Mission beach
Mission beach started as a settlement area for the Aboriginal people exiled from their forests (because of foreign settlers) in 1916. This beach is situated in the northern area of Queensland, Australia, and is just a two-hour drive away from the Cairns city, Queensland's northern capital. Since the Mission Beach is populated by a small, tight-knit community whose members are commended to be warm and friendly, the beach was hailed as a traveler's dream destination.
Mission Beach is widely known because of the two World Heritage destinations founded in its territory, the Wet Tropics and the Great Barrier Reef. The Wet Tropics is a tropical rainforest cradled between Mossman and Port Douglas. This amazing rainforest is composed of tablelands and majestic mountain slopes enshrouded in leafy jungles, bursting with wildlife. Though it only covers about 1% of the Australian continent, its 900,000-hectare land is home to 23% of the region's reptile species, 30% of the marsupial population and 18% of the Australian birds. Mountain climbers visiting Australia will not be disappointed as Queensland's highest mountain, Mount Bartle Frere, is located within the rainforest, reaching a height of 1,622 meters. Meanwhile, the Great Barrier Reef, also considered as a marine park, is home to the world's biggest collection of coral reefs. Because of Australia's unique location and temperature, a fifth part of the reef area in the world is found in the Great Barrier. Moreover, a variety of tourist attractions here cater to more than one million visitors who travel to the Reef every year.
Islands scattered throughout the Mission beach area include the Hinchinbrook, the Family, the Brook, the Dunk and the Gould Islands.
The Hinchinbrook Island
Considered as the biggest national park in Australia, the Hinchinbrook Island has an extensive collection of rare and endangered species of plants and animals. Mangrove forests thrive on the island, stretching out into the strips of sandy beaches.
The Family Islands
Comprising of several islands with the Dunk Island as the biggest, the Family Islands is about 14 kilometers long and is situated near the shores of Mission Beach. Most of its islands are considered as national parks because of their possession of an abundant collection of rare and exotic wildlife, which are found nowhere else in the world.
The Brook Islands
A group of islands rich in thick jungles and coral reefs, the Brook Islands is a favorite spot for travelers who wish to go scuba diving, reef walking and snorkeling. The Brook Islands also plays an important part in the preservation of some of the world's rare bird species. The black-naped terns and the torresian imperial pigeons travel yearly to the Brook Islands to lay eggs along its clean sands. However, travelers in Brooks Islands are advised to be careful when walking along the beach to avoid stepping on the eggs scattered throughout the area.
The Dunk Island
Just 4.5 kilometers away from the shores of Mission Beach, the Dunk Island is a popular tourist destination among nature lovers. Its collection of rainforests and mangrove trees make it a perfect habitat for some of Australia's endemic species. Canopies of palm trees and lianas serve as a home to more than a hundred species of native birds. Koala bears also thrive in the Dunk Island's eucalyptus forests, offering a glimpse of Australia's signature mammals.
The Gould Island
The Gould Island's thick eucalyptus forests serve as habitats for Australia's bright yellow crested cockatoos. Its forests make the said protected species highly visible, considering the contrasting features of the bird's plumage to the Gould Island environment. All in all, the island covers 830 hectares of land, providing lots of picnic and camp sites for travelers, while its coastline is the usual feeding ground of the rare dugong and sea turtles.
