Where The Forest Meets The Sea!

Etty Bay! Just below Innisfail is Etty Bay. Spectacular as it is situated in a tiny council owned pocket of land among Moresby Range National Park. There are only six sites available on a first in basis, no forward bookings. The forest comes down to meet the beach on both sides. Unfortunately no room for us!!
Cowley Beach is still recovering after the recent cyclones, having lost much of the sand from the sea front which ended up in people's houses. The clean up along the beaches is yet to be done.
Taking the Canecutter Way, we drove through sugar cane and fruit farms.
Kurrimine, also badly affected by the cyclones was tidier and cleaner. Most repairs having been completed. The council-run caravan park and overflow areas were full of loud, beer-swilling men, packed in. It looked unpleasant. So we stayed the night at Kurrimene Beach holiday Park. The owners had come up to this area to help after the clclone and ended up by buying the caravan park. They have a very short season and cater, mostly for young families, with their huge pool and aquatic play areas. It also had one of the very few cafes.
One mango farm on the road to Kurrimine is trying to value add to the farm income by creating exotic fruit wines. On the way out of Kurrimine we made a detour to taste test their products. Not really to our taste - interesting, and quite expensive. We bought a bottle of Pineapple Port, which was a bit sweet but drinkable.
We arrived at Bingil Bay, early in the morning to find a "No Vacancy" sign at the local Council-run camping site. We went to look in anyway and found two vacant sites! There are only eight sites! So we decided to stay! Right on the beach, in the middle of Clump Mountain NP. Again where the forest comes down to the sea!

We thought this area was "magic"! We took every turn we could to the secret spots in the area. We discovered beautiful Garner's Beach and Brookes Beach, secluded and pristine.
We loved Mission Beach area with its very friendly community and lay-back lifestyle. It has a really lovely feel to it! The weather was perfect and we could swim in the water! Just delightful! Having booked and paid for just one night, we ended up staying four!