DUNK ISLAND
Area: Queensland
Country: Australia


Location:
3 mls off Queensland coast, in Coral Sea; Mission Beach and Tully nearest points on mainland. 3 mls N of Bedarra Island. 20 mls W of Great Barrier Reef. 88 mls S of Cairns and its international airport. 88 mls N of Townsville national airport.

Telephone code from UK:
61 7

Website:
http://www.dunkislandresort.com

Position:
Largest and most northerly of Family group of islands: it is the "father" to Bedarra's "mother" with "twins" and "triplets" farther S.

Description:
Dunk is a sizeable island, roughly triangular in shape and 4 mls long. Most of it is national park and its steep slopes, up to the highest point at Mount Kootaloo (890 ft), are covered in dense lush tropical rainforest. Rather incongruously, though, the area behind the resort is occupied by a farm and boasts rolling meadowland and well-spaced mature gum trees. The island has 8 mls of walking tracks, but take your waterproof boots _ vast amounts of rain fall here. It is home to hundreds of species of birds, lots of butterflies and a fair few lizards. It has an artists' colony and is famous for being the former home of EJ Banfield, writer of the "Beachcomber" books about his life on Dunk. His grave is on the island.

Suitability:
Middlemarket couples, families, honeymooners and rainforest fans prepared to accept the rain with the forest. It sits in Australia's wettest area: umbrellas are provided at every corner in resort.

Accommodation:
Only 1 resort hotel offering 4 different types and qualities of accommodation.

Shopping:
Mainly hotel's boutique, strong on branded goods. Also health products, oils and creams from small spa shop.

Beach:
Several beaches of fine golden brown sand including Brammo Bay Beach right in front of hotel and Pallon Beach just a few yards away, across a narrow spit of land by the water-sports centre. Muggy Muggy and Coconut Beaches are found off the hiking tracks. Water is very shallow and does have some weed.

Entertainments:
Daytime: archery, 9-hole golf course, squash, tennis, volleyball and horse riding; on water, catamarans, paddle skis, windsurfing, fishing, snorkelling, scuba diving, jet-skis, parasailing, water-skiing, wake-boarding, speedboat-towed rides, motor dinghies and guided kayak tours; guided rainforest walks; mountain bike tours. Nightlife: live entertainment most evenings; increases in peak season.

Eating:
Limited to hotel's main restaurant, which is a la carte except on Mediterranean and seafood buffet nights.

Public-transport:
Daily flights from Cairns. Water taxis from Mission Beach or Clump Point on mainland. Nothing on island.

Local-excursions:
Various boat trips: Brook Islands for beach visit and snorkelling; outer reef for scuba diving or snorkelling; Family Islands; sunset sail; outer reef by glass-bottomed boat or semisubmersible; game and deep-sea fishing.