Want to wander through pristine rainforest and enjoy mountainous views? The Bicton Hill Rainforest Walk is the one for you. This 3.9km track is classified as offering ‘easy’ walking and takes you through the Clump Mountain National Park. Winding up Bicton Hill, the track forms a loop and has lookouts along the way, providing views out over the Coral Sea. The summit of this track used to be widely used by locals as the perfect place to spot ships. The park and walking track entrance is approximately 500m south of Bingil Bay.
The Southern Cassowary is an icon of Tropical North Queensland. Considered a keystone species of the Wet Tropics Rainforests, this is the largest, flightless bird in Australia and is highly endangered. Indeed, there are only believed to be about 1,500 of these majestic birds left in the wild, making them even more endangered than the giant pandas of China. Although rare, Cassowaries are often seen around Mission Beach and if you don’t see one in the wild, then make sure you check out the giant concrete Cassowary at Wongaling Beach. Standing five metres tall, the Mission Beach Big Cassowary is a great photo opportunity and it’s absolutely free.
The Edmund Kennedy Beach Walking Track is popular with locals and there is little wonder why. It takes you through a variety of coastal environments including mangroves, paperbarks, open eucalypt woodlands, palm forest, rainforest and includes visits to several secluded beaches. It starts at South Mission Beach, takes you by Lovers Beach, along to Lugger Bay, Tam O’Shanter Point and then Turtle and Kennedy Bay. The return walk takes between three to four hours: it does have some steep sections which are made easier with stairs. Morgans Lookout is at the half way point and is a great place for photos. Make sure you take water and light refreshments with you.
The Licuala State Forest in Mission Beach has several walking tracks open to the public. These are a must visit when you are in Mission Beach, as the palm forests of this area represent about 50% of the total rare palm forests left in Australia today. What is a licuala? This is a beautiful fan palm of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Rainforest and was the inspiration for the new Cairns Regional Council logo. Its shady green leaves are often photographed and are used as the visual representation for lush, tropical rainforest. The Licuala Rainforest Circuit Walk is approximately 1.6km long and takes about 30-minutes. To get there, take the road from Tully to Mission Beach and follow the sign posts.
Community markets are held at varying locations across Mission Beach, throughout the year. The Monster Markets are held on the fourth Sunday of every month in Marcs Park. Managed by the Mission Beach Rotary Club these markets have a huge variety of stalls offering everything from art and craft, to jewellery, smoothies, clothes, plants, second-hand goods and locally grown produce. The Beach Markets are held on the first and third Sunday of every month, opposite Hideaway Caravan Park. They feature fresh local produce, plants, arts and crafts, clothing, hats and delicious fresh food. Sunset Markets are held on the second and fourth Friday, between 5pm and 8pm.
