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 Monday to Saturday from 9am to 4:45pm and Sunday 10am to 4pm. Closed December 25 and 26.

Getting Around -- A local bus service should be operating again by the time you visit, linking the beach communities from Bingal Bay to South Mission Beach. Contact the Visitor Information Centre for details. To hire a car, go to Sugarland Car Rentals (tel. 07/4068 8272). For Mission Beach taxi service, call tel. 0429/689366.

Mission Beach Money Matters -- There's no bank in Mission Beach and only two ATMs. Many small shops and cafes don't accept credit cards, so make sure you bring enough cash -- just in case!

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.

Sun Palm Transport (tel. 07/4087 2900) provides a shuttle service twice a day from Cairns and Cairns Airport for A$49 adults and A$25 kids.

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$36 from Cairns, A$298 for the 27-hour 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$54 for the 2-hour, 50-minute journey. From Brisbane, fares start from A$233 in an economy seat. For more information, call Queensland Rail's long-distance division, Traveltrain (tel. 1800/872 467 in Australia; www.queenslandrail.com.au). A taxi from Tully to Mission Beach with Supreme Taxis (tel. 07/4068 1427) is about A$55. The Beach Bus also travels between Tully and Mission Beach for A$10 one-way or A$18 round-trip.

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