Destination Guides > Australia > Queensland > North Queensland > Tully
Tully
Tully is a modest little town 24km south of Mission Beach that does not have much to entice the casual traveller. It is claimed to be the wettest spot in Australia, with an average of four metres of annual rainfall. An old – and still thriving – sugar mill town, it is surrounded by cane fields and you can take tours of the sugar mill in crushing season (Jun-Nov).
There is a good view of the town and surrounding region including offshore islands from the summit of Mount Tyson or Mount Mackay, both of which have challenging hiking trails. The Misty Mountain Trails is a network of hiking trails that has longer hiking expeditions into the rainforest. White water rafting is the most popular of the area’s activities and many travellers come to Tully for the day to go rafting, then go back to Mission Beach to sleep. The only backpackers who stay in Tully are working on the banana farms and hostels here are geared toward travellers on a working holiday.
Practical Information
Tully Visitor & Heritage Centre
Bruce Highway, Tully
Tel (07) 4068 2288
Open Mon-Fri 8.30am-4.45pm, Sat-Sun 9.30am-4.30pm
Coming & Going
Tully is on the main train and coach route linking Brisbane and Cairns. Greyhound (tel 1300 473 946) and Premier Motor Service buses stop in Banyan Park, near the Big Gumboot.
Trains stop at the station on the Bruce Highway north of the Visitor Information Centre.
Accommodation
Banana Barracks & Rafters
50 Butler Street, Tully
Tel (07) 4068 0455
Hotel Tully Backpackers
5 Butler Street, Tully
Tel (07) 4068 1044
Mount Tyson Hotel
23 Butler Street, Tully
Tel (07) 4068 1088
The Savoy Backpackers
4 Plumb Street, Tully
Tel (07) 4068 2400
Sights & Activities
Tully Sugar
The Tully Sugar Mill runs tours during the crushing season (Jun-Nov). Tours take around 1½ hours.
Book at the visitor information on the Bruce Highway
Tel (07) 4068 2288
Admission $12
Tours Mon-Fri 10am, 11am, 1.30pm, Sat-Sun 11am, 1.30pm
RAFTING
Tully is handy to the Tully River which is the country’s best one day rafting experience and also the most popular rafting destination for backpackers. Two companies – R’n’R Rafting and Raging Thunder – offer rafting on the Tully River with transfers from as far a field as Port Douglas, however both Tully and Mission Beach are the cheapest spots to organise your rafting from.
Raging Thunder
Tel (07) 4030 7990
Website www.ragingthunder.com.au
One day trip $145 plus $30 park fee
R’n’R Rafting
Tel 1800 079 039
Website www.raft.com.au
One day trip $145 plus $25 park fee
