
Great fun to watch as they jump out of the barriers and race to the finishing line.
Other nearby tracks are at Mareeba and Cairns. All the tracks in North Queensland
are on the flat, and all the races begin with a starting barrier. And for a bit of fun we have a Horse Racing game that is great fun if all the guests fancy a 'pretend' flutter. A great way to socialise. Just as Sue or Mick.
PARONELLA PARK - Enjoy 13 fantastic acres.
Guided tours available. Allow at least two hours
for the full experience. We have 10% discount vouchers
for the Park. This is one of the best attractions in
the Great Barrier Reef area.
There are tours available to the Park, or of course you can drive yourself
from our Queensland Bed Breakfast.
JOHNSTONE RIVER CROCODILE FARM - On
display are 3500 crocs. Hold a croc or python, hand
feed kangaroos and wallabies
HINCHINBROOK ISLAND - Take
a day cruise on a modern, comfortable catamaran
to experience the widerness and splendour of Hinchinbrook
Island - Australia's largest island National Park.
 GREAT BARRIER REEF - remember folks, Mission Beach is one of the closest mainland places to the
Great Barrier Reef.
The trip is under an hour, whereas
from Cairns the trip is two hours or more to the reef.
 QUICK CAT - A big boat (approx 120 passenger capacity)
leaves Clump Point Jetty daily. They go to a sandy coral cay called Beaver Cay. This is great day out for both snorkellers and divers. Lunch and snorkelling gear is provided FOC - diving is extra. Quick Cat make a small charge for pick-up.
BARRIER and REEF
There are no class barriers here at Mission Beach, and no language barrier either.
Did you know that the word barrier comes from the Ango-French word barrere,
or possibly from the Old French word barriere.
And that a barrier beach is a long narrow bar of sand built up parallel to a coastline by wave action, also called barrier island.
And barrier cream is a substance used to protect the hands from oil, solvents etc.
Reef is a strip or ridge of rocks, sand or soil that rises to or near the surface of a body of water.
Coral reef is a marine ridge or mound consisting cheifly of compacted coral together with algal material
and biochemically deposited magnesium and calcium carbonates.
In nuatical terms, a reef is a portion of a sail rolled and tied down to lessen the area exposed to the wind.
Reefer can mean a sailor-type person such as a midshipman, a short close-fitting double breasted jacket, and of course a cigarette made of a dodgy substance.
Reef knot is a common knot also knows as a flat knot.
Why do I drone on about the words barrier and reef - it is all part of a cunning plan.
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