Dunk Island

Dunk Island, the largest of the family group of islands, famous for its dense, unspoiled rainforest and gold beaches. Here you will have time to swim, sunbathe, and take in some of the jungle walks. A memorable sight is the blue Ulysses butterfly, one of the most beautiful in the world. The jetty cafe is open for light meals, with bar facilities, or you may wish to pre-purchase lunch in the

Beachcomber restaurant which is located in the resort itself and overlooks the beach. Day visitors are permitted to utilize the Hibiscus pool at the resort, as well as visit the boutique and main bar. (Some areas of the resort are restricted to house guests. Located adjacent to the jetty cafe is the activities area for watersports. Here you are able to hire catamarans, windsurfers, paddle-skis, as well as water-skis. Prices available from the boathouse on the island.

Dunk Island is one of the most beautiful islands in the tropics. Named in 1770 by Captain Cook who designated it the “father” of the Family Island group, Dunk is close to Australia’s magnificent Great Barrier Reef and just a short, scenic flight from both Townsville and Cairns Domestic Airports.

Ever since E.J. Banfield settled from London in the early 1900s and wrote “Confessions of a Beachcomber”, Dunk has been internationally acclaimed as an island of unequaled beauty. From the moment you step off the plane, you will appreciate why Dunk is widely recognized as a perfect eco-friendly holiday destination.

Most sports and activities are included in your tariff, however, a charge is made for fuel powered watersports, reef trips, game fishing, horse trail riding, guided nature walks, private cruises and luxury charters. With the Great Barrier Reef so close, you’ll want to take a trip to this magical work on a spacious catamaran cruiser. Glide above coral gardens in a glass bottom boat, snorkel at your leisure or join the sea creatures in a scuba dive.

Location: Dunk Island is situated just 7 kilometres (4 miles) east of the unspoiled Queensland coastal vacation resort village of Mission Beach midway between Townsville and Cairns. Mission Beach is just a short 2 hour drive (approx. 160klm) from Cairns or a leisurely 3 hour drive (approx. 230klm) from Port Douglas, and a 15 minute (7 klm) boat transfer from Mission Beach to the Island. Because of its easy access to the mainland it is rated as the most ideal island resort in the Great Barrier Reef region to combine with your land based vacation accommodation.

It offers a total vacation experience that includes both the wide variety of activities and attractions of Tropical North Queensland’s mainland combined with the lazy indulgence of one of Australia’s most famous Island resorts – Dunk Island.

Transfers And Access to Dunk Island : By Air: Dunk is one of the very few Great Barrier Reef islands that has its own fully surfaced airstrip and from 01 October it will be serviced by Trans State Airlines with three return flights a day from Cairns using Twin Otter aircraft. Flight time from Cairns is approximately 30 minutes. Airfare’s cost is usually incorporated into overall passenger’s airfare cost from Capital City of departure, e.g. Sydney Brisbane etc. Note that special deep discount “Discover Australia” airfares usually apply for overseas visitors when the Dunk island sector of the airfare is included as part of the passengers overall airfare itinerary.

By Water: Dunk is serviced by both fast water taxi boats and the larger ferry MV Lawrence Kavanagh. The MV Lawrence Kavanagh provides a relaxed 6klm per hour traditional ferry transfer that leaves and departs from an established wharf at Clump Point and at Dunk island, so guests can board in comfort without having to get their feet wet!

Dunk Island is probably the best known of Australia’s tropic isles. Dunk is part of the Family Group of Islands and is one of the most tropical on the Great Barrier Reef in terms of its vegetation.

Dunk Island is about 160 kilometres north of Townsville and 120 kilometres south of Cairns. A birdwatcher’s paradise, Dunk is also the home of the stunning Ulysses Butterfly which is the island’s symbol.

The Dunk Island Resort is one of the largest developments on any of the island and it is heavily promoted and very popular with southern visitors and overseas tourists. Most of the island however is national park.

At Beaver Cay you can snorkel or view coral gardens and marine life from a glass-bottomed boat or semi-submersible craft. The scuba diving is fantastic. The fishing around the island is great, charter a boat to catch the big ones. Spanish Mackerel and Barracuda are plentiful as are Coral Trout, Sweet Lip and Trevally.

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