LAST VISITED JULY 2016
DUNK ISLAND is a compact isle abt 4km off the mainland coast opposite WONGALING BEACH/SOUTH MISSION which are a component of the MISSION BEACH surface area inward tropical northward Queensland.
Dunk is pretty compact at abt 6X2km, The southern 40% is hard to access without a boat. Abt 70% is hilly/mountainous in addition to covered amongst rainforest. Virtually all of this is national park. A 1x2km tiangular department inward the north-west is apartment in addition to has been cleared for the resort, airstrip, a farm in addition to the campground.
BEST BEACH?
I dunno what is the best beach: I reckon this would vary depending on personal wishes:
BEST LOOKING
DUNK ISLAND is a compact isle abt 4km off the mainland coast opposite WONGALING BEACH/SOUTH MISSION which are a component of the MISSION BEACH surface area inward tropical northward Queensland.
You are looking solely a few degrees due west of due northward inward this image.
DUNK is 125 km inward a conduct draw from Cairns, 160 from Townsville in addition to 1330 from Brisbane. By route WONGALING is - 160/230/1370km respectively.
Dunk is non component of the GREAT BARRIER REEF which tin live on seen farther offshore. It is a continental isle - a old higher surface area isolated past times body of body of water story increase.
THE BEACHES
DUNK has some overnice beaches, most inward the northward of the isle unopen to the resort, campground in addition to airstrip. The due east coast at left is largely beachless every bit is much of the southern peninsula on both sides.The department betwixt PALLON in addition to COCONUT beaches is largely mangroves.
You are looking south-south-east inward this image
BEST BEACH?
I dunno what is the best beach: I reckon this would vary depending on personal wishes:
BEST LOOKING
BRAMMO BEACH.
BRAMM0 is the resort beach, stretching 800m from the the pes of the hinglands to the pier. Past the pier it becomes the northern shore of THE SPIT.
BRAMMO from inward forepart of the military camp surface area looking towards MT. KOOTALOO.
Looking due west - banknote some stone in addition to stone exposed inward surface area unopen to photographic boob tube camera depression tide - ditto downwards inward forepart of the camping ground surface area only this side of the pier. Better mid beach.
THE SPIT
- is arguably only every bit attractive every bit BRAMMO.
THE SPIT from the MT KOOTALOO viewpoint.
Northern side of the spit a continuation of BRAMMO BEACH - southern side of PALLON BEACH. When prevailing south-easterly merchandise winds instruct blustery the lack of protective landscape or vegetation agency it tin instruct a flake blustery on the sand (this tin truly live on a approbation on hot days) although the H2O on the northern side tends to live on smooth. Not hence the southern side, where the south-easterlies tin chop upwards water.
During my see some kite surfers took payoff of this exposure - made THE SPIT their base.
End of THE SPIT a dandy house to banking concern check sundown over the mainland.
MOST POPULAR
No uncertainty BRAMMO is most pop when the resort is open, but if daytrippers are the solely visitors it seems MUGGY MUGGY attracts more. Maybe because it's accessed is past times a curt in addition to pleasant rainforest rails from the due east halt of Brammo - in addition to that water-taxi handouts mention
good snorkeling (um every bit good shallow in addition to coral bleached when I visited).
MUGGY MUGGY must instruct the accolade for MOST TROPICAL too. Those palms inward dorsum of beach don't wound - provided some overnice shade.
Plenty of large pebbles inward the foreground but at that spot is no shortage of finer sand on MUGGY MUGGY.
Pic a flake dull, shot on an overcast twenty-four hours threatening to rain.
MOST ISOLATED (of those non needing a boat for access)
COCONUT
SHORT FLAT AND EASY
- THE MUGGY MUGGY TRACK
MODERATE DISTANCE/SLOPES/EFFORT - NICE VIEWS
LONG DISTANCE
My outset campsite - #6. Each site had its ain clearing inward the bush, beach access in addition to a picnic table. The booking procedure involves choosing your campsite - a map in addition to photos of each are shown. I liked the await of this 1 behind PALLON BEACH, summation it was quite unopen to the amenities block. #6 had room for at to the lowest degree three tents my size without crowding. btw if y'all similar the thought of a secluded site cutting out of the bush, #7 would live on my pick.
