Quick Answer: Is Dunk Island Open in 2026?

Dunk Island is welcoming visitors again, and for the first time in more than a decade, a new accommodation offering is available for guests - but it's not the resort.

What has opened is a new visitor experience centreed around The Sand Spit campground, including fully furnished Beachfront Eco Tents, Restaurant and daily scheduled ferry service operating Wednesday to Sunday from Mission Beach.

What this means for a 2026 visit:

• Ferry: the new official Dunk Island Ferry runs daily from Mission Beach Wednesday to Sunday.
• Eco Tents: Beachfront Eco Tents are available from Wednesday to Sunday each week.
• Campsites: six Bayside Campsites operate year-round, BYO setup.
• Restaurant: the jetty-side restaurant is open Wednesday to Sunday.
• Day trips: open every day the ferry runs.
• Resort: the former resort is not rebuilt yet — that's a longer program.
• Aerodrome: closed until further notice.

The Dunk Island Story: From Yasi to Today

To understand the 2026 reopening here is a brief version of the 15-year gap.

3 February 2011. Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasi crossed the coast at Mission Beach as a Category 5 system. The Dunk Island Resort took a direct hit. Buildings, infrastructure and vegetation were devastated. The resort closed and never reopened in its prior form. Bureau of Meteorology records on Yasi remain the clearest reference on the event's scale.

2011 to 2021. A series of ownership changes and stalled redevelopment plans. The island continued as a National Park-adjacent visitor destination — accessible, but with no overnight tourism operation of substance.

2022 to 2025. Annie Cannon-Brookes acquired the Dunk Island resort. Dunk Island Group was established to operate the island including the Council-owned campground at The Spit. Vegetative restoration and amenities refurbishment began alongside the construction of a brand new beachfront restaurant. Power, water, sewage and communications were restored.

1 April 2026. Overnight guest stays in the new Beachfront Eco Tents commenced. The relaunched jetty-side restaurant and the official Dunk Island Ferry came online. This is the moment "Dunk Island after Cyclone Yasi" stopped being a story about absence and became one about a working island again.

The ownership matters less than the operation. The team running Dunk Island today are island-based, and the focus is steady rather than spectacular: a quietly competent reopening, in stages, that can be sustained.

What's Open Now (April 2026 Onwards)

Here's the operational picture as of April 2026, in the order you'll likely use them.

The official Dunk Island Ferry

The new official Dunk Island ferry launch runs twice daily Wednesday to Sunday from Mission Beach to Dunk Island. Crossings take roughly 20 minutes. The vessel is custom-fitted for the route, with capacity sized to the island's overnight and day-visitor numbers.

There are adult, child and pensioner tickets — confirm current pricing when you book, as fares may vary at certain times. A free shuttle from Mission Beach to the boat ramp is available for booked guests without a car.

For transfer times and the latest schedule, see the Mission Beach ferry to Dunk Island guide.

Beachfront Eco Tents

The Beachfront Eco Tents are the headline new accommodation. They sit just back from the beach in the lee of the rainforest, complete with linen, furnishings, and a private deck. They trade Wednesday to Sunday from 1 April onwards — closed Monday and Tuesday by design, to give the team operational rhythm and the island a couple of quiet days each week.

There are multiple tent configurations to suit couples and small families. See current availability and configurations on Beachfront Eco Tents and Bayside Campsites.

Bayside Campsites

Six refurbished Bayside Campsites operate year-round. They're popular for those who prefer to BYO tent, BYO bedding — with shared amenities (toilets, cold showers, sheltered cooking area, water tap) have all been refreshed and the restaurant is open Wednesday to Sunday. Generators and open fires are not permitted to protect the environment. This is genuine camping in a Family Islands National Park setting, not glamping.

For those who love the rustic connection of camping but don't want the hassle of packing, Dunk Island presents options for a pre-set campsite, complete with tent and the option of bedding or even a fishing rod and catering packs.

If you've camped on Dunk Island before, the spirit is the same; if you haven't, expect quiet, dark nights, easterly trade winds and a soundtrack of surf and rainforest.

The jetty-side restaurant

The new Dunk Island restaurant is open at the jetty end of the beach. It's the social heart of the operation: walk-in for day visitors arriving on the ferry, casual lunch and early-evening dining for overnight guests. The menu reflects the Cassowary Coast — casual and deliberately unfancy.

Trading days are Wednesday to Sunday aligning with the ferry schedule, and offering dinner service by reservation. Check current opening days on the jetty-side restaurant page before your visit.

BBQ and picnic area

A shared BBQ and picnic area near the beach gives campers and day visitors a place to cook and eat. Free electric BBQs and rubbish bins are provided — leave-no-trace applies.

