Our Location

We’re conveniently located just 2 minutes off the Bruce Highway, in the Mission Beach hinterland, we’re just outside of El Arish. Whether you’re coming from the southern end — Wongaling Beach or South Mission Beach — or from the north around Bingil Bay and Mission Beach proper, we’re an easy, quick trip out for anyone in the wider Mission Beach area. We’ll send you directions once you book your appointment.

Never Been to El Arish?

If you’ve never had a reason to visit before, El Arish is a lovely little soldier settlement town well worth the trip in its own right. Pop into the museum for a bit of local history, grab a bite at the historic El Arish Tavern — home of the smoked crocodile (crocs need to be booked a week in advance) — or stop by The Pocket, a local cafe with animal feeding at 8:30am on weekends (baby goats galore). Make a morning of it, and come see us while you’re here.

We’re also genuinely fortunate in where we sit — Our home and nursery are located within the longest east-west rainforest corridor in Australia, surrounded by national parks and nature reserves. Our own water is gravity-fed straight from the mountains behind our house, within the World Heritage-listed Wet Tropics. It’s exactly this rich, biodiverse setting and that clean, natural water source, that lets us propagate and grow the range of rare tropical plants we do, and it makes the drive out here a beautiful one in its own right.

Booking an Appointment to Buy Plants at the Nursery

Visiting El Arish Tropical Exotics is a relaxed, personalised experience designed to help you choose the right plants for your garden. Because we are a working tropical nursery with limited on‑site facilities, all plant purchases are by appointment only. This ensures we can prepare for your visit, organise stock, and give you the time and attention you need. We know people on holiday often love to drop in and have a look around. Unfortunately, weekends are our busiest days, with most of our time dedicated to packing and sending plants across Australia. If you’re genuinely interested in purchasing plants, send us a list of what you’re looking for or get in touch beforehand, and we’ll do our best to make time for you. As we’re a working nursery rather than a display garden, casual weekend browsing isn’t something we’re able to accommodate. Thank you for your understanding.

This guide explains how to book, what’s available, and how to prepare before you arrive.

 What’s Available at the Nursery

We specialise in wet tropics species and currently have a beautiful range of advanced plants ready for garden impact, including:

• Advanced Lipstick Palms (Cyrtostachys renda)
• Heliconias
• Calathea lutea
• Foliage plants
• Bamboos
• Trees
• A wide selection of screening plants, ideal for privacy, wind protection, and lush tropical structure

These plants can be viewed in person during your appointment.

 If You’re Shopping From the Website

If you’re planning to purchase specific plants you’ve seen on our website, please prepare your list and send it to us when you book your appointment.

Sending your list in advance allows us to:

• Confirm availability
• Pre‑pull or locate stock
• Save you time on the day, ensure nothing on your wishlist is missed
  •  Before You Visit the Nursery — Checklist
• To help make your visit smooth, safe, and enjoyable, please take a moment to read through this quick checklist.
• Confirm Your Appointment
• Check the Weather Our road is unsealed and includes a creek crossing.
  Heavy rain can make access unsafe, so visits may need to be postponed.
• We’re not always available on site, and access can be weather‑dependent.
  Please make sure you’ve received a confirmed appointment time before travelling. We understand some people maybe travelling thorough the Cassowary Coast on holiday and will try and accommodate you if you have a list of plants you would like to purchase.
• Ensure Your Vehicle Is Suitable Access involves a creek crossing with variable depth and uneven surfaces.
  Please only visit if your vehicle has sufficient clearance and you’re comfortable crossing at your own risk.
• Send Your Plant List or Order Ahead We don’t have a retail display area that includes all our online plants.
  Sending your list in advance allows us to: locate your plants prepare your order make your visit quick and easy.
• No Pets, Please We have cassowaries on site, and for their safety (and yours), pets cannot be brought onto the property — even if they remain in the car.
• Bring Cash On‑site purchases are cash only, we do not have credit card facilities at the nursery.
• Wear Suitable Footwear It can be muddy, slippery, or uneven depending on the weather.
  Closed shoes are recommended.
• Allow a Little Extra Time Because we’re tucked away, the drive may take longer than expected — especially after rain.
• Let Us Know If Plans Change If you’re running late or need to reschedule, let us know.