Dinner that black was pretty basic. The SUNSET CAFE was closed in addition to every bit a fly/bus traveler I haven't the room to convey proper coolers in addition to cooking materials to receive got payoff of the complimentary gas bbqs inward the daytrip area.
SUNSET CAFE is side past times side to the DAYTRIPPER/CAMP areas - was closed both days I visited. The 2nd - a Fri - was understandable amongst bad conditions in addition to the H2O taxi non running. The first, a existent overnice Th amongst the H2O taxi booked out, was opposite to the website which says it would live on opened upwards Thurs thru Sundays summation world in addition to schoolhouse holidays. The latter had lately finished - perhaps the possessor was bushed from the action.
No large bargain amongst me - although I would receive got liked something hot to swallow in addition to a overnice mutual frigidity beer at the halt of the day.
The nearby amenities block. As said, hot showers. Downside - solely seemed to live on serviced every tertiary twenty-four hours or so: daytripper purpose had messed it upwards a flake in addition to used all the lav newspaper (fortunately I deport my own). No laundry facilities - I used the launder basins in addition to my ain multi-fit plug: ever deport some launder powder.
Free bbq facility - non every bit good bad in addition to used past times boaties who had come upwards ashore for dinner off their yachts in addition to cruisers moored inward BRAMMO BAY. Smart displace - receive got y'all ever tried to ready inward a pocket-sized boat galley?
3 or 4 picnic tables nearby - hidden past times the dark.
THE WEATHER CHANGES
My outset twenty-four hours on DUNK was existent overnice - sunny, warm in addition to moderate south-easterly merchandise winds.
But roughly 3am following morning time it did a plough for the worse - a LOW PRESSURE TROUGH hit, turning winds to the due south due west in addition to intensifying them greatly. For the following three hours til sun-up my tent rocked in addition to rolled, threatening to receive got off for OAHU.
So outset lite I switched to the sheltered lee side of the military camp area.
Most of the sand is non coarse in addition to this beach is sheltered from the prevailing due south easterly merchandise winds. Latter makes Brammo Bay a pop overnight mooring for cruising yachts.
THE SPIT
- is arguably only every bit attractive every bit BRAMMO.
During my see some kite surfers took payoff of this exposure - made THE SPIT their base.
MOST POPULAR
No uncertainty BRAMMO is most pop when the resort is open, but if daytrippers are the solely visitors it seems MUGGY MUGGY attracts more. Maybe because it's accessed is past times a curt in addition to pleasant rainforest rails from the due east halt of Brammo - in addition to that water-taxi handouts mention
good snorkeling (um every bit good shallow in addition to coral bleached when I visited).
Plenty of large pebbles inward the foreground but at that spot is no shortage of finer sand on MUGGY MUGGY.
Pic a flake dull, shot on an overcast twenty-four hours threatening to rain.
MOST ISOLATED (of those non needing a boat for access)
COCONUT
This 1km long beach on the primal due west coast abt 45 mins walk from the resort/campground is broken inward many parts past times stone outcrops in addition to fallen trees. It looks a flake similar an extended MUGGY MUGGY. It’s faces due south hence is non every bit good sheltered from prevailing wind. But a pretty expert spot fer people wanting to instruct away from it all.
Southern parts of COCONUT are a flake to a greater extent than open. Note fifty-fifty though it is a due west coast beach, y'all aren't going to instruct whatever cool sunsets because its orientation is to a greater extent than to the south. At to the lowest degree non mid yr when the sun's trajectory is to a greater extent than to the northward - this is nearly 2 hours before sunset but already the beach is inward shadow.
LEAST ATTRACTIVE
PALLON BEACH
PALLON is some other due west coast beach closer the resort than COCONUT which runs over 1km from only due south of the airstrip to the military camp area/start of the Spit region. Long, featureless, tends to live on parallel to the south-easterly trades hence non all that sheltered. Some exposed stone at lower tide times inward southern sections - amend upwards close the campground.
THE TREKS
DUNK is a dandy trekking island. Those hills in addition to rainforests brand for some attractive walking on a multifariousness of tracks:
SHORT FLAT AND EASY
- THE MUGGY MUGGY TRACK
This goes from the eastern halt of BRAMMO beach – flat, thru overnice rainforest, surface non tricky. 540m – 10mins 1 way. You are looking due East above. I tilted this Google basis icon to convey out the highlands behind, but it doesn't go all that well.
