Chris n Shirley's 2026 Queensland Trip: Chapter 11 - FNQ (Mission Beach)

Day 66 – Sunday 2 August - Mission Beach

The day started without the forecast rain - but the day is young.

We headed to the market and met up with lawn bowling mates and line dancing mates. We bought tomatoes, blue berries and passionfruit. Later we bought bananas and a Paw Paw from our local farm gate stall.

Alan and Raylene came back for a coffee and we had a good chat.

After lunch we headed slightly north to beaches new to us. Our first exploration took us past the Tassel Prawn Farm and Hatchery - something we knew existed, but had not yet found. Unfortunately they do not seem to have a local retail outlet. However Coles and Woolworths apparently stock them,

We found Garners Beach and Brookes Beach and had a walk on both.

Above: Garners Beach

Below: Brookes Beach

On Brookes Beach we found a length of drift wood - just over one metre long - with hundreds of small shells. Most of the shells had hairy legged residents. It was an interesting sight watching them open up, look out, them withdraw and close the shell - many at the same time.

Above: Many shells on driftwood - many with residents

Above: I believe this to be a small bunch of fruit on a Lychee tree

The rain seemed to have got lost in transit, but we were not upset.

Day 67 – Monday 3 August - Mission Beach

The day started WITH the forecast rain, albeit in small showers. When it was not raining, it was dripping off the trees.

Above: Our dreary beach at 7:40 am

As the church bells chimed 9 rings the sun appeared - for maybe 15 minutes.

Then the dreary status quo returned, alternating light rain and dripping of the trees.

Luckily I had an online information session to ZOOM into that took up 90 minutes of the morning.

After lunch we had a couple of short walks then decided to go looking for a Cassowary, despite the overcast and misty conditions. We had been advised of a location that regularly has one seen.

It was a profitable decision. First we saw up Rainbow Bee-eater up nice and close, then a Pacific Baza - a bird that I do ever remember seeing or hearing about. Next was a Cassowary at a distance, who has moved into the jungle by the time we got close. Next was a Sulphur Crested Cockatoo and finally a Masked Lapwing.

Above: Rainbow Bee-eater

Above: Pacific Baza, at rest and in flight

Above: Cassowary 100 metres away

Above: Sulphur Crested Cockatoo

Above: Masked Lapwing

I rustled up some herb damper to accompany the spaghetti bolognaise.

Day 68 – Tuesday 4 August - Mission Beach

The day was a dreary duplication of yesterday. We did some shopping but not much else.

After lunch we decided on a drive to Tully and Alligator's Nest. We walked around Tully and had a coffee. Then we drove 7 km north to Alligator's Nest - a lovely waterhole that does not have alligators or crocodiles.

According to a 'local' it has the cleanest water in Queensland as it is fed from a natural spring and does not have any run-off from farms.

Above: Alligator's Nest waterhole

Below: Slightly flooded creek that we crossed to get there

The road took us back to a 'teddy memorial' that is there to make children happy. We stopped to take a photo and ended up chatting to the owner for maybe 10 minutes while he told us why he did it. He was 79 and offered us a similar plant that he gives to all 'old people'. He was a real Aussie character.

Above: Something to make kids happy

On the way back to camp from our new friend, as we drove around large sugar cane fields, we saw many birds - some new birds - and were stopped by a boy and girl in blue (with flashing lights) to allow me to blow into a breathalyzer bag. It was at least two hours before happy hour.

The new birds on my register for the trip today were:

Above: Common Myna

Above: Plumed Egret

Above: Magpie-Lark

We again saw numerous Rainbow Bee-eaters (which I love) and White-breasted Woodswallows.

For dinner we had chicken kiev and baked veggies.

Day 69 – Wednesday 5 August - Mission Beach

The day started overcast and mild. The first load of washing was on the line just after 8am. Then we had a shower of rain. Not real happy. The second load was on the line about 9:15.

