Jackaroo Treehouse Rainforest Retreat

Mission Beach is a coastal town midway between Townsville and Cairns in tropical north Queensland. It's made up of four beach villages linked by a 14km stretch of sand and makes a perfect gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and Wet Tropics of Queensland rainforest. The easy-going vibe has attracted backpackers and yogis to this chilled-out spot with fewer than 5,000 permanent residents. Keep an eye out for cassowaries – there are lots of these colourful, flightless Australian birds in the area.

Mission Beach hostels make the most of their natural environment in the rainforest or close to the shore. You can spend your days swinging from a hammock beside an outdoor pool and cool down in the evenings with a beer at the on-site bar. Or stay in a Mission Beach hostel moments from the beach with a tour desk that helps to organise and recommend the best day trips in the area. Expect to find hostels offering free shuttles from the bus station, unlimited free Wi-Fi and hearty complimentary breakfasts.

Mission Beach comprises Bingil Bay, North Mission Beach, Wongaling Beach and South Mission Beach. Bingil Bay is a sleepy settlement with just one building in the centre serving as a convenience store, café and restaurant. North Mission Beach has a bit more going on with plenty of shops, markets and eateries along Porter Promenade, while neighbouring Wongaling Beach is home to Big Cassowary monument, standing nearly 5m tall. South Mission Beach has lifeguard patrols at the shore and spectacular coastal walks.

Dunk Island is the largest in the Family Islands National Park, 4km off the coast of Mission Beach. You can get there in 10 minutes by water taxi from Wongaling Beach and spend a day exploring nature trails, lounging on pristine beaches and spotting local wildlife. Book a day trip out to the Great Barrier Reef to snorkel among tropical fish and corals or discover nearly 9000 square kilometres of rainforest in the World Heritage-listed Wet Tropics of Queensland.

In Mission Beach, you can use local taxis or hire a car or bike to explore the area. The closest airport is Cairns Airport, 150km to the north. You can get a Mission Link shuttle bus between your hostel and Cairns Airport or Cairns city centre, which takes about 2 hours, and to the historic town of Innisfail 50km away. The closest train station is in Tully, 22km inland, and taxis are available to take you to Mission Beach.