There are 148 rooms in four styles of accommodation - Luxury Bayview Villas, deluxe Beachfront Units, and secluded Garden Cabanas and Banfield Units offering excellent garden views.
Dunk is also ideal for families, with a superb "Kids Club" that operates all day - every day, thus giving parents plenty of quality time for themselves.
Free activities at Dunk include tennis, sailing, golf, bushwalking, squash, volleyball, wind surfing, and archery, to name a few!
The resort itself is on the north west of the island overlooking Brammo Bay, and bordered on three sides by tropical rainforest.
Dining & Beverages
Dining on Dunk Island Resort is an experience as varied as you can imagine - from casual meals and drinks to superb a-la-carte cuisine and fine wines.
- Beachcomber Restaurant: Experience modern Australian cuisine with tropical flair. The Beachcomber Restaurant overlooks magnificent Brammo Bay in the main Plantation House. Open for breakfast from 7.00am to 10.00am (with a champagne brunch every Sunday until 11.00am) and from dinner from 6.00pm until 10.00pm. Reservations are required in the evening.
- EJ's on the Deck: Set on a balcony overlooking the Plantation Pool and Brammo Bay, EJ's on the Deck offers al-fresco dining at its best. Enjoy up-tempo Australian cuisine with an Asian flair, or have a relaxing coffee accompanied by a selection of cakes and gateax from our pastry counter. Open daily from 10.00am until 10.00pm.
- BB's on the Beach: Dunk Island's Bar and Bistro overlooks the main beach arrival area and wharf, and is the perfect place for both Dunk Island guests and day guests to the island. It is best visited barefoot to enjoy its casual beachfront "sand as the floor" atmosphere! Enjoy a freshly cooked breakfast, light lunch, or snack between beach activities. Also reknowned for its great range of Australian and international beers, wines and spirits, it is also a haven for visiting yachties!
- Plantation Bar: A delightful spot to relax and watch the sunset or listen to the live entertainment nightly. The Plantation Bar is open daily from 10.00am until 1.00am with an expresso coffee, a tropical cocktail or a great range of beers and spirits. Also available in the Plantation Bar for guests are pool tables and assorted games.
- Pool Bar: Located by the Cascade Pool, the Pool Bar is open from 10.00am until 4.00pm every day (weather permitting). An assortment of sandwiches, rolls and light lunches are available as well as a complete range of drinks to enjoy besides the pool.
- Picnics: A good way to explore Dunk Island is to take a picnic lunch and make it a full day. Orders can be placed at the Beachcomber Restaurant by 9.00pm on the night prior to your picnic the next day. Dinghies can also be hired so you can visit one of the deserted beaches for a memorable picnic!
- Special Occasions and Celebrations: With 24 hours notice a special touch can be added to special occasions with a surprise birthday cake or a romantic, intimate dinner for two by the pool, or on the beach. We've had some unusual requests, and could even come up with a few novel ideas for you.
Accommodation:
- Bayview Suites: 24 units in 2 storey luxury blocks of split level accommodation situated right on the beachfront. The villas are suitable for 1-3 people, as interconnecting rooms are not available. Private facilities include a Queen size bed, air-conditioning, ceiling fan, television, in-house movies, clock radio, hairdryer, ISD/STD telephone, fridge with mini bar, tea/coffee making facilities, umbrellas, shower and large triangular bath, balcony/patio, writing desk and ironing board. Daily room service. Separate laundry facilities are also available nearby with washing and drying facilities.
- Beach Front Units: 50 units overlooking Brammo Bay and set amongst palm trees just back from the beach in 2 storey blocks of split level accommodation. These units are suitable for 1-4 people and 32 interconnecting rooms are available. Private facilities include Queen size bed, hairdryer, air-conditioning, ceiling fan, television, in-house movies, clock radio, ISD/STD telephone, fridge with mini bar, tea/coffee making facilities, umbrellas, shower, patio, iron and ironing board. Daily room service. Separate nearby laundry facilities.
- Garden Cabanas: 36 single level units set in private lush gardens in groups of 4. The Cabanas are suitable for 1-4 people and interconnecting rooms are not available. Private facilities include a Queen size bed, single beds, air-conditioning, television, in-house movies, clock radio, ISD/STD telephone, fridge with mini bar, tea/coffee making facilities, umbrellas, shower, patio, iron and ironing board. Daily room service. Separate laundry facilities.