Rain threatened but we decided on a beach walk at Wongaling beach - a few km south of our camp. As we hit the beach it started to rain. Back home for a coffee. I washed the car, more for salt than dirt

I then decided to wash the 'door' side of the caravan. It did not seem too bad until I started. Then I had to do the entire wall. It now looks much better - now more white than grey.

Shirley headed to the hairdresser just before 2pm. I did some computer stuff.

On her return we were interviewed by two 'boys in blue'. Apparently a few dogs had a fracas last night and some heated words were said. I was snoring at the time and Shirley got down lower in bed. Our friendly neighbours were quite upset by it all. I am now in the Queensland Police database as a (snoring) witness. They worked out my name from the caravan rego. Hmmmmmmmm.

Eventually we got in our 3.5 km beach walk. Photos were taken - yet again - of a Sacred Kingfisher, Rainbow Lorikeets and a Helmeted Friarbird.

Surprise, surprise. We had chicken for dinner. This time covered in Shirley's secret herbs & spices.

Day 70 – Thursday 6 August - Mission Beach

Assuming that the forecast is correct for the next few days, today was my best chance in 21 mornings at Mission Beach to get a cloudless sky at sunrise. Today was not cloudless but the closest I am liable to get. It was worth the effort.

Above: Looking east at 6:42 am

Below: Looking west at 6:44 am

The day quickly got better and better so a beach walk was scheduled before morning coffee.

Above: The view towards our caravan park from the low tide water's edge

The 4 km morning walk was later extended with a 2.5 km return walk along the 'Cutten Brothers Walking Track' - a pleasant rainforest walk.

Above: A typical mangrove alongside the walk

Below: Grey Nomads in the rainforest

We saw butterflies and scored a couple of photos. We heard birds but did not see any long enough to catch.

Afternoon tea was a coffee and a milkshake at the Bingil Bay Cafe.

Around 4:30 we wandered 200 metres across to the road to the 'Hideaway Holiday Village' for happy hour with Raelene and Ian (Raelene being a line dancing mate of Shirley's). Maureen and Rob were there (Maureen also being a line dancer). Alan and Raelene were there (I bowl with Alan). Other nice people were also there. It was a pleasant 2+ hours with lovely people.

Ian showed me the art of bocce/bowls on the lawn. I quickly got the impression that alcohol helped. I could see that a challenge against Ian was not a wise idea. I suggested that we rejoin the group.

By the time we came home the night dew was starting to move in.

Above: Line dancing mates

Below: A happy group of nomads

Above: Alan and Chris trying to establish who has 'shot' in the coconut championship

I was very disappointed this evening to hear a neighbour explain to foreign tourists that the bird noise they heard is a Kookaburra - a key component of the Australian Coats of Arms - which it is not.

Day 71 – Friday 7 August - Mission Beach

The first day of our 11th week started very slowly. Breakfast, exercises, some planning, not much else.

After lunch we had a very pleasant 3.5 km stroll along Wongaling Beach before doing our last Mission Beach shop before departing on Sunday.

Above: Wongaling Beach

We then drove around a new housing estate behind the centre of Mission Beach. The estate was very impressive and provided a large array of birds. The little guy below is a 'Martin', possibly a Fairy Martin or a Tree Martin.

Above: Dunk Island over the Mission Beach township, from the new estate

Dinner was more of our 'meat-tray-win' chicken which hit the Weber as soon as the latest banana bread came out.

Tomorrow we start to pack up for our departure south.

Day 72 – Saturday 8 August - Mission Beach

Shirley made the most of her last day in Mission beach with a sleep-in. She emerged from her cocoon just after 9am. We were eating breakfast at 10 am. Not gunna happen tomorrow.

Jobs filled most of the morning, pack the Weber, pack the butane BBQ, dry & fold the ground mat, wash the top of the awning, reorganise the car.

We managed our last decent walk on the beach before lunch. It was a magnificent morning.

After lunch we stocked up on bananas, paw paws and passionfruit, and celebrated with a mango & passionfruit smoothie - maybe our fourth in three weeks. I scored a photo of a Spotted Dove. Check out the spotted neck.