Aussirose Travel and Photography: Innisfail, Bingil Bay, Etty Bay & Mission Beach

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INNISFAIL

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We have officially made it to Northern Queensland where the rainforest meets the sea.

I had chosen to stay at Flying Fish Point on the beach just north of town but as we had a bad experience with midgies back at Rollingstone I changed my mind and booked us into a caravan park a few minutes south of Innisfail.

August Moon Caravan Park had these gorgeous big trees that had twisty trunks like a fig but they had large big canopes that looked like a Japanese tree. The pool was big, nice and refreshing. We were woken each morning by a bird that screamed. A google search revealed that this bird is small and called a Bush Stone Curlew. You can hear the sound here.

After our long drive and unhitch, we headed into town. Innisfail is big and has everything. It is on the Johnstone River. We found a nice tavern at the Imperial Hotel across the road from the river and had a fantastic lunch. The oysters Kilpatrick were just as good as the ones I make. Coffin Bay oysters of course are the best oysters in the world. Yuuum! I have found a new favourite fish, Spanish Mackeral. Added to my other favourites, Whiting and Snapper. Hubby had a pepperoni pizza.

Just out of town, on the way back to the caravan park is a large fruit stall.

We bought a fresh pineapple, pawpaw and watermelon. Yuuuum.

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BINGIL BAY

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Bingil Bay, where the rainforest meets the sea.

We both were interested to see what Mission Beach looks like. I had seen photos of this nice beach and couldn't wait to go check it out. It is 40 minutes south of Innisfail.

Before we reached Mission Beach, we found this cute little picturesque bay, Bingil Bay.

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NARRAGON BEACH

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Just before Mission Beach, we stopped at a jetty. There wasn't much to see here but the beach was good for a couple of photos.

Hubby took the time to check out what fish they were catching off the jetty.

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MISSION BEACH INFORMATION CENTRE

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We had a wonderful experience here at the Information Centre. It is the first thing that you see heading into town. The lady and fella were both extremely friendly and helpful, pointing out various places of interest all the way up to Cooktown and giving us maps to find them. They also said that as there are road works in town, it would be best to leave the car here and take a stroll along the boardwalk beside the beach into town.

We did just that and it was most enjoyable.

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In town I found us a couple of fresh bread rolls and we navigated past the road works and across the road to the local pub for a refreshing ale before our picnic lunch.

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MISSION BEACH

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Mission Beach is indeed very pretty and I am glad that we came here.

Out to sea and not far away is Dunk Island. I wanted to holiday on Dunk Island many years ago. Unfortunately it got hammered by a cyclone as many other islands on the whitsundays and as such has not had a significant resort up until now. The Information Centre told us that recently a rich person has bought in and created another resort that has just been completed. The airport hasn't been fixed as yet, but that is on the cards too. So you never know, one day we might come back and holiday at Mission Beach and Dunk Island.

Anyway, this pretty beach has picture perfect palms, you know, the ones that you sit or lounge on that are right on the beach. We chose one and sat with our little chairs and had our picnic.

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ETTY BAY

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The Mission Beach Information Centre told us that if we wanted to see a cassowary, then we should visit Etty Bay. Guess what? ....

Etty Bay is just 15 minutes from Innisfail and obviously well known for it's resident Cassowary friends. When we rolled up and found a car park, he was right there to greet us.

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Hubby had top view as he was right beside the driver's seat. That didn't bother me, because I wasn't going to get out right next door to him. Cassowaries are known for their bad tempor and believe me, you do not want to provoke one of these.

So I was happy to quietly get out on my side with the car in between us and stand on the side ledge with my zoom lens.

They are pretty creatures with nice colours and big eyelashes. Very cute indeed.

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The beach itself is just another bay. But they did have a swimming enclosure so it is safe to swim here and not encounter a croc or stinger.