Walking trails and wildlife

Mt Kootaloo, the Island Circuit, Coconut Beach and Muggy Muggy Beach are all open and clearly signed. See activities, hikes and wildlife on the island for the current trail map and what you can expect to see along each route.

How to Visit Dunk Island in 2026

Three realistic ways to experience the island this year:

Day trip from Mission Beach

Book the early ferry, take the Mt Kootaloo summit walk (7 km return, around two to three hours) or the gentler Muggy Muggy circuit, eat at the restaurant, swim, and catch the afternoon return. Possible from April to December (Wednesday to Sunday). Best from May to October.

Beachfront Eco Tent stay

Book Wednesday-to-Sunday nights from April onwards. Two to three nights is a sensible stretch — long enough to slow down, short enough to stay connected and energised to return.

Bayside Camping

Book a campsite, bring your kit, and stay any time of year. Cheaper, more rustic, and the way many returning visitors prefer to experience the island.

Consider the Dunk Island seasons and the best time to visit — May to October is the peak period.

Respecting the Island as it Returns

Dunk Island sits within the Family Islands National Park, and the broader rainforest belt around Mission Beach is among the most ecologically significant landscapes in Australia. A few principles guide how the island operates today, and how guests are asked to behave:

• Traditional ownership. Dunk Island is traditionally known as Coonanglebah, "Island of Peace and Plenty" to the Djiru People. The Djiru are the Traditional Custodians of the land and sea, and the island operates with respect to that custodianship.
• National Park rules apply. No dogs or other domestic animals. No drones without permits. No taking shells, coral, sand or plant material. Stay on marked tracks.
• Cassowaries are real, and they're protected. You won't see one on Dunk Island itself, but you may on the Mission Beach mainland — give them space, never feed them, drive slowly.
• Leave no trace. Pack out what you bring in. Use the bins provided.

This is a recovering ecosystem on a small island with limited capacity. Visit gently so the island can thrive for the people coming after you.

FAQs

Is Dunk Island open in 2026?

Yes. Dunk Island is open in 2026. Day trips, Beachfront Eco Tent stays and year-round Bayside Campsites are all available. The official ferry from Mission Beach is operating Wednesday to Sunday.

When did Dunk Island reopen?

Dunk Island officially reopened to overnight guests on 1 April 2026, with the launch of the Beachfront Eco Tents, the relaunched jetty-side restaurant and the official Dunk Island Ferry.

Who owns Dunk Island now?

Dunk Island Group is owned by Annie Cannon-Brookes. The island resort was acquired in 2022 followed by a thirty year lease with Cassowary Coast Regional Council to develop and operate The Spit. A multi-year restoration continues.

Is the Dunk Island resort open again?

No. The pre-2011 Dunk Island Resort has not been rebuilt and there is no firm public date for any revitalisation programme. The 2026 reopening centres on low-impact experiences including Beachfront Eco Tents, Bayside campsites and the Dunk Island Restaurant.

How do you get to Dunk Island in 2026?

You get to Dunk Island via the official Dunk Island Ferry from Mission Beach. The crossing takes around 20 minutes. The island's aerodrome is currently closed, so air access is not available.

Can you stay overnight on Dunk Island?

Yes. You can stay overnight on Dunk Island in one of the Beachfront Eco Tents (Wednesday to Sunday from April onwards) or at one of the six Bayside Campsites (year-round, BYO setup or book a pre-set campsite complete with tent and beds).

What happened to Dunk Island after Cyclone Yasi?

Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasi crossed the coast on 3 February 2011 and destroyed the Dunk Island Resort. The island closed to overnight tourism. After a series of ownership changes, Annie Cannon-Brookes acquired the island resort in 2022 commenced a considered revitalisation programme. In the meantime Dunk Island Group has developed a boutique island eco experience at The Spit incorporating overnight accommodation, restaurant and ferry service, re-introducing the island as a tourism destination.

Is there a restaurant on Dunk Island?

Yes. The relaunched jetty-side dunk island restaurant is open on seasonal trading days, serving day visitors and overnight guests. Check the current opening days before your visit.

Plan a Visit

If you're ready to rediscover Dunk Island, the next step is to book a ferry seat. Check current availability on the Mission Beach ferry to Dunk Island, then choose between a day trip, a Beachfront Eco Tent stay or a Bayside Campsite via the Beachfront Eco Tents and Bayside Campsites page.

For event enquiries — small weddings, retreats, corporate days — see Groups and events. Anything else, the frequently asked questions page has the current operational detail or feel free to contact a friendly team member on 0480 090 210.

After 15 years, the island is spreading its wings and we invite you to experience it with us.