Going to an Australian drive-in these days may seem a bit like “mission impossible”, but there is one unlikely spot where old-school lovers of the one-time Aussie favourite pastime can still get their fix - Mareeba.

One of only about 15 drive-ins left in the whole country, the venue on the highway just outside of the remote Far North Queensland town still operates on weekends and school holidays, thanks to a small team of dedicated staff.

A recent visit by Newsport confirmed drive-in culture is still alive in Australia about four decades beyond its heyday - a time back when hundreds of the venues dotted the countryside from inner cities to Outback towns and everywhere in between.

Coasting through the gates of Mareeba Drive-in in our Holden station wagon, we were welcomed by a bustling community of families gathered in backed-up utes, as well as other assorted SUVs and other vehicles.

The family next door was in the middle of a heated battle as one toddler was being called out for throwing sand in the face of her friend at the sandpit.

“If you don’t say sorry, we will be going home,” Mum was saying, but the young girl was refusing to budge.

They eventually settled for her staying in the back seat of the car until further notice.

Other families were making their way to the reasonably priced cafe up the back with their dogs, much to the interest of our sociable young blue heeler.

Rugs and chairs were sprawled out everywhere under the clear Mareeba stars - a town that proudly advertises that it has more days of sunshine than almost any other place in Australia at about 300 days per year.

Young lovers sat arm in arm on the benches near the cafe, and teenagers gathered around the backs of utes chatting about what would be happening for the rest of the weekend.

Starting out as the Mareeba Rodeo Drive-In, the outdoor-theatre venue opened in 1962.

Now owned by siblings Craig Torrisi and Ann-Marie Donnelly, the pair say they are continuing to “support the community while upholding a cherished tradition”.