140 km south of Cairns off Bruce Highway, on the coast. This hot little seaside ‘nowheresville’ has a permanent population of less than 1,000. And even they are strung out along the palm-lined coast, which boasts some stunning scenery. It has two World Heritage listed sites, the rainforests and the Great Barrier Reef and is an area of outstanding natural beauty. Like many other towns on the Eastern coast of Australia they have a ‘big thing’ to represent its most famous characteristic. If you’re collecting pictures of these big things, make sure not to miss the big Cassowary which is at Wongaling Beach shopping complex.

Mission Beach is where you catch the boat for Dunk Island, or you can go white-water rafting down the nearby Tully River. The small town of Tully, which is on the Bruce Highway some 20 km or so inland, is proud to proclaim itself, ‘the wettest place in Australia’. Suggestions that this refers to anything other than the weather are made at your peril.

Unexpectedly, Mission Beach has something of a history. The original mission (to convert the local Aborigines) was set up here in 1914. It did so badly that it was destroyed four years later by an act of God (hurricane), and the Aborigines were left to live in pagan peace.

Further south along the coast at Tam O’Shanter Point, you can see a memorial to the 1848 expedition which started into the hinterland from here. The intention was to reach Cape York, the northernmost point in Australia, by an over-land route. Of the unlucky 13 who set off into the shimmering heat haze, only three eventually staggered back hollow-eyed to tell the tale.

Like some other places along this stretch of coast Mission Beach was effected by Cyclone Larry in 2006 and Cyclone Yasi in 2011, that caused some major damage but no fatalities. By now though most of this has been repaired and the tourists are back in full swing.