You instruct the proper rainforest canopy touching along here. Several spots where y'all tin pop out onto the rocks in addition to banking concern check BRAMMO BAY.
MODERATE DISTANCE/SLOPES/EFFORT - NICE VIEWS
- MOUNT KOOTALOO TRACK
This starts from due east the same indicate every bit the MUGGY MUGGY rails in addition to climbs to the island’s highest indicate - 271m/888ft. Track distance is 2km,- twoscore mins. Steady uphill (no apartment sections) , slopes moderate to fairly steep but never reaches this 70yo geezer’s rating of “very steep”, permit lonely “heartbreaker” or “don’t mail flowers”.
The rails passes thru similar vegetation to the MUGGY MUGGY track. Surface is pretty expert amongst a distinct lack of roots, unloosen rock. I can't recall whatever stairs or fifty-fifty unmarried step-ups. This rails was 1 time an access route to a WW2 radar station.
Disappointingly at that spot are solely a few glimpses of the panorama until the summit. And nowhere including the summit exercise y'all instruct a persuasion eastwards.
Outlook at the top is pretty good. This is the persuasion due west....
....this to the south-west over LUBBER BAY. Biggest of the nearby islands is BEDARRA ISLAND - some other resort isle (with an operating resort).
This is such an improvement - when I outset came upwards hither over 10 years agone all I could run into were the trees roughly the summit. Somebody, either THE RESORT or QUEENSLAND NATIONAL PARKS, has done a lot of work.
Viewpoint board explains what y'all are looking at in addition to how landscape was shaped.Also information boards upwards hither nearly the old radar station in addition to a flake of left over machinery. Click-expand for details.
LONG DISTANCE
- THE ISLAND CIRCUIT TRACK
This is a large 1 - the total loop is only over 9km - state 3-3.5 hours.
The outset department is the uphill component of the VIEWPOINT TRACK - silent shortly after y'all start descending on the southern component of the summit circle, receive got the good marked rails off to the left towards the south-central component of the island. This descends thru PALM VALLEY to hitting the due west coast at COCONUT BEACH. It turns due west only behind the beach, does some other plough in addition to starts heading dorsum towards the northward behind the mangroves in addition to along PALLON BEACH. Crossing THE SPIT close the pier, it does a final leg along BRAMMO BAY.
DON'T BE TEMPTED TO SHORTCUT - the airstrip in addition to resort are individual holding in addition to are patrolled.
SLOPES - the downhill department to COCONUT BEACH has a lot to a greater extent than distance to lose meridian copared to the outset department upwards to the viewpoint in addition to hence slopes mainly vary betwixt gentle in addition to moderate. Maybe a few curt stetches of fairly steep. Doesnt affair all that much on job organisation human relationship y'all are going downhill if y'all exercise a clockwise isle circuit.
At the due south due west corner of the walk (the western halt of COCONUT BEACH) at that spot is a real curt stretch reaching properly steep status amongst a few quick stairways. Behind the mangroves in addition to along the beaches is flat.
SURFACE - the downhill department is pretty expert underfoot. There seemed to live on to a greater extent than vegetation detritus underfoot than the previous uphill section. Towards the bottom were a few roots in addition to these became to a greater extent than mutual inward the department behind COCONUT. Ditto stones etc. But non a hard department underfoot. The department behind the mangroves is real good. PALLON BEACH tin instruct a flake skinny at total tide in addition to soft sand at the top of the beach made walking a flake difficult. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 huge fallen tree forced a wading detour out into the water. THE SPIT in addition to BRAMMO BEACH are easy.
Start of the descent - gradient in addition to surface non every bit good challenging, rainforest nice.
PALM VALLEY - I got the impression the surface area is silent recovering from TROPICAL CYCLONE YASI - it was nowhere close every bit lush in addition to dense every bit when I outset visited.
THE RESORT
DUNK ISLAND RESORT has been closed since existence cleaned upwards past times TROPICAL CYCLONE YASI inward February 2011. That's a hell of a long fourth dimension out of action. Rebuilding is going on at a pretty gradual rate. There seem to live on a few rebuilt areas that are operational - manifestly these are for the purpose of the owners' relatives in addition to friends. The resort is closed to the full general public.
Not much has been done to this department of the resort since Yasi. About 70% of other buildings seemed similar inward July '16.
