JJ Backpackers

CAIRNS: Small, safe, clean and friendly backpackers

Where is Dunk Island

Are you out there Dunk Island? Sometimes when it rains hard in Mission Beach we loose Dunk Island. Apparently it is still out there but you cant see it from the mainland! We do weather well up here, loads of rain and then beautiful blue skies......gotta love the tropical north.

Wet inside and out

Wasn't yesterday an interesting day, Mission Beach was flooded in for a short period with both the Mission Beach to Tully Road and the Mission Beach to El Arish Road flooded. This caused a little bit of grief with the Greyhound and Premier buses not being able to get through.......A friend though had quite an experience, her flooding happened inside, their fish tank burst and they came home to water and fish all over their house, luckily it must have just happened because they were able to save most of the fish, not so lucky with all the cleanup though of course. Welcome to the wet season!

Living in Far North Queensland

I went for a walk with a friend last night around South Mission Beach, it really was lovely looking at how people set up their houses to enjoy the best of living in Far North Queensland. The beach and Dunk Island views are particularly fabulous, and even though we did get a little bit wet as we meandered along it was still really pleasant, because rain in the tropics does not mean cold, which is a definite advantage over living down south.

Heading south

If your heading south from Mission Beach and are planning a boat trip from the Whitsundays or a package including Fraser Island, then please come and see us. It seems that its quite busy down in Airlie Beach at the moment and I have had two sets of customers already this morning who have missed out on the boat they wanted because it is booked out. We at Mission Beach Information Station can hopefully help you to not miss out!

Mission Beach is hard to leave

When you live in Mission Beach you dont often leave. It is one of these quaint pretty places that brings easy living. We are going to start thinking about a family holiday, but where do you go when you live in paradise...... we are thinking of the theme parks near Brisbane.....personally I am not sure abit to ritzy for me but I think the family will be thrilled. Any thoughts!

Computers

We have a great family of computers here at the Mission Beach Information Station. I am afraid to say though that their cousin which lives at our house is not so well behave. It is being naughty and refusing to connect to the net, amazing how isolated we all feel!

Cassowary Coast News

Welcome to the newest online initiative in Mission Beach. We now have our very own Cassowary Coast News, to access click onto www.cassowarycoastnews.com and browse the latest news on local issues, events and happenings. Catch some locals in action by viewing the online video clips.

Cassowary Coast News

Welcome to the newest online initiative in Mission Beach. We now have our very own Cassowary Coast News, to access click onto www.cassowarycoastnews.com and browse the latest news on local issues, events and happenings. Catch some locals in action by viewing the online video clips.

Cassowary Coast News

Welcome to the newest online initiative in Mission Beach. We now have our very own Cassowary Coast News, to access click onto www.cassowarycoastnews.com and browse the latest news on local issues, events and happenings. Catch some locals in action by viewing the online video clips.

Why blog

Why am I blogging.....I do wonder if anyone enjoys our on line diary about Mission Beach? We see it as a way of keeping Mission Beach in the minds of travellers and as a way of keeping people up to date with the real world of travellers to our beautiful beach.

Stingers Suck

Stingers actually sting not suck, but being stung sucks! So wear protection. We no longer ride bicycles without helmets and we dont drive in a car without a seatbelt. The time has come folks.... dont go swimming in the tropics without a stinger suit (also called a rashie, they are made of lycra which can look way cool and I hear Billabong & Roxie are bringing some chilled looking suits). So when you are in Mission Beach use protection (day and night!!!). And if you are thinking that sucks, remember we dont have great white sharks and they do way way more than sting (and I am not sure how you would protect against them, byo shark cage perhaps!)

Being sun smart

One thing you have to remember when living in or visiting Australia is that you must be sun smart. We have an english visitor to Mission Beach who went for a 1/2 hour run at 8.30am in the morning, she didn't think she would need sunscreen.......alas she did. I am happy to say that her next decision though was clever, she stayed out of the sun that day and the next, and then went to the Great Barrier Reef and had an absolutely fabulous trip with Calypso....and she didn't get sunburn again, good on her.

Leaving Mission Beach

Life is all about change, and a big one is when your friends or family move town, or state or even country for that matter. Last night was one of those occasions, we got together for a BBQ around the pool to say goodbye to great friends who are leaving Mission Beach for the Sunshine Coast. We really hope that they will come back into our lives in the near future, and wish them well for their future adventures.

Mission Beach Information Station

You may not know it but Mission Beach Information Station offers many administration services, as well as the internet, photo teller, tour desk, accommodation bookings and bus tickets. I have a lovely lady in today who has requested lots of her Cyclone Larry photos to be scanned, so she can email them to her son for his school project, isn't she a good Mum!

A happy ending

One of our current favourite community events in Mission Beach is the Trivia Night at the Mission Beach Resort, raising funds for the State School. Chicken Parmi are sad to say goodbye to two of its team members this week, we are happy to say that we sent them off in style with a victory, which came down to the last round. Trust me if you are at a loose end on a Wednesday night then come on down, we think its great fun!

Pink Guide

Have just seen our advert in this years PINK GUIDE. It looks great! The Mission Beach Information Station is an inclusive, friendly and helpful business.

Absolute North Chaters - Hinchinbrook Island/Zoe Bay Camping Transfers

Camp on beautiful Hinchinbrook Island. The Zoe Bay site is one of the most remote and spectacular. Boat transfers, full camping kit and national parks permits.

Skydive and weather

We are often asked what is the best time to go skydiving......there is no right or wrong time of the day. With the changeable weather in tropical regions such as Mission Beach it is possible for the rain to pour down one hour and then to have blue skies next! So if you are planning a skydive......go with the flow, make the booking, let the tandem masters decide what the weather doing & have fun. If you dont make the booking you have no hope of making it happen!!!!

Tully White Water Rafting

Tully White Water Rafting is going off! All this rain, the rainforest is singing and the Tully is flowing full on! Pick ups from Mission Beach can be arranged.