Bry Penfold: QuickCoast by Myroo Adventures launches Fast Cat ferry transfers to Dunk Island
A FNQ tour operator is starting a fast cat ferry service from Mission Beach to a tropical jewel on the Cassowary Coast and the business community is on board.
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A FNQ tour operator is launching ferry transfers from Mission Beach to an island paradise on the Cassowary Coast.
QuickCoast by Myroo Adventures is spearheading a return of services to the troubled Dunk Island with an inaugural departure from Clump Point Marina in Mission Beach on January 18.
It comes after nearly a year of no water access to the island due to the cessation of water taxi services in late 2021.
“I lived in Mission Beach back in the 90s with my aunt and I worked on the Quick Cat, a reef experience, and I used to go out to Dunk Island and out to the reef everyday,” Bry Penfold, owner and operations manager of QuickCoast by Myroo Adventures, said.
Back in its heyday, Dunk Island was “the jewel island of North Queensland” according to Mr Penfold, but damage due to cyclones in 2011 and a famous terminated lease with the Mayfair 101 group, who bought the island in 2019 with plans of revitalising it, were just some of the obstacles that came in the way of its survival as a tourist destination.
“It’s really sad, it never recovered,” Mr Penfold said.
“Mission Beach was so reliant on Dunk Island operating, but the community really misses this service, so it is not just for tourism.”
Seeing this as an ideal business opportunity, Mr Penfold moved from the UK to Australia and launched QuickCoast by Myroo Adventures in the end of March 2022.
“Boats is stage one of the business plan, stage two is a bus to support the boat from Cairns, taking people down to Mission Beach like in the 90s,” Mr Penfold said.
The company intends to fill in for cafes and establishments until more food and beverage options are open on the island, which Mr Penfold says “can’t happen soon enough”.
“The plan is to take the boat over, keep it tied up at the jetty so people can come on and have lunch and a barbecue and also access our fully licensed bar,” Mr Penfold said.
“What used to happen is people would go on walks, come back, have a cocktail, go for a swim and have a really nice afternoon after doing something healthy like hiking,” Mr Penfold said.
“There’s really good swimming, beautiful beaches, turtles and quite a bit of marine life. There is a campground at the spit, shelter and a BBQ area.”
Mr Penfold will be joined by Allie Chadburn, owner of What’s Up Cairns, who is bringing her paddleboard adventure tour business to Dunk Island.
“I tried to do this 12 years ago and am really excited to be providing this local service now with Bry,” Ms Chadburn said.
“On the island itself, there will be kayak and paddle board hires and paddleboarding tours will be held once a day, guided tour and lesson. Snorkel and stinger suit hires will be available as well and it is all happening in the spit.”
Amy Breen at Eco Village Resort Mission Beach said providing a ferry service to Dunk Island had been “a very necessary development”.
She said there had been regular inquiries about how to get to the island since the water taxi service ended.
“We provide accomodation in an eco friendly manner and our villas are in rainforest areas - free standing with ocean views. It has been a little bit quiet so we are happy with whatever we can give the guests,” Ms Breen said.
“To be able to provide that option and possibly packages, would make Mission Beach a great destination.”
A discount of 30 per cent will be available to Cassowary Coast residents and a 15 per cent
reciprocal arrangement will be available to all residents of Far North Queensland.
“It’s been a long road, but I’m a happy man,” Mr Penfold said.
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Originally published as Bry Penfold: QuickCoast by Myroo Adventures launches Fast Cat ferry transfers to Dunk Island
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