Exploring Dunk Island: Best Things To See & Do

Dunk Island is a tropical Great Barrier Reef Island located just off Mission Beach the Cassowary Coast Region of Queensland.

Whether you’re a Mission Beach local or you’re travelling the East Coast of Australia, Dunk Island (Coonanglebah) is a spot you definitely do not want to miss. I’ve visited this island several times and it is one of my favorite islands in Queensland.

In this quick guide, I’ll go over some of the best things to do on Dunk Island and include a few tips and hints to help you get here and make the best of your trip!

About Dunk Island

Dunk Island features everything you could want from a Tropical North Queensland island. Here, you'll find a mix of sandy beaches and rocky shores, fringing reefs for snorkelling, and a lush rainforest interior with plenty of scenic walking tracks.

Located just off the coast of Mission Beach, and part of the Family Islands Group, this island is the perfect location to visit if you're chasing an epic day trip close to the mainland. The island is part of the Family Islands National Park, so you can also expect to find many bird species here, as well as marine mammals cruising by the coral reefs.

Best Ways to Explore Dunk Island: Things to Do & See

Planning your adventures with a Dunk Island itinerary? Below I've listed some of the best things that we got up to in tropical paradise.

1. Explore the Dunk Island Interior

The further you move up the Australian East Coast, the more tropical the rainforest flora becomes. Even compared to islands just south of Hinchinbrook like Orpheus and the Palm Islands, Dunk is much denser and more rainforest-like.

There are two trails leading from the main pier. They begin by walking through well-maintained camping areas and continue past the old airstrip. Further along, you'll walk along the long stretch of white beach past the abandoned resort, and finally into dense rainforest trails.

It's fairly easy to follow the bush tracks. However, I've also linked the official National Park walking map for your convenience.

2. Hike the Island Circuit Track

Once you've passed the beach and are on the track, you'll have a few options. I recommend following the signs and taking the Island circuit track. This is an 11-kilometre walk that takes you to the top of Mount Kootaloo, down Palm Valley, across to Coconut Beach and ends at the sand spit.

Taking the Island Circuit track takes approximately three hours, but offers an opportunity to see the best parts of Dunk Island's lush green rainforest.

3. Hike Up to Mount Kootaloo (Kataloo)

If you just want incredible views of the southern end of Dunk Island, then walking to the highest viewpoint at Mount Kootaloo (sometimes also spelled Mount Kataloo) is the best way to get them. The lookout is perched right at the top of this 271 metre hill on the island.

To get here, you'll follow the trail that continues on from the end of the beach at Brammo Bay and climbs gently for two kilometers to an old World War Two Radar Station. This isn't exactly a strenuous walk, but you'll climb to the very upper slopes of the island.

At the summit, you'll be rewarded with spectacular views of the Family Islands group to the north.

4. Walk the Muggy Muggy Beach Track

If you're looking to snorkel or just relax on a more secluded beach, then instead turn left at the first junction and follow the pleasant walk to Muggy Muggy Beach.

The beach is just around the corner, and should only take around 20 minutes to reach from the pier. This is a picturesque sandy cove lined with large boulders and coconut palm trees.

5. Snorkel at Muggy Muggy Beach

As mentioned, Muggy Muggy Beach is located just around the corner from the main resort beach on Brammo Bay.

The beach itself is a much quieter and more secluded beach for swimming and snorkeling. There are also several hanging palms on the beach, making it feel a bit more like an isolated tropical paradise.

You can snorkel all around the bay, sticking to the fringing reef to get a taste of the unique Great Barrier Reef marine life.

6. Explore Mound Island (Purtaboi)

When you first arrive at Dunk Island, you might notice the small, rocky island known as Mound Island, nested just outside of Brammo Bay. The indigenous name for this island is Purtaboi.

It's possible to kayak or boat over to the island. However, keep in mind that it is an important bird nesting site. Stepping onto the island between 1 October and 31 March is prohibited to protect the nesting.

7. Jump off the Dunk Island Pier

The main pier at Brammo Bay looks like it's made for jumping! If there aren't too many people fishing, then it's possible to launch some backflips even at low tide!

8. Swim at the Sand Spit

The sand spit on Dunk Island has to be one of the most picturesque sand bars in Australia, maybe besides Hill Inlet.

The sand spit is probably one of the best places to swim on the island since there are no rocks and the water is extremely clear! You'll even likely spot some sea turtles cruising by if you pay attention.

It's also a great spot to snap some photos and get a unique vantage point of Dunk Island.

