Is this Tropical North Queensland’s most exciting new island stay?
The wait is over. Dunk Island has officially started welcoming overnight guests for the first time since Cyclone Yasi tore through it in 2011, with the launch of the new Beachfront Eco Tents in April marking a huge milestone in one of Queensland’s most anticipated island revivals.
Sitting just four kilometres off the coast of Mission Beach – the picturesque Cassowary Coast town roughly halfway between Cairns and Townsville – Dunk Island (known to the Djiru people as Coonanglebah, meaning “island of peace and plenty") has long held a special place in Australian travel lore. For over a decade, it has sat largely dormant, its former resort still a ruin. Now, the Dunk Island Group is carefully and intentionally bringing it back.
The Beachfront Eco Tents
The King Eco Tents are perfect for couples.
Families are accommodated for in the Queen Twin Eco Tents.
Single Twin Eco Tents are great for you and a friend.
Available from Wednesday to Sunday, the Beachfront Eco Tents are designed for guests who want the experience of sleeping on the island without fully roughing it. The tents come in three configurations: Single Twin, Queen Twin (two queen beds), and King. Each tent includes linen and towels, a lantern, a fan, a charging dock with a power outlet, and an esky stocked with ice.
It’s honest, well-considered comfort rather than ostentatious luxury. The tents are unpowered (the portable charging dock handles devices, fan and lights), there is no ensuite or air conditioning, and the shared amenities block handles bathroom needs, so guests who come expecting a five-star resort will need to recalibrate. Those who arrive in the spirit of the place will find it near-perfect.
The rest of the island experience
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The Dunk Island Restaurant is open 8am to 8pm.
Book a Bayside Campsite from $60 per night.
The ferry doesn't operate on Mondays and Tuesdays.
The Dunk Island Restaurant is open Wednesday to Sunday from 8am to 8pm, with a full cocktail bar and à la carte menus built around locally sourced ingredients. You can also hire beach umbrellas, sun lounges, kayaks and stand-up paddleboards.
Roughly 970 hectares of the island is national park. Four walking trails of varying difficulty wind through it, including the climb to the Mt Kootaloo lookout. Snorkelling is excellent at Muggy Muggy Beach and Coconut Beach, and for a full Great Barrier Reef experience, local tour operators can get you out to the Family Islands or Beaver Reef.
Getting there is newly straightforward. A twice-daily ferry service runs from Mission Beach from Wednesday to Sunday, with departure times of 8.45am and 12.30pm from the mainland. The return ferry service departs at 10.30am and 3.30pm.
Alongside the Eco Tents, six Bayside Campsites remain open year-round for those who prefer a more traditional bring-your-own-tent experience, accommodating groups of up to six people. Just note that the ferry doesn’t run on Mondays or Tuesdays, so plan your arrival and departure days accordingly.
One important seasonal note: swimming at the beach without a full-body stinger suit isn’t recommended from November to May, so the peak season window of June through October is the sweet spot for those who want to get in the water freely.
The bigger picture
Stand up paddleboard at Coconut Beach.
What’s happening on Dunk isn’t a flashy resort relaunch, and that’s exactly what makes it compelling. The Dunk Island Group has been deliberate about keeping accommodation numbers small to protect the island’s environment and ensure the atmosphere stays calm rather than crowded.
The development operates under a lease with the Cassowary Coast Regional Council and an Indigenous Land Use Agreement with the Djiru Traditional Owners, ensuring cultural and environmental stewardship sits at the centre of the island’s future.
“We are proud to be stepping into this new phase at Dunk Island, to further showcase the beauty of the region and invite guests to experience one of Queensland’s most extraordinary island environments in a low-impact way," Dunk Island Group owner, Annie Cannon-Brookes, said.
For Australians who grew up reading about Dunk Island or who visited in its resort heyday, like I did on a family holiday circa 2005-06, it’s a triumphant return. For a new generation of travellers discovering it fresh, it offers a Great Barrier Reef island stay that feels wild and relaxing.
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Details
TNQ’s only beachfront island glamping is now open.
Price: From $260 per night for the Single Twin Eco Tent, and from $311 per night for the Queen Twin and King Eco Tents.
When: Beachfront Eco Tents are available Wednesday to Sunday, with a two-night minimum stay.
Getting there: The ferry departs Mission Beach twice daily from Wednesday to Sunday. Return tickets cost $66.30 for adults or $41 for children. Families with two adults and two children can receive a 10 per cent discount.
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Emily Murphy is Australian Traveller's Email & Social Editor, and in her 4+ years at the company she has been instrumental in shaping its social media and email presence, and crafting compelling narratives that inspire others to explore Australia's vast landscapes. Her previous role was a journalist at Prime Creative Media and before that she was freelancing in publishing, content creation and digital marketing. When she's not creating scroll-stopping travel content, Em is a devoted 'bun mum' and enjoys spending her spare time by the sea, reading, binge-watching a good TV show and exploring Sydney's vibrant dining scene. Next on her Aussie travel wish list? South Australia and The Kimberley.
