Four beaches, one island, and a happy decision to make the moment you step off the ferry.

The Dunk Island beaches are the reason most people make the crossing in the first place, and there is so much to enjoy here that a little planning goes a long way towards getting the most out of your day. By the end of this guide you will know all three beaches, how far each one is, how long the walk takes, what the swimming advice says, and which beach best fits the time you have.

Quick Answer: What Beaches Are on Dunk Island?

Dunk Island has four main beaches: Brammo Bay adjacent to the jetty where the ferry arrives, Muggy Muggy Beach, past Brammo Bay reached by an easy 3 km return track, Pallon Beach on the southern side of The Spit where the Eco Tents are located, and Coconut Beach, reached by a moderate 7.5 km return track located at the end of Pallon Beach.

• Brammo Bay is the arrival beach, a few steps from the jetty. No walking required.
• Muggy Muggy Beach is 3 km return on an easy graded track (entry at the end of Brammo Bay), around 70 minutes.
• Pallon Beach is a lovely stretch of sand on the southern side of The Spit. No walking required.
• Coconut Beach is 7.5 km return on a moderate track, around 2.5 hours.

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Brammo Bay: Where Does the Ferry Arrive on Dunk Island?

Brammo Bay is the beach at the jetty, and it is where the Dunk Island ferry from Clump Point Boat Ramp at Mission Beach lands after a crossing of approximately 20 minutes.

Brammo Bay is the default, and for a lot of visitors that is the right call. Everything shared sits within a short walk of the sand: the Dunk Island Restaurant at the end of the jetty, the picnic area with its free electric BBQs, and the island's shared amenities. The Bayside Campsites and the Beachfront Eco Tents are here too, so if you are staying the night this is your home beach.

All three beaches here have something great to offer. Brammo Bay gives you the easiest day with everything close at hand, while Muggy Muggy and Coconut Beach reward a walk with sand you will often have largely to yourself.

Muggy Muggy Beach: How Long Is the Walk?

Muggy Muggy Beach is a 3 km return walk from the jetty area on an easy graded track, taking roughly 70 minutes for the round trip.

The Muggy Muggy Beach track is the one to take if you have a few hours and want a beach to yourself. It runs through rainforest, coastal woodland and mangroves before dropping onto the sand, so the walk is a fair share of the appeal. More than 100 bird species have been recorded on Dunk Island, and orange-footed scrubfowl, Australian brush-turkey and the metallic blue Ulysses butterfly all turn up along shaded sections of track.

Muggy Muggy also has a film credit: it was used as a filming location for the film Sanctum.

For most day-trippers this is the sweet spot, far enough to feel like you have been somewhere, short enough to leave time for lunch before the ferry.

Coconut Beach: Is It Worth the Longer Walk?

Coconut Beach is a 7.5 km return walk graded moderate, taking around 2.5 hours, and it is the most rewarding walk on the island for anyone who likes to earn their sand.

The Coconut Beach track skirts the beach and follows the council esplanade past private property, with rocky sections and lovely mangrove views along the way. The distance is exactly why it stays the quietest of the four, so you will often have it to yourself.

There is a second way to reach it. The Island Circuit is 11 km return, around 4 hours, and takes you over the 271 m summit of Mount Kootaloo, down through Palm Valley to Coconut Beach, then back along the Coconut Beach track. That route also passes the ruins of the WWII radar station that operated on Mount Kootaloo from 1942 to 1945. If you want the full picture, read up on all four walking tracks before you choose, and check the QPWS things to do page for current track access.

Coconut Beach is made for overnight guests and keen walkers. If you are here for the day, take the morning ferry and it slots in beautifully, or save it for a stay and enjoy it at your own pace.

Can You Swim at Dunk Island Beaches?

You can swim and snorkel at Dunk Island beaches in the non-stinger season from May to October, and it's one of the best parts about Dunk Island. From November to April entry to the water with a stinger suit is advised.

Which Dunk Island Beach Should You Choose?

The best beach on Dunk Island depends almost entirely on how many hours you have between ferries.

Two things worth building your day around. The ferry runs twice daily according to a seasonal schedule, so pick your beach to suit the return service and you will never feel rushed. The restaurant, the Eco Tents and the ferry also take a break from January to March each year for island regeneration, with campsites staying open in that window for fully self-sufficient visitors. Check the timetable when you book the ferry.

If the water is the draw rather than the sand, fringing reefs surround parts of the island, and snorkelling at Dunk Island is worth reading before you pack.

FAQs About Dunk Island Beaches

How many beaches on Dunk Island are accessible via foot?

Dunk Island has four main beaches that can be reached on foot: Brammo Bay, Muggy Muggy Beach, Pallon Beach and Coconut Beach. Brammo Bay and Pallon Beach is adjacent to the jetty where the ferry arrives, while the other two are reached on foot via marked walking tracks.

How do you get to Muggy Muggy Beach?

You reach Muggy Muggy Beach on the Muggy Muggy Beach track, an easy graded walk of 3 km return that takes around 70 minutes. The track passes through rainforest, coastal woodland and mangroves.

Can you swim at Dunk Island?

You can swim at Dunk Island from May to October (outside of the stinger season).

Which Dunk Island beach is closest to the ferry?

Brammo Bay is the closest beach to the ferry, because the Dunk Island jetty sits on it. You can walk from the boat onto the sand without taking a walking track.

Are the Dunk Island beaches patrolled?

No, Dunk Island's beaches are not patrolled so it's important to remain within your fitness level and children should always be supervised by a responsible adult when swimming.

Can you snorkel from the beach at Dunk Island?

Fringing reefs surround parts of Dunk Island and the surrounding waters hold corals, reef fish, sea turtles and dugongs. For an immersive snorkelling experience local tour providers will take you to the best coral spots around Dunk Island by boat.

Plan Your Beach Day

Four beaches, all of them worth your time, and a plan you can make before you leave the mainland. Brammo Bay or Pallon Beach for an easy day with food and facilities close by, Muggy Muggy for 70 minutes of walking and a quiet stretch of sand at the end, Coconut Beach when you have the hours to spare. Whichever you choose, check the ferry days when you book so your walk fits the crossing home.