Admittedly, things didn't go well when we arrived at the Honeyeater.
The inviting, spacious, tropical-style 'living room' is an absolute perfect end to a day on the beach — or pure hang out space
Poor Sue and Caroline had been somewhat thrown in at the deep end as the new owners of the Honeyeater (of just 4 days!). The bookings list they had been left wasn't quite as clear as they had hoped for — it turned out they were only expecting me and Alex, but not Andy — ah. Still, no matter, these things happen, and I have to say a more accommodating welcome I could not have found (even if we did end up staying just down the road overnight!). Ironically, though, we probably spent more time at the Honeyeater than many other guests do, and we didn't even sleep there!
Once I explained that we were on a research trip, and wanted to check out all the facilities, we were invited without question back in the morning for breakfast (delicious), and then proceeded to spend ages just 'hanging around' the house and exploring the garden (i.e. all the next day 'til we had to check into Sejala!). And this was so enjoyable, in no small part because of the fabulous hosts, I might add.
Planning Your Trip
...We have just cashed in our Krisflyer points (Singapore Airlines) for return tickets to New York flying Virgin!
It may be that I booked the Honeyeater after reading about the warm welcomes given by the previous owners, but I couldn't fault Sue and Caroline as fantastic company — so the Honeyeater is on the inspired Australia list for sure.
One thing I must first say about the Honeyeater is that it's a small-scale operation.
The rooms are simple, but you'll probably spend most of your time on the beach, or in the garden
This is no boutique hotel — but a home with two B&B rooms. However, that said, the rooms are separate to the main house, and are very private (I'm not a fan of B&B's 'in' the family home — too close for comfort, no matter how nice the hosts are!).
The rooms at Honeyeater are simple. In fact, I would go as far as to say they are motel-like in their simplicity. But given that you have THE beach across the road, and one of the most stunning 'jungle' gardens I have ever seen — complete with pool, meandering creek at the end, and a fully equipped barbeque area too — you won't be spending much time in your room I don't think.
You also have the amazing open-plan 'living room' of the main house to make yourself comfortable in, so your room may well be only for sleeping! The rooms even have their own little patio out front, so you can sit out there too by the light of your own cute lamp at your table and chairs, and watch the world go by.
The Honeyeater is 'by' (i.e. about 20 seconds walk away from) Wongaling Beach (one of the parts of Mission Beach — a full-criteria-meeting beach, and possibly my favourite in Australia — I haven't seen them all yet, though, so can't say for certain!).
Spend the afternoon relaxing in or around your own tropical jungle garden!
I have to point out that the Honeyeater is not 'on' the beach — it is the other side of the road to the beachfront properties. This fact has, I am sure, saved Sue and Caroline a fortune (probably halved the cost of their house!), and also saves you a fortune too in that you aren't paying for a sea view. And we are actually talking bargain here. At current exchange rates, the price per night is £55ish. And that is for 2 people, remember — with breakfast!
So why stay by the beach without a sea view? Well, for one thing, unless you are supremely lazy and can't make it the 20 second walk across the road to the beach, then this really is effectively on the beach, and is such a bargain it means you can stay a week! Or longer! Also, you have the added advantage of having some 'alternative' sun-bathing and lounging options — in the 'undergrowth' (!) of the jungle garden, around the pool, or sitting in the open-plan 'tropical-style' lounge area. They don't really bother so much with walls and doors in tropical North Queensland, as a lot of the time there is just no need for them. Seems odd at first, but is fantastic to experience.
You really should leave the beach at least once to take the water taxi to Dunk Island — the views are definitely worth the effort of the jungle walk — a stunning view of all the islands in the area!
I've already extolled the many virtues of Mission Beach (see Sejala Beach Huts review), so I won't bang on (and on) about how bloody nice it is here (it is!), so even when you get bored of the amazing beach (have I mentioned that already?), then you have Dunk Island to whiz over to on a boat-taxi to explore and/or chill out on (they have a great spa, I understand), trips to the reef, white-water rafting half an hour away on the Tully river, and of course the chance to 'jump the beach' (i.e. with a parachute out of a plane!).
Spot the resident cassowary lurking in the shrubbery of the Honeyeater's tropical garden
Then there is also cassowary-spotting to fit in!
Cassowaries are large (emu sized) turkeys. Seriously — this is the best way I can think to describe them. They are indigenous to this part of Australia, and are also protected, so you need to watch out for them when you are driving (this is what the road signs with pictures of giant turkey-looking emus are warning you about!). If you are lucky, then you may spot one lurking about in the garden at the Honeyeater. OK, so this is a bit of joke, as Sue has a very hilarious pretend life-size cassowary in the garden at the Honeyeater which, if I remember rightly, is made out of Astroturf... relic of a pitch and putt...er... have I mentioned that Sue is perhaps slightly eccentric?!
I am joking — Sue is not eccentric, but she is well travelled, and an extremely knowledgeable and long-term resident of Mission Beach. So as a result, knows everyone and everything. From the sounds of it Sue has also, at one time or another in the past 20 years, run almost every business there is in Mission Beach (hence the pitch and putt connection — she used to run a tourist information office).
These days, Sue is one of the leading real estate agents in Mission Beach. So you start to realise that this really is an amazing place to stay — as if someone whose job it is to look at houses all day bought ths place, it must be good!
Take a refreshing dip in the pool which is hidden amongst the trees and plants in the garden
Caroline is Suzanne's daughter who, up until recently, was living and working in Melbourne (running her own creative business — these ladies are serial entrepreneurs after my own heart!). And it's Caroline who is there, day to day, managing the Honeyeater. She is great fun. And is possibly the only person I know to rival me for freckles (sorry Caroline — I know you don't like them!).
Caroline and Sue will point you in the right direction for anything you might want to do, although having a car is advisable staying here, as you aren't really walking distance to any shops, although you are a stroll (about a 30 minute walk along the beach) to a handful of restaurants (Thai, Greek and 'grill'), and a small kiosk for essentials. The 'main' part of Mission Beach is in North Mission, and you will need to drive the 4-5 minutes there yourself (or catch a cab). If you are feeling energetic though (and can pedal in the heat!), then the Honeyeater has bikes that you can borrow to get around on.
Honeyeater isn't really a place for young families (fine with a baby, and also probably ideal if you have teenagers), so is somewhere I would mostly recommend to couples or singles. I would feel very comfortable staying here by myself in fact, which is a good, and often rare thing, to find.
If you are after a relaxing beach stay in Tropical North Queensland, slap bang right by my favourite beach (see map of Mission), and you want to spend not very much money at all achieving it in style, then the Honeyeater is for you.
If you hear the gong, then maybe your breakfast is ready? One of things we thought this 'ornament' could be used for!
I just want to add that there are loads of quirky objects and decoration (and a fish pond) to look out for in the house and the garden, and I am not going to list them all to spoil your fun of discovering them. One thing I will say though, is that I am not sure what the gong is for, but am sure Caroline has thought of a use for it by now ;-)
Say "Hi" to the ladies from me when you visit! I wish I was there right now...
Oh, and by the way, in case you were wondering — a Honeyeater is a type of bird.
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