Home to Mission Beach

On Saturday I came home from a month in Victoria visiting family and friends. You don't know how great it was to come home to Mission Beach, not that I didn't enjoy spending time with everyone, but a month is a long time away. So I'm here to tell you that whether your a local coming back or a visitor to our town, enjoy Mission Beach because it really is a special place!

Questions...

Working at the Mission Beach Information Station you obviously get asked a lot of questions! Some are strange, some different, but some just down right impossible to answer! Yesterday it was raining for most of the day, and unhappy people kept walking in and asking me when it was going to stop!!!! Hilarious. I was tempted to give them all different times during the day, but was scared I would get lynched if my predictions were wrong....anyway the answer is, I have no idea when this rain will stop!!!!

Alligators

Yesterday the weather was horrible and we were sitting at home with nothing to do but still we decided to go for a drive out to Alligators Nest , one of the many local swimming holes. We had a ball !!! So next time your in Mission Beach why not go for a drive out there . .

Boxing Day

What a shame for all the people who wanted to go from Mission Beach to Dunk Island for Boxing Day. It rained all day. The sky was dark and there was no way it was going to clear up. So everyone must have changed their plans. I am sure everyone managed to amuse themselves with more food and alcohol....I know I did and feeling more than a bit sleepy today. Roll on the New Year for more fun and games! (hopefully not more rain though!)

Beaches 4

This is a Ray White Holiday Rental. Sleeping 6, beachfront at Wongaling Beach with shared pool facilities.

Haba Dive and Snorkel

Cruise out to the Great Barrier Reef onboard Evolution. The day is yours to snorkel, dive or simply relax on the Outer Barrier Reef.

Hot hot hot!!

Well, all I can say is that it is very hot here in Mission Beach. The sun is beating down on us with temperatures of up to 35 degrees! All I want to do is go for a swim in the sea but as it is stinger season I will not being doing that unless I wear my stinger suit...There are two stinger nets at North and South Mission so we can enjoy the sea a little bit. Just wish we had a swimming pool, that would be a real luxury at this time of year. Better start saving for next Christmas....

Christmas time

I always think that Christmas really is the time for children. I know we all look forward to Christmas, but as you get older I am sure it is just because you are getting some time off, bah humbug!! No seriously, I can remember the excitement on Christmas Eve. You never thought that you would get to sleep, but you always did and Santa had always been!!! I think I would have that excitement again if I had my own children. Seeing there faces opening their presents would be cool. So yeah, I like to think of the children at Christmas time while I relax and have some time off...

Christmas in Oz..

I am English, but living in Australia. Christmas is so different here to the UK. The main difference is obviously the weather. I spoke with my Mum the other day, and they are experiencing minus temperatures even during the day! The other big difference is the hype. In England Christmas shopping starts as early as September for some people. The shops are open all hours and it is chaos! Things sell out, people get very moody and angry if they can't have everything they want. People get into terrible debt, trying buy their kids far too much. It is so sad really. I often think that as the weather is so miserable for such a big part of the year, maybe Christmas is something to look forward to. But when you go so mad over something, you can guarantee that you are always going to feel disappointed. Here in Australia, this is my 3rd Christmas and I love the way it is so much more relaxed. Sure everyone wants nice food and the shops are busier, but there is not that sheer panic that the shops will be closed for a whole day!! Anyway I intend to do nothing here at chilled out Mission Beach except spend time with the people I like and have a drink or two.....

Down Under Tours - Kuranda, Train and Skyrail

Fabulous trip combining the scenic rail, Kuranda Village and skyrail.

Christmas shopping...

Got up at 6.00am to go to Cairns Christmas shopping! Ahhhhh! Avoid it at all costs. We were lured into a false sense of security as we arrived just when the shops were opening. All seemed pretty calm and we were taking our time picking lovely food for the Christmas period, then all of a sudden there were people everywhere unable to control their shopping trolleys, kids screaming, massive queues at the checkouts! I was right let's get out of here asap!! I was so glad when we finally got home to lovely chilled Mission Beach....

Christmas presents..

Are you stuck for presents, got that friend who has everything? Why not book them a 14,000ft sky-dive!!! You can't get that in K-Mart! Come in and see us at the Mission Beach Information Station, and we can do you a voucher. A present with a difference for all those Dads out there who have millions of hankies and socks!

Christmas in 5 days!!

I just can't believe that it is Christmas in 5 days. We moved to Mission Beach on the 22nd December last year, and what a year it has been. New jobs, new friends, new climate..and it's all good! I just can't believe that a whole year has passed. I can remember when I first got here and everything was so strange and so new. But in 12 months I am happily settled and enjoying the wonders of life in Mission Beach...

Speeding!!!

I am 35 years old, and I have never been caught speeding in my life.....until last Saturday. I was stopped in Mission Beach, and was going 10km over the limit. I really was ashamed, but I think it was a good thing that I was stopped and even fined. It keeps you in check again. I am now keeping a beady eye on my speedo. I do not want to go through that again!!!!

We break up!!!!!

Yipee!!! It's the last day of school for all the kids now in Mission Beach!!! I am 35 now but I can still remember that beautiful feeling on the last day of school. We used to take in games and the teachers used to even chill out a bit. Everyone was caught up in the excitement of the holidays starting, especially at Christmas....only 11 days to go, YAY!!!!!

Vodaphone!!!!

If there are any English backpackers reading this, please know that Vodaphone does not work in Mission Beach. If you are making plans to come here, please try an alternative. There is nothing more annoying than losing signal on you phone for a few days when all you want to do is text all your mates to tell them that you have just done a sky-dive from 14,000ft on to the beach!!!!

School Holidays at Last

I have finally finished school for the year !! I have spent a couple of days helping my mum out at the Mission Beach primary school as their holidays don't start until friday. Being back at the primary school has reminded me of how much fun it used to be, especially at this time of year with Christmas concert preparations ! =)

On the Wallaby

A value packed day exploring the Rainforest Volcanic Crater Lakes and swimming at spectacular waterfalls of the cool tropical tablelands.

Down Under Tours - Rainforest, Waterfalls & Paronella Park

Enjoy a full day out taking in the Cairns Highlands, waterfalls, rainforest and Paronella Park.

Christmas in under three weeks!!

Christmas always creeps up on us and before we know it we are all running around shopping for presents and food!! As I am from England, I have had to send all my Christmas presents early so they got there on time. So as I am living in Mission Beach, for the first Christmas ever I am organised!!! No last minute shopping for me on Christmas Eve...what a great feeling, this will be the most relaxing Christmas I have ever had...although I will miss my family and friends! 18 days to go!!!!

Stormy Mission Beach

Well it has been so exciting in Mission Beach this last week!! We have had two big storms in the last few days, and I have never heard thunder like it in my life! Nor have I seen Hail stones that big....I was a little bit scared when all the power went off at home and we heard a tree crack and break off. That said it was all very exciting too. We sat on our deck and watched all the rain coming down, and the sky being lit up with the lightning!! The downfall is that when the power goes off, it can stuff you up work wise! Especially if you write websites for a living....