9. Catch the Tropical Island Sunsets

We all know that there's no better sunset than an island sunset. Catch the sunset at the beach at Brammo Bay or watch the colors light up over the Family Island group at the top of Kootaloo.

10. Go Bird-Spotting

Did you know that over 100 species of birds have been recorded on Dunk Island? This makes it a perfect place for birding!

Walking along the branching tracks, you'll find plenty of sunbirds, emerald doves, and if you look up, maybe even a majestic osprey flying above. Of course, you'll also want to keep an eye out for the brilliant Blue Ulysses Butterly!

11. Check Out the Dunk Island Airstrip

As you'll notice in the photos, Dunk Island has its very own airport, a tiny airstrip that once flew tourists in from nearby Cairns to stay at the Dunk Island Resort.

However, these days, at least until the reconstruction of the resort is finalized, the strip is mostly used by the Royal Australian Air Force.

When is the Best Time to Visit Dunk Island?

Like many of the Islands on the inside of the Great Barrier Reef, the best time to visit is between June to August. Exploring Dunk Island at this time of year means no stingers, and warm, predictable weather.

Typically, during these drier Winter months, temperatures hover between 25-28 degrees Celsius, with water temperatures averaging around 23 degrees.

Camping on Dunk Island

Looking to explore Dunk Island for more than just a day? You're in luck. Since it is quite a popular place to visit from Mission Beach, the council has set up camp sites, with hot showers, water, picnic tables and even BBQs.

If you're looking to do a bit of camping at Dunk Island, you will need to reserve and pay for a camping permit, which is currently managed by the Cassowary Coast Regional Council.

The Dunk Island Resort - Updates

Similarly to South Molle Island, Brampton Island and pretty much most of the once-booming tropical Queensland Islands, Dunk too has an abandoned resort in the main bay. This was mostly destroyed during the devastating Cyclone Yasi that hit the shores of Mission Beach in 2011.

For obvious reasons, the abandoned resort is off-limits, with only the main central building remaining open for special events and weddings.

Update: The island was purchased by Atlassian billionaire Mike Cannon Brooks in July 2022 with initial plans to repair and reopen the resort. However, as of 2023, it is still permanently closed.

Where to Stay Near Mission Beach

Unfortunately, you can't stay on Dunk Island since the resort is still abandoned. However, you can stay in nearby Mission Beach!

Sailing to Dunk Island

Dunk Island is traditionally a Cruiser's island. Therefore, for those enjoying Australian coastal sailing, there's usually great, seaworthy company.

Anchorage and Berthing Information

The main anchorage area on Dunk Island is in Brammo Bay. It's important to read your maps when entering, as the fringing reef spreads deep into the bay. While we anchored here, we watched a large 60-foot sailing vessel run aground close to the sand spit, luckily, they didn't venture too far into the reef.

There are also three guest mooring buoys that are operated by Queensland Parks. These hold monohulls up to 20 meters and catamarans up to 18 meters and are rated to 34-knot winds.

The anchorage at Brammo Bay offers good protection against established South East trade winds, but will be very exposed to Northerlies.

More Queensland Travel Guides & Adventure Inspiration

I hope you've found this updated guide to visiting Dunk Island in Queensland useful!

While you're still here, make sure to check out some of my other travel guides and blog posts to Far North Queensland!

• 60+ Things to do in Cairns - my ultimate Cairns and FNQ travel resource covering the best activities, hidden gems, and unmissable experiences.
• Cairns Hiking Guide - a huge list of epic rainforest, waterfall, and lookout hikes in Cairns.
• Cairns Waterfalls - a huge list of epic waterfalls that I've visited in Cairns and the surrounding tropics.
• Cairns Islands - discover my favorite Great Barrier Reef islands near Cairns and Port Douglas.
• Cairns Tours - my roundup of the best tours you can book in Cairns and FNQ, from the Great Barrier Reef to the Daintree Rainforest.
• Cairns Packing List - tips on what to pack for a trip to Far North Queensland.
• Top Things to Do in Port Douglas - a comprehensive guide to the sleepy Far North Queensland town of Port Douglas.
• Epic 5-Day Cairns Itinerary - my suggested adventure itinerary if you only have 5 days to spend in Cairns.
• Cape Tribulation Travel Guide - discover where the rainforest meets the reef at one of my favourite places in Australia.
• Best Things to do in the Atherton Tablelands - my guide to one of Far North Queensland's most underrated adventure destinations.
• Accommodation Resources: Discover where to stay in Cairns, the best hotels in Port Douglas and my Cape Tribulation accommodation guide.