- Banfield Units: 38 units in 2 storey blocks of units located in a tranquil garden setting. These units are suitable for 1-5 people and 18 interconnecting rooms are available. Upstairs units are 1-3 share only with private balcony. Downstairs units feature a main room and a second separate smaller bedroom with twin beds, for 1-5 person share.
All units feature private facilities which include a Queen size bed and single beds, air-conditioning, television, in-house movies, clock radio, ISD/STD telephone, fridge with mini bar, tea/coffee making facilities, umbrellas, shower, balcony/patio, iron and ironing board and separate laundry facilities. Daily room service.
Activities
Free activities include hobie catamaran sailing, sailboards/windsurfing, kayaking, snorkelling, fishing (a small fee applies for bait), archery, basketball, board games, table tennis, coconut de-husking, cricket, garden and bush walks, indoor bowls, day and night golf on an excellent 6 hole golf course, (a small fee applies for golf balls and tees).
Racquetball and squash with two superb professional courts available, 4 outdoor full size tennis courts (3 floodlit) and a full size indoor court, football, volleyball, aerobics, aqua aerobics, fully equipped gymnasium and two full size swimming pools.
The beautiful Cascade Pool, complete with large spa and waterfalls, is for Dunk Island Resort guests only, whilst the Plantation Pool situated right beside the beach overlooking Brammo Bay and the main guest area, is shared by both guests and day visitors to the resort.
Optional Activities
Of particular mention and value is the full circle island eco-discovery jet ski trip. A maximum of three jet skis are escorted on a circumnavigation of Dunk island by sea, exploring all the island's nooks and crannies, stopping on deserted beaches and learning all about the history and ecology of the island.
This tour is always heavily booked and it is strongly recommended to pre-book it prior to arrival, as due to the environmental sensitivity of the excursion numbers are strictly limited. Duration is 3 hours and each Jet Ski can take two persons. Price available on application.
- Birdwatching
More than 150 different bird species have been sighted on Dunk Island nearby Purtaboi Island. Binoculars and bird lists are available for the serious bird watcher. The resort also provides full maps and information on the bushwalking tracks where the birds are found.
- Boat Trips And Diving On The Outer Barrier Reef
There are currently 4 main boats that depart from Dunk Island, and travel to waters surrounding Dunk Island and the Great Barrier Reef. Guests may experience the thrill of snorkelling, diving or deep sea fishing in the world heritage nature park that is Australia's Great Barrier Reef.
- Neptunius: A 52 footer that
departs daily with different duration trips to local surrounding
waters or the Outer Great Barrier Reef.
- Brook Islands Sail: Departs at 8.30am and takes you to the beautiful Brook Islands for a day of snorkelling, fish feeding and exploring. The trip includes a beautiful lunch on a deserted beach.
- Outer Barrier Reef Sail: Departs at 8.30 and returns at 5.00pm, taking you to Beaver Cay on the Outer Reef for a sensational day of snorkelling and diving.
- Family Islands Day Sail: Departs at 9.45am and takes guest around the beautiful Family Islands surrounding Dunk.
- Sunset Sail: The Neptunius departs 4 nights a week at 4.30pm for a two-hour sunset champagne sail around Dunk Island. Not to be missed!
- Hooker: Combines as a game fishing and diving boat which travels to the Great Barrier Reef daily departing at 9.00am and returning at 5.00pm. The trip includes snorkelling, fishing glass bottom boat and lunch with the option of diving as an extra cost.
- Dunk Island Deep Sea Fishing Charters: Local fisherman, Alister Pyke conducts half-day deep sea fishing expeditions around the local island each day with a minimum of 4 persons. Trips depart at 7.00am and include morning tea and all fishing equipment.
The Dunk Island annual Billfish classic - a 6kg line event and one of Australia's deepwater game-fishing classics - is held in September each year.
- Quickcat: A reef trip that departs every day of the week, except Sunday, at 11.30am and arrives back at Dunk at 4.30pm. The trip takes guests to the secluded Beaver Cay Barrier Reef region for a day of snorkelling, glass bottom boat or semi submersible coral viewing, or diving at extra cost.
- Bruce Arthur's Artist Colony
For a special souvenir, or just a glimpse of an idyllic lifestyle, guests may visit Bruce Arthur's Artist Colony and view pottery, screen printing and weaving. The Colony is open on Thursday and Sunday from 10am to 1pm and a small charge is applicable for the guided walk and entry to the Colony.
- Coonangelbah Farm
Dunk Island has its own 160-acre farm just a pleasant 15 minute walk across the golf course. Horse trail rides departing from the farm are an exciting way to discover both the rainforest and also a special rainforest and beach ride are available for guest's 11 years and over. The farm also provides guests with a taste of Australian style country life. Price available on application.
