Big Cassowary

We drove all the way from Melbourne to see this beautiful creature !!! It’s definitely a MUSTT SEE !! Wauw, speechless. 12/10🫨🌟

Not much right there. Just stopped for a coffee there. Was nice. 🙌🏻 don’t miss to drive around Mission beach was very nice atmosphere.

The “Big Cassowary” is a statue near the Wongaling Beach Shopping Centre. Well worth visiting if you are in the area, but, there are lots of opportunities in the area to see real, live cassowaries.
We recently returned from a few days stay at Wongaling Beach between Mission Beach and South Mission Beach. What a beautiful place to stay or even visit for a day if you live in the area.
Accommodation was scarce, the Caravan Parks at each of the beaches were fully booked out (we don’t tow a caravan, but often stay in cabins in caravan parks, but not this time). We were lucky enough to rent a two bedroom, fully self-contained unit in a small complex of 3 units right across the road from the beach. Ours was the front unit so we were able to sit on the patio and watch the sun set in the evenings whilst enjoying a drink or we could walk across the road and sit on a bench seat enjoying the sights.
All accommodation places have Covid 19 Check-ins that must be scanned with the Check-in Queensland App.
Each morning and afternoon we walked a kilometre or so along the beach alternating the direction we walked (to the north towards Mission Beach or the south towards South Mission Beach).
At other times during the day we would drive to the start of one of the many walking tracks and enjoy the scenery. The Licuala Track (through the Licuala Fan palm rainforest) is a reasonably easy walk and we were lucky enough to see a couple of cassowaries during this walk. Unfortunately it is not wheelchair friendly, but we met some fellow walkers who found the Children’s Walk in the same area easy going with a wheelchair. For those more energetic souls, the Licuala Track forms part of the Musgravia Trail so you can walk all the way from South Mission Beach to Mission Beach if you feel fit enough. The northern end of the track is called the Dreaming Trail. We drove to Mission Beach and completed the Lacey Creek Walk which is on the northern side of Mission Beach Road. An easy walk for an old fellow like me who has two artificial knees.
At the southern end of Wongaling Beach is a small shopping centre which has a Woolworths and a few other shops. Mission Beach has a Coles and several other shops including an information Centre and a great Fish and Chips shop.
From Wongaling Beach you can catch Water Taxi across to Dunk Island ($49 per adult for the return trip). The Taxi leaves Wongaling at 9am, 10am and 11am each day and has return times of 12noon and 3:30pm. The round trip costs $40 per adult and $20 for children from 4 – 14 years.
Dunk Island has a jetty, but the embarking and disembarking at Wongaling Beach means wading through the water from the beach to the boat and vice versa.
Several great walks on Dunk Island. The walk to the top of Mt Kootaloo is recommended for fit walkers – we started the climb, but it was too steep for my knees with the unevenness of the actual track.

It's a very big Cassowary. It compares favourably to other big things on this stretch of the coast. It is taller and more impressive than both the Big Gumboot in Tully and the Big Crab in Cardwell but alas not as well maintained as those two. With a fresh lick of paint, the Big Cassowary would hold its own with any big thing on Australia.

Such an iconic bird, wonderful to see him larger than life

Not too big, but fun. Love an Aussie “big” thing.

The Big Cassowary. Another big thing ticked off the bucket list. Certainly worth the trip from Newcastle to Missionary Beach to see and didn't disappoint. Have a coffee in the nearby cafe and a walk along South Missionary Beach. To spot the real breathing Cassowary in nature drive a further 30 mins up the highway to Etty Bay Beach. There you will find some tame Cassowaries strolling on the beach and walking through the caravan park. Great place to see up close and take pictures. They can look a little intimidating at first but be cautious especially if you have food items in your hands.

We failed to find photographic evidence of a real Cassowary while in Mission Beach but we stumbled upon this guy in the middle of town as suitable substitute 🤣

This is near a small shopping complex!

“Jonique Life”
Follow our journey around Australia on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube as we highlight wonderful experiences and magical places you can add to your ever growing bucket list.

Very nice 👍

Abbie really whated see another places to go and swimming pools

Loved it - amazing! 😂

I mean there couldn’t be anything more iconic in the whole world then the big cassowary. While at the magical cassowary you may as well hop into thirsty cameral and great yourself to a cold one

I think 'Big Things' are great. I have spoken with people who have seen a cassowary, I would love to see one myself!!! (((They do exist, do they???)))

Mission beach fantastic, lots to see anx do cafeys , art, pub,

Probably the most iconic landmark in Queensland.

Iconic place to take some photos!

It's a Big Cassowary

We saw a big bird

Good tourist attraction

It's big and it's a cassowary.