Halfway between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast, the coastline is hiding a holiday gem. Meet Moreton Bay: a region brimming with unexpected experiences.
Weekends are a finite resource. Each year, we must decide how to extract the most value from just 52 of them – and Moreton Bay may just be the perfect way to do it.
But don’t be fooled by the region’s easy accessibility. It’s somehow remained an unspoken secret among locals and travellers alike.
It has the fresh seafood and the island-dotted bay, but did you know about the wizarding store, the disco royalty, or the vintage train-carriage-stay tucked into a national park?
The best part? You can explore them all without touching your annual leave balance.
1. Oyster Shed at Sandstone Point
Be sure to stop for oysters. (Credit: Tourism and Events Moreton Bay)
What was once a humble, wooden oyster farming shack in the 1900s is now a seaside paradise: day beds bathed in Queensland sunshine, a jetty that pierces the sea, and a seafood menu based on their exclusive fishing partner’s daily catches.
Your first stop in Moreton Bay must be to try the area’s beloved Moreton Bay Bugs. Here, they’re served fresh in the sea breeze. Order the Crustacean Plate that’s prepared fresh each day. Or, try their signature baked fish tacos.
2. Ocean View Estates
Stop in for wine and grazing plates. (Credit: Tourism and Events Moreton Bay)
Tucked away in the hills of Moreton Bay, you’ll find Ocean View Estates, poured across 100 acres of sloping vineyards. Arrive via winding or scenic mountain roads.
Join the Wine & Dine in the Vines experience to be greeted with a glass of wine upon arrival before taking the time to stroll (wine in hand) through the grapevines. Spot the adorable herd of Highland cows before joining a behind-the-scenes tour of the vineyard’s operations. Sip wine straight from the vat before starting your four-course, wine-paired degustation.
If you can’t bear to leave, spend the night in one of the property’s quaint wine-themed cottages.
3. Green Thumb Farm
Learn about (and taste) sustainable food growing practices at Green Thumb.
Green Thumb Farm calls Samford Valley home. This not-for-profit, educational community farm’s goal is to share sustainable food growing practices with the community.
Each Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday morning, you can follow the ‘farm walk’ signs through the property on a self-guided walk to witness how growing food with regenerative farming principles can support pollinators and soil to help create a more resilient food cycle.
To sample the produce, stop by on a Saturday morning to explore the spray-free fruit and vegetable markets.
4. Redcliffe KiteFest
Watch the sky change colours during KiteFest.
Plan your visit to Moreton Bay for the weekend of the 19th and 20th of September this year and you’ll be greeted with an explosion of colour, creativity and family fun. Why? Because the Redcliffe annual KiteFest is back in town.
Browse the local food trucks as giant kites soar overhead, fly your own kite, let the kids try their hand at kite making with a series of workshops, and so much more.
For a colourful, family-friendly weekend close to Brisbane, you’ll be hard-pressed to find something better in your calendar.
5. Mt Nebo Railway Carriage and Chalet
Stay in one of the region’s most unique accommodations. (Credit: Tourism and Events Moreton Bay)
The rail carriage comes complete with Wi-Fi, a smart TV, and even a barbecue. Take your morning coffee in the buffet car’s booth seating while you browse the record selection from the train’s original luggage racks.
Here, among six acres of picturesque mountain rainforest, you’ll find quaint gardens, tranquil views and close access to walking trails.
6. Hip Hops Brewers
Try tasty craft beer flavours at Hip Hop Brewers.
Brendale’s Hip Hops Brewers has one of the region’s most exciting craft beer offerings. Their local taproom is home to 21 different, meticulously crafted beer offerings and their mammoth selection of local wines and spirits. Hip Hops Brewers works in collaboration with local artisans and charities to deliver on their offering of drinks and events.
Spend an afternoon working your way through the selection at their ridiculously welcoming taproom and brewery.
7. The Store of Requirement
Step inside for a touch of magic. (Credit: Tourism and Events Moreton Bay)
For Harry Potter fans, The Store of Requirement is a compulsory visit. Much like the story’s Room of Requirement, the shop exists to provide whatever it is you need at the moment. Yes, that does include their own butterscotch brew. You’ll find wands, Hogwarts uniforms, and all the ingredients you’ll need for potions class.
You’ll even find the powder blue car Ron and Harry crash-landed at Hogwarts parked right out front.
8. Bee Gees Way
Find the groove on Bee Gees Way. (Credit: Tourism and Events Moreton Bay)
Did you know that the Bee Gees brothers Barry, Robin and Maurice grew up in Moreton Bay? The disco supergroup called Redcliffe’s shores home before settling in at the top of the charts with hits like ‘Stayin’ Alive’.
Now, the spirit of disco is absolutely alive in Redcliffe thanks to Bee Gees Way.
The 70-metre outdoor museum pays homage to the band and was developed in collaboration with the band’s Barry Gibb. The experience is completely free and meanders along the Redcliffe foreshore. Walk down memory lane with photos, album covers, personal stories from the band, and exclusive interviews with Barry all about Moreton Bay.
Once the sun has set, catch the free light show set to the band’s greatest hits.
