Planning a Trip

Getting There

From Cairns, follow the Bruce Highway south. The Mission Beach turnoff is at the tiny town of El Arish, about 15km (9 1/2 miles) north of Tully. Mission Beach is 25km (16 miles) off the highway. It's a 90-minute trip from Cairns. If you're coming from Townsville, a turnoff just north of Tully leads 18km (11 miles) to South Mission Beach.

Mission Beach Connections (tel. 07/4059 2709) operates door-to-door shuttles three times a day from Cairns and Cairns Airport for A$40 (US$36/£18) adults and half-price for kids, and from the northern beaches for A$55 (US$50/£25) adults and A$28 (US$25/£13) children.

Greyhound Australia (tel. 1300/473 946 in Australia) coaches stop at Wongaling Beach several times daily on Cairns-Brisbane-Cairns runs. The fare is A$29 (US$26/£13) from Cairns, A$233 (US$210/£105) for the 26-hour-plus trip from Brisbane.

Six trains a week on the Cairns-Brisbane-Cairns route serve the nearest station, Tully, about 20km (13 miles) away. One-way travel from Cairns on the Tilt Train costs A$47 (US$42/£21) for the 2-hour, 50-minute journey. From Brisbane, fares range from A$206 (US$185/£93) in an economy seat to A$408 (US$367/£184) for a first-class sleeper on the Sunlander, or A$748 (US$673/£337) for Queenslander Class. For more information, call Queensland Rail's long-distance division, Traveltrain (tel. 1800/872 467 in Australia, or 07/3235 1122; www.traveltrain.com.au). A taxi from Tully to Mission Beach with Supreme Taxis (tel. 07/4068 1427) is about A$50 (US$45/£23).

Visitor Information

The Mission Beach Visitor Information Centre, Porters Promenade, Mission Beach, QLD 4852 (tel. 07/4068 7099; www.missionbeachtourism.com), is at the northern end of town. It's open daily from 9am to 5pm (except Dec 25).

Mission Beach Money Matters -- There's no bank in Mission Beach; the only ATM in the township is at Mission Beach Resort, Wongaling Beach, so come with enough cash, traveler's checks, and credit cards to cover your expenses.

Getting Around

Trans North Bus & Coach (tel. 07/4068 7400) provides bus service linking the beach communities from Bingal Bay to South Mission Beach. Just flag the bus down outside your accommodations or wherever you see it. Sugarland Car Rentals (tel. 07/4068 8272) is the only rental-car company in town. For Mission Beach taxi service, call tel. 0429/689366.