This pocket-sized department behind the eastern halt of the beach seemed to receive got been refurbished - a few lights showing at night.
The reception pavilion looked every bit novel too, every bit did the pool. I read the puddle was completely covered amongst sand washed inward from the beach past times the cyclone's tidal surge.
THE CAMP GROUND
DUNK's overnice petty camping ground surface area is NOT closed - in addition to similar my previous see this is where I stayed.
The pocket-sized campground is nicely positioned unopen to the spit in addition to only off the island's pier. I institute my (1st) spot in addition to was setting upwards five minutes off the H2O taxi.
There are 8 pocket-sized tent sites forthwith behind the beaches in addition to 1 primal group site. All are connected past times concrete paths thru the bush.
The DAYTRIPPERS' AREA is forthwith side past times side in addition to its facilities are used past times the campers too. So nosotros receive got a bbq area, picnic tables in addition to an amenities block amongst HOT SHOWERS.
Hey, this toll me $6.50 a night. FITZROY ISLAND camping ground toll $35 in addition to had mutual frigidity showers.
DUNK campground is owned past times QUEENSLAND NATIONAL PARKS in addition to y'all take away a permit - but this is dead slowly to get. Actual booking seems to live on handled past times an online branch of the RESORT in addition to was straightforward. It looked similar the resort was treatment cleaning too.
More information - https://www.dunk-island.com/index.php/camping
THE RESORT
DUNK ISLAND RESORT has been closed since existence cleaned upwards past times TROPICAL CYCLONE YASI inward February 2011. That's a hell of a long fourth dimension out of action. Rebuilding is going on at a pretty gradual rate. There seem to live on a few rebuilt areas that are operational - manifestly these are for the purpose of the owners' relatives in addition to friends. The resort is closed to the full general public.
THE CAMP GROUND
DUNK's overnice petty camping ground surface area is NOT closed - in addition to similar my previous see this is where I stayed.
There are 8 pocket-sized tent sites forthwith behind the beaches in addition to 1 primal group site. All are connected past times concrete paths thru the bush.
The DAYTRIPPERS' AREA is forthwith side past times side in addition to its facilities are used past times the campers too. So nosotros receive got a bbq area, picnic tables in addition to an amenities block amongst HOT SHOWERS.
Hey, this toll me $6.50 a night. FITZROY ISLAND camping ground toll $35 in addition to had mutual frigidity showers.
DUNK campground is owned past times QUEENSLAND NATIONAL PARKS in addition to y'all take away a permit - but this is dead slowly to get. Actual booking seems to live on handled past times an online branch of the RESORT in addition to was straightforward. It looked similar the resort was treatment cleaning too.
More information - https://www.dunk-island.com/index.php/camping
No large bargain amongst me - although I would receive got liked something hot to swallow in addition to a overnice mutual frigidity beer at the halt of the day.
3 or 4 picnic tables nearby - hidden past times the dark.
THE WEATHER CHANGES
My outset twenty-four hours on DUNK was existent overnice - sunny, warm in addition to moderate south-easterly merchandise winds.
But roughly 3am following morning time it did a plough for the worse - a LOW PRESSURE TROUGH hit, turning winds to the due south due west in addition to intensifying them greatly. For the following three hours til sun-up my tent rocked in addition to rolled, threatening to receive got off for OAHU.
So outset lite I switched to the sheltered lee side of the military camp area.
I had my alternative of all 4 sites on the BRAMMO BEACH side (the 2 campers at that spot had packed upwards in addition to left quite early). This is #3, a overnice site a flake farther from the amenities block but amongst fifty-fifty closer beach access in addition to room for nearly one-half a dozen tents my size.
This 2nd military camp site was silent a flake blowy but non bad – until every bit darkness roughshod it started to RAIN PRETTY HARD in addition to got REAL COLD.
I don't similar reading inward a cramped humid tent. No lightS or shelter elsewhere inward the military camp area, the daytrip tables had no lights or shelter, the bbq laid upwards had okay lights, express shelter but a meg large light-green ants running roughly where I wanted to sit down in addition to the amenities block was a flake smelly for to a greater extent than than a few minutes stay. So I turned inward roughly 7.30PM – but existence a geezer in addition to solely needing 3-4 hours zzz a black I was awake past times 11PM. That was 1 loooong, cold, moisture (condensation) night.
