Flying Fish Tourist Park is in far north Queensland, and is about 7km from Innisfail in an area known as the Cassowary Coast. These amazing birds are huge and not to be argued with. I have only ever seen one from a distance, but that really was close enough for me!

1/9 

   

But, the area is not just a home for the Cassowary, it has a great many other attractions. First things first, you need somewhere to stay and the delightfully named Flying Fish Tourist Park is a great place to choose. This all tourist park has a range of on-site accommodation to suit couples and families, plus plenty of shady caravan sites. If you want to spend some time just lazing around the park, there is a salt water swimming pool, 9 hole mini golf, and a book library. If you have bought your boat with you there are two boat ramp areas to choose from with 2 or 3 minutes of the park.

As you would imagine with a name like Flying Fish, fishing is a major pastime in the area. The North and South Johnston Rivers, whose source is in the Atherton Tablelands, merge on the coastal plain at Innisfail. Since 1993 a fish stocking program has been going on in both rivers, with the result that there is now magnificent fishing, particularly for barramundi. Mangrove jack is another common catch with trevally, whiting and mackerel ending up on the line too.

Innisfail is an interesting place, and you may well remember the devastating Cyclone Larry, but this not the first one to hit the area. What I like to see is that cyclone damage can actually end up being a positive! In 1918 there was a devasting cyclone in the area, and many of Innisfails buildings were destroyed. The positive to that was that they were rebuilt during the “Art Deco” period and today the town is graced with some excellent Art Deco architecture which is said to represent the future, modernization and the coming of the machine age. Innisfail proudly calls itself the “Art Deco Capital of Australia.”

The area is also close to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, with 12 islands close by and it is the closest mainland spot to the outer reef. Day trips can take you seawards or inland, it will all depend on what you want to do. The park website has a good links page that lets you have a look at the main activities in the area.
The area is rich in natural and man made attractions, all you need is the time to enjoy it all while you are staying at Flying Fish Tourist Park.

Flying Fish Tourist Park
39 Elizabeth St
Flying Fish Point Qld 4860
Ph: 07 4061 3131
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
www.ffpvanpark.com.au
Review posted by Alison Huth November 2010

Photos courtesy of the park website and Innisfail Tourist website