- Dive Certification
Guests can obtain their PADI open water diving certification with QuickCat during their stay at Dunk Island Resort. Guests however must have a Diving Medical Certificate with them on arrival and two passport photographs.
The course takes 4 full days, and involves two days of pool and theory and two days of open water qualifying dives. Prices available on application.
- Dunk Island Kids Club
Dunk Island's Kids Club cost is included in the accommodation tariff. Operating as a licenced occasional care facility, Kids Club provides professional care and activities for children aged from 3 to 14 years. Current charge is A$1 per year of age.
Operating times for the Kids Club are currently from 8.30am until 11.30am and from 4.30pm until 8.30pm. Dinner is provided with the evening Kids Club session., and is currently served from 5.30pm until 6.30pm.
A special "teenage club" for older children is currently available during Australian school holiday periods. The teenage Club provides supervised older activities such as disco, paddle ski races, fishing, movies, bushwalking excursions, golf and archery competitions etc.
Babysitting is available and prices are available on application. These costs are subject to change without notice.
- Entertainment
Dunk Island Resort features nightly live music in the main Plantation House lounge. Ideal for both pleasant dinner music and relaxing after dinner drinks at the bar. Every Sunday, weather permitting, live music is usually played poolside adjacent to the Plantation House for a relaxing Sunday brunch.
- Walking Trails/Nature Walks
Dunk Island has a multitude of beautiful walking trails which are clearly marked for your enjoyment. To ensure walking is safe and enjoyable, always walk with a partner and set out and return to the resort well before dark. Sensible walking shoes, preferably light hiking boots, sensible light protective clothing, and supplies of water and fruit are also a good idea to use on bush walks.
- About Dunk Island
With three quarters of the island designated as a National Park, the dense rainforest is home to a huge variety of native flora and fauna, including 150 species of birds, and the beautiful electric blue Ulysses butterfly (the island's famous symbol). With a wingspan of up to 10 centimetres, making it one of the largest butterflies in Australia, and definitely the most beautiful.Located in the World Heritage listed Wet Tropics region of Queensland, the climate is typically tropical with a pronounced wet season from late December to mid April that sustains the island's lush vegetation and wildlife.
The wet season is traditionally characterised by frequent heavy showers, interspersed with long periods of sunshine. Humidity is the major weather factor in the wet season, making this time of year ideal for Pina Coladas on the beach!
Dunk is only one of a handful of tropical rainforest islands close to the Great Barrier Reef, and is internationally acclaimed for its spectacular game fishing waters and unequalled beauty.
Transfers And Access to Dunk Island
Mission Beach is just a short 2 hour drive (approx. 160klm) from Cairns or a leisurely 3 hour drive (approx. 230klm) from Port Douglas, and a 15 minute (7 klm) boat transfer from Mission Beach to the Island. Because of its easy access to the mainland it is rated as the most ideal island resort in the Great Barrier Reef region to combine with your land based vacation accommodation. You get to Dunk Island by air or by water transfer:
- By Air: Dunk is one of the very few Great Barrier Reef islands that has its own fully surfaced airstrip and is serviced by Trans State Airlines with three return flights a day from Cairns using Twin Otter aircraft. Flight time from Cairns is approximately 30 minutes.
Airfares are usually incorporated into overall passenger's airfare cost from Capital City of departure, e.g. Sydney/Brisbane etc. Note that special deep discount "Discover Australia" airfares usually apply for overseas visitors when the Dunk island sector of the airfare is included as part of the passengers overall airfare itinerary.
- By Water: Dunk is serviced by
both fast water taxi boats and the larger ferry MV Lawrence Kavanagh.
- The MV Lawrence Kavanagh provides a relaxed 6klm per hour traditional ferry transfer that leaves and departs from an established wharf at Clump Point and at Dunk island, so guests can board in comfort without having to get their feet wet!
- Dunk Island Express Water Taxis currently leave Wongaling Beach (Main Mission Beach area) at 8.00am, 9.00am, 10.00am, 11.00am, 12.30pm, 2.00pm, and 4.30pm. Departure from Dunk is at 8.30am, 9,30am, 10.30am, 11.30am, 1.00pm, 3.00pm and 5.00pm. Cost is currently A$24 per person return from Wongaling Beach to Dunk or vice versa. Note you will be required to wade out to board the water taxi, so shorts or casual clothing is highly recommended for this transfer option!