We took a drive to Mission Beach with our friends Peter and Judy. It’s a pleasant enough spot, although perhaps a little busier than we typically prefer. The main attraction, besides the beach itself, seemed to be the giant cassowary statue.

The towering Cassowary statue looms over the entrance to the Mission Beach shopping village. A slightly surreal welcome.
The towering Cassowary statue looms over the entrance to the Mission Beach shopping village. A slightly surreal welcome.

Peter and Judy were kind enough to take a few photos of us posing beneath this monumental avian representation.

We braved the crowds at Mission Beach for a quick photo op with the famous cassowary statue.
We braved the crowds at Mission Beach for a quick photo op with the famous cassowary statue.

While it was amusing to see, we found ourselves much more appreciative of the quieter ambience Kurrimine Beach offered. Perhaps we are becoming increasingly reclusive in our retirement.

The tropical foliage in this area is certainly something to behold, even for those of us from a comparatively temperate Western Australia.

Tropical foliage thrives in the Mission Beach climate, boasting a vibrant array of colours and textures.
Tropical foliage thrives in the Mission Beach climate, boasting a vibrant array of colours and textures.

The colours are remarkably vibrant.

Ultimately, we were quite pleased with our decision to secure a campsite at Kurrimine Beach. The relative peace and quiet were a welcome change of pace. Some prefer the hustle and bustle, but we are quite happy to enjoy a slower tempo.