Next morning time I packed upwards the moisture tent (I HATE THAT!) in addition to caught the outset boat off the isle – way before than originally planned.
Breakfast before the boat. Check the standing water. At to the lowest degree the bbq facility had shelter from the rain.
Heading for the mainland - if y'all click-expand y'all volition run into the pelting on the windscreen.
I wrote a trip written report for TRIP ADVISOR titled "WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH, THE TOUGH ---- VAMOOSE".
I wrote a trip written report for TRIP ADVISOR titled "WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH, THE TOUGH ---- VAMOOSE".
OK, I wimped out. But I receive got to state I enjoyed my curt stay, in addition to the bad conditions has made it to a greater extent than memorable.
One thing's for certain - DUNK is a real overnice island.
GETTING THERE
I went across to Dunk amongst MISSION BEACH DUNK ISLAND WATER TAXI (07-4068 8310) which has an component opposite this launch site on WONGALING BEACH.
The trip didn't receive got much to a greater extent than than 10 minutes in addition to was fairly smoothen despite the choppy seas. The driver gave a expert security spiel in addition to had useful data nearly the island. The component distributes a expert map which includes the walking tracks.
The component was good informed - told me that the approaching depression pressure level trough amongst its stiff winds would whip upwards appreciable surf on the higher upwards beach, making beach launches impossible - thereby cancelling my pickup from the island. But they arranged for an alternative outfit which must run each twenty-four hours due to contracts amongst the isle resorts to convey me back.
DUNK WATER TAXI also has an informative website amongst lots of expert isle info.
Cost July 2016 $35aud render for daytrippers - $50 for campers.
One electrical load - they don't receive got a courtesy charabanc for people without cars. Luckily I was staying inward a backpackers' solely fifteen min's walk upwards the road.
I came dorsum from DUNK amongst MISSION BEACH CHARTERS (07-4068 7009) which launches out of CLUMP POINT HARBOUR farther north. Distance to Dunk is nearly 11km - twice that from WONGALING BEACH - but solely took abt fifteen mins or so. I'm thinking this outfit may suite displace impaired people to a greater extent than - it's kinda tricky hopping onto a beach-launched boat fifty-fifty inward fairly calm conditions.
This outfit's boat is smaller but seems designed for crude oil conditions in addition to rode the relatively roough seas on the way dorsum well. And DRY, cheers to a real expert canopy.
Bec inward the component was great. She rang me on Dunk in addition to told me just when I would live on picked upwards in addition to hence rang my WONGALING backpackers' to adapt for them to mail their courtesy van the 10km or hence to transfer me on arrival at Clump Point. They were a petty belatedly hence she rang me 1 time to a greater extent than an hr subsequently to ensure I had been picked up.
This outfit tin exercise a lot to a greater extent than than transfer y'all to DUNK. Check the website.
One thing's for certain - DUNK is a real overnice island.
GETTING THERE
The trip didn't receive got much to a greater extent than than 10 minutes in addition to was fairly smoothen despite the choppy seas. The driver gave a expert security spiel in addition to had useful data nearly the island. The component distributes a expert map which includes the walking tracks.
The component was good informed - told me that the approaching depression pressure level trough amongst its stiff winds would whip upwards appreciable surf on the higher upwards beach, making beach launches impossible - thereby cancelling my pickup from the island. But they arranged for an alternative outfit which must run each twenty-four hours due to contracts amongst the isle resorts to convey me back.
DUNK WATER TAXI also has an informative website amongst lots of expert isle info.
Cost July 2016 $35aud render for daytrippers - $50 for campers.
One electrical load - they don't receive got a courtesy charabanc for people without cars. Luckily I was staying inward a backpackers' solely fifteen min's walk upwards the road.
This outfit's boat is smaller but seems designed for crude oil conditions in addition to rode the relatively roough seas on the way dorsum well. And DRY, cheers to a real expert canopy.
Bec inward the component was great. She rang me on Dunk in addition to told me just when I would live on picked upwards in addition to hence rang my WONGALING backpackers' to adapt for them to mail their courtesy van the 10km or hence to transfer me on arrival at Clump Point. They were a petty belatedly hence she rang me 1 time to a greater extent than an hr subsequently to ensure I had been picked up.
This outfit tin exercise a lot to a greater extent than than transfer y'all to DUNK. Check the website.
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