Mission Beach (09.- 11.12.2018)

We took the Greyhound Bus from Cairns to Mission Beach, which took us about two hours. Fate took its course when we arrived at the bus stop...

First, we realized too late that our hostel has a shuttle that could have taken us to the hostel (there was no mention of it before). However, the distance was not too far and we walked for about half an hour. So still manageable. Then it started pouring rain. A storm is currently hitting the coast and it is expected to last for another week. It is raining heavily, as if there is no tomorrow. Welcome to the tropics and the rainy season! After the heaviest downpour, Ben and I decided to go out and explore the area. We walked along the beach and saw the extent of the damage caused by the storm. Branches were falling everywhere, leaves were blowing around, and even the power lines in Mission Beach were damaged. But when we tried to continue walking, we couldn't get far. A small river blocked the beach path to Mission Beach (we are staying in a hostel in Wongaling Beach, south of Mission Beach). It was small, but we were cautious because of the sources and the crocodile danger in the area, so we turned back. Then another heavy rain shower came over us. But we were able to wait out the rain in a supermarket. We were a bit wet when we returned to the hostel, but we spent the evening there.

The next day, we checked the weather forecast and took advantage of the rain break from 9 am to 4 pm to quickly get to Mission Beach. Luckily, there was also a shuttle going there, although we had to transfer during the approximately 10-minute car ride. But eventually we arrived in Mission Beach. Mission Beach is small and not really worth seeing after the storm. We walked along the beach to a viewpoint called Clump Point Lookout. The view was nice, despite the gray sky and limited visibility. Then we walked around Mission Beach, reading translated information boards and going in and out of various places. The power is currently being operated with generators here. It smelled and was very loud. We walked back on foot. We arrived more or less dry. We spent the last evening with further travel planning.