Licuala Fan Palm Walk
1.2 klm - 30 minutes
Take Along Morning Tea and sit amidst the lush greenery of Licuala
Fan Palms.
Spend the time exploring the distinctive Licuala palms, enjoy the rainforest
walk and crystal clear pools. There is a 50 metre boardwalk, and a 400
metre rain forest walking track, with plenty of greenery and trees identified
by name plaques to ease the curiosity. The Children’s walk is
approximately 350 metres where by following the Cassowary footprints,
the children can view a Cassowary nest and eggs.
You may see the rare Cassowary, the famous iridescent blue Ulysses
butterfly, scrub turkeys or wallabies. Licuala National Park is on the
Mission Beach to Tully road.
PLEASE REMEMBER DO NOT FEED THE CASOWARIES. THEY ARE WILD ANIMALS,
AND IF PROVOKED MAY BE AGGRESSIVE. MOVE QUIETLY WHEN THEY ARE NEARBY.
Lacey Creek
1.2 klm Walk - 45 minutes.
Lacey’s Creek offers you crystal clear waters running over pebble
stones. There are picnic tables, BBQ’s and toilet facilities for
your convenience.
The rainforest walk circuit has interpretative signage, and a cassowary
information display, however with luck, you may see the ‘real
thing’. Cassowaries are often spied at Lacey’s Creek.
Lacey Creek is on the Mission Beach - El Arish Road
Bicton Hill Walk
4 Klm - 1 ½ - 2 Hour Walk
The local bus service, Mission Beach Bus & Coach, travels north
and south bound hourly. Please take your time tables.
This four kilometer circuit track up Bicton Hill at Bingil Bay is in
the Clump Mountain National Park, and has unsurpassed views and an enormous
variety of rare rainforest plants and animal life, one of which is the
unusual nesting site of the buff-breasted paradise-kingfisher. Sturdy
plants on the eastern side such as brush box and swamp mahogany are
able to withstand the high winds and occasional cyclone. On the western
side the vegetation changes. Look for strangler figs, Alexander palms
and cycads.
One of the famous animals on the hill are Lace monitors, who have the
unusual habit of depositing their eggs in termite nests in trees. The
constant temperature inside the nests helps incubate the eggs. Bicton
Hill is also home to marsupials such as the nocturnal striped possum.
The walk has easy gradients accessible to all areas, with seating at
each of the four lookout points. Access to this track is via the carpark
- picnic area at Bingil Bay. On completing the walk you may like to
swim from one of the deserted beaches across the road (Alexander Drive),
or walk along the Drive to the north and at the corner of Bingil Bay
Road and Cutten Street are toilet facilities.
Check your bus time table for your return connection.
The Cutten Brothers’ Walking Track
1.5 Klm - 30 minutes.
After completing the Bicton Hill Walk, you may like to go to Clump
Point Jetty (toilets in this area), kiosks with cold drinks and icecreams.
This is the departure jetty for reef and island cruises.
Wander out on the jetty before heading south along the beach you enter
this walk dedicated to the pioneering efforts of the Cuttens. This forest
is known as Complex Mesophyl Lowland Vineforest and is the only surviving
remnant left at sea level. This beautiful cool green world is filled
with Epiphyte bird nests, Elkhorne ferns, Lianes, Feather leaf tree
fern, Cordyline, huge trees with plank buttresses covered in mosses
and plants known as Cauliflory.
It is the home to the Cassowary, Scrub Turkey, parrots, wallabies the
shy Betong and many small mammals and reptiles. It is also the habitat
of dozens of different species of birds and butterflies. At the end
of this walk on the southern side, is the Eco Village Resort, with Restaurant
and Bar open from 5.30pm for that cooling drink before continuing on.
A short walk down Porter Promenade will take you into the hub of Mission
Beach and The Village Green.
Dunk Island Walking Track
9 klm – 3-4 hrs
Chance to explore the Island with the longest track being 9 klm which
takes a circuit around half of the island, including Mt Kootaloo (271
m), worth climbing for the views from its summit. With an area of 970
ha, the majority of the island is declared National Park. There are
many species of flora and fauna, and a well developed luxury resort
located at Brammo Bay.
Described by E.J.Banfield over 90 years ago in his book “Confessions
Of a Beachcomber” - ‘It has a superficial area of over three
square miles. Its topography is diversified - hill and valley, forest
and jungle, grassy combes and bare rocky shoulders, gloomy pockets and
hollows, cliffs and precipice, bold promontories and bluffs, sandy beaches,
quiet coves and mangrove flats’.
Make a booking with the Mission Beach Holiday & Rentals on 4088
6699 for your transfers. Food, drinks, and waters sports available on
the Island, or you can take your own picnic lunch.
The Edmund Kennedy Walking Track
7 klm return - 3 ½ - 4 hours walking.
The Mission Beach area is really one big National Park. The combination
of unspoiled rainforest and wildlife leaves you with a feeling of insignificance
within this magnificent setting.
Drive yourself, or catch the local bus to South Mission Beach. Walk
south along Kennedy Esplanade and the Edmund Kennedy Walking Track.
After passing Lovers Beach, you come to Lugger Bay (1 klm), then continuing
on to Tam O’Shanter Point - reminding us of Edmund Kennedy’s
landing in 1848, Turtle Bay and on to Kennedy Bay (4 klm from the start).
A further two kilometers from here is the mouth of the Hull River).
Swimming in the Hull River is not recommended due to unpredictable currents,
and the occasional crocodile!
Unsurpassed views, secluded beaches, coastal views, rocky sections,
palm glades and rainforest make this an interesting and varied walk.
Stairways are used to overcome steep grades.
Fill your backpack with picnic goodies before you leave, and take drinks,
camera, hat and swimming costume, and don’t forget the sunscreen!
Allow 3 ½ to 4 hours for the return walk, (suitable for anyone
in reasonable health) plus swimming and picnicking time. Toilet and
BBQ facilities are at the start of the track on Kennedy Esplanade, shelter
and drinking water are available at Morgans Lookout (approximately half
way), and toilet, shelter, picnic and drinking water are also located
at Kennedy Bay.
On the return, look for the stairs leading to The Horizon Resort, and
go to their Bar and enjoy a wonderful cocktail - overlooking the swimming
pool to the Coral Sea and Dunk Island. A magnificent view at sunset.
The north bound local bus stops at The Horizons Resort at 4.00pm, 5.00pm
or 7.00pm to return you home after a wonderful romantic day. Remember
to take your local bus time table.
