Mission Beach Islands

The Family Islands is group of islands just off the Queensland Coast and starting at Mission Beach and heading south. The Family Islands were given their English names by Captain Cook when he sailed through the area in 1770. The group is made up of 7 bigger islands and several smaller ones.

Dunk Island is by far the biggest island in the group and is known as the father of the Family Islands. Dunk Island has a large family resort, 9 hole golf course and camping ground and can accommodate day trippers.

A few small islands sit beside Dunk, Woln Garin to the south east (sometimes called 40ft rock), Kumboola Island (connects to Dunk at very low tides), and the tiny Mung-um-gnackum.

Bedarra Island (Richards Island) is considered the mother of the group. Bedarra has one of the most luxurious island resorts in Australia.

The rest of the Family Islands main 7 are the twin islands, Wheeler Island and Coomba Island and the triplets, Smith Island, Bowden Island and Hudson Island.

There are a few smaller islands that make up the Family Islands group like Thorpe Island, Battleship Rock and Mound Island which is a bird nesting habitat.

The Family Islands National Park is run by Queensland Parks and Wildlife and camping permits can be obtained for areas on the islands of Dunk, Coombe and Wheeler.