Things to See & Do

Why Dunk Island is the Perfect Place to Take Your Family

Dunk Island a stunning island just off the coast of Mission Beach in north Queensland.

Taking kids on holidays can sometimes be a stressful task. But it shouldn’t be like that, holidays are meant to be fun and exciting. So take the kids where island time is a thing and enjoy a tropical paradise where they can play amongst nature, swim in crystal blue waters and run on white sandy beaches.

Where is this tropical oasis you ask? Dunk Island, just four kilometres from Mission Beach in the Cassowary Coast Region of Queensland. Known as the island of peace and plenty you will find…. well…. peace, and plenty to do. Secluded, palm-fringed beaches to swim, snorkel, and dive, amazing nature walks through panoramic natural scenery, dense rainforests and more. It’s a nature lovers paradise and a great place to spend quality time with loved ones making beautiful memories.

Here are just a few reasons why a trip to Dunk Island is exactly what you and the fam need.

It’s easy to get to

Sometimes loading the kids in the car to drive a few hours to get somewhere can seem hardly worth the effort. Whereas travelling to Dunk Island from Mission beach is half the fun. It’s only a short ten-minute trip by water taxi on a ten-metre, fully enclosed boat. The kids with love soaring through crystal blue waters spotting seabirds along the way. Just be aware that you will need to wade through knee-deep water to board – that’s half the fun right. You can book a round trip and spend the morning, afternoon or a full day exploring the island as you please.

Snorkel the Great Barrier Reef

Teach the kids a new skill and snorkel the Great Barrier Reef. The best spot to snorkel is at Muggy Muggy Beach. From the pier, take a 20-minute walk through rainforest, woodland, and mangroves until you reach this quiet and secluded beach. The kids will love spotting marine creatures such as sea turtles, crabs, dugongs, plenty of fish, and a beautiful display of coral. Teach the kids the importance of the reef and our ecosystem whilst having a bonding day out on the water.

Great hiking trails

Dunk Island’s walking tracks wind through dense rainforest, woodland, and secluded beaches. For an easy three-kilometre walk take the track to Muggy Muggy Beach. For those up for more of a challenge take the Island Circuit track. This track is just over nine kilometres and will take roughly three hours to complete. This challenging walk will take you past Palm Valley and Coconut Beach until you reach lush rainforest. For a panoramic view over paradise, hike along the Mount Kootaloo track. This track is seven kilometres and will take about three hours to complete. The track is quite steep and winds up the 271-metre summit. The lookout is totally worth the climb looking out over the Family Islands and mainland. No matter what track you take, it’s a great day out in the great outdoors.

An abundance of wildlife

On your visit to Dunk Island, the family will love spotting the local wildlife. You will find a range of bird species, insects, reptiles, and mammals on this tropical island. One of the islands infamous critters is the blue Ulysses butterfly which has become a symbol of Dunk Island. Tell the kids to keep their eyes on the trees to spot tree snakes, insects, and birds as you explore this little slice of paradise.

Great swimming spots

One of the most picturesque spots on the island is the sand spit. This long sand bar has no rocks, and the water is crystal clear making it a great place to have a family dip. For a more adventurous swim, the kids (and big kids) will love jumping off the pier at Brammo Bay. Just make sure there aren’t too many fishermen before you launch yourself into the ultimate backflip.

Places to stay

For the real nature lovers, you can camp out under the stars on the island. There are dedicated camping areas with showers, toilets, and BBQ areas. For those that prefer their creature comforts, head back to the mainland and stay at Tasman Holiday Parks – South Mission Beach. Your home away from home offers an excellent range of facilities including a swimming pool, waterslide, playground, games room, half tennis and basketball court and more. Travel during the school holidays and the kids will enjoy our school holiday program jam-packed full of fun. Choose from self-contained cabins and villas on the beachfront, with idyllic beach views or overlooking our award-winning tropical gardens. This Mission Beach caravan park also has powered and unpowered sites to set up camp.