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At the southern end of Moreton Bay, just 43 kilometres from the centre of Brisbane, lies Minjerribah/North Stradbroke Island — the world’s second-largest sand island (behind big brother K’gari/Fraser Island further up the Queensland coast).
With pristine beaches, incredible wildlife, and a healthy dose of slow-paced, low-rise holiday vibes, ‘Straddie’ as it’s fondly known locally, is probably South East Queensland’s best kept travel secret. The wonder is how such a wild and magical place can exist so close to Australia’s third-largest city!
Getting to North Stradbroke Island is easy. To use your car to get around, take the Sealink vehicle ferry from Cleveland in Brisbane’s south. There are multiple departures every day and the journey takes about 45 minutes. Car-free travellers can shave 20 minutes off the trip on either the Sealink Passenger Ferry or Stradbroke Flyer water taxi, both of which also depart from Cleveland. On the island, a modestly priced day pass gives unlimited travel on public buses between the three main settlements of Dunwich, Amity Point, and Point Lookout. The private Stradeasy bus service encompasses a larger range of stops, including transportation to lakes and walking tracks. Alternatively, if you like to feel the wind in your hair, bring your bike or hire a motor-scooter.
Here’s a checklist of our top ten things to do on North Stradbroke Island.
1. Get your bearings at Point Lookout
Point Lookout at the northeastern tip of the island is Queensland’s most easterly point. As the name suggests, the location boasts sweeping 270-degree views over the turquoise waters of the Coral Sea. While the marine panorama is the star of the show, this small settlement also has a good range of shops and eateries. A Sunday craft and food market is held weekly in December and on assorted dates through the rest of the year.
2. Do the North Gorge Walk
Looping around the Point Lookout headland for 1.2 kilometres, North Gorge Walk offers a fantastic introduction to North Stradbroke’s flora, fauna, and geology. Although the island consists mostly of sand, here the remains of ancient volcanoes break through the dunes, creating a rocky landscape riven by deep chasms. While the topography is rough, well-maintained boardwalks and wooden stairways, together with plentiful benches and viewing platforms, make this an extremely visitor-friendly walk. Dolphins can often be seen and, from June to November, migrating whales. If you’re lucky you might even spot sea turtles along the shore; six of the world’s seven species live here!
3. Meet the resident roos
The most laidback kangaroos you’re ever likely to encounter live on North Stradbroke Island, and the grassy area at the northern end of the Gorge Walk is one of their favourite hangouts. As long as you don’t crowd them, these roos are happy to provide you with endless photo opportunities as they laze and lounge on the rich pastureland of their island home. Much more elusive is the shy Golden Swamp Wallaby. North Stradbroke Island is one of the few places where the species is found. Sightings are rare, but anyone can be lucky!
4. Eat lunch at The Prawn Shack
A short stroll from the north end of the Gorge Walk stands an unpretentious, brightly painted shack that houses an emporium of gastronomic delights. The Prawn Shack sells a huge array of locally caught seafood, as well as fresh produce and specialty grocery items. But for day-trippers there’s one unmissable item on the menu and that’s the prawn roll. It’s the Platonic ideal of its kind — a fluffy white bun filled with tender salad leaves, avocado, mayo, and the pinkest, plumpest, juiciest prawns. Eat it perched at a high table on the shack’s front porch or take it away for a picnic on the sand. As beachside lunches go, it doesn’t get better than this.
5. Swim at Cylinder Beach
Named for the gas cylinders that used to be landed here to power the Point Lookout lighthouse, Cylinder Beach is the Goldilocks of Straddie’s beaches — its pellucid blue waters not too rough, not too flat, but (generally) just right. Cylinder is lifeguard-patrolled all year and offers excellent conditions for swimmers (and beginner to moderately experienced surfers). The beach has a carpark, toilets, and an adjacent campground.
6. Have coffee at The Blue Room
The beachcomber ambience and retro decor at The Blue Room make this delightful cafe the perfect place to kick back and enjoy that island feeling. Match your coffee with a piece of home-made cake and let the uninterrupted ocean view wash over you. It’s not uncommon to see a kangaroo wandering past or, in season, a whale breaching offshore. A further attraction is next door’s eminently browseable Cloud Fish Bookstore and Gallery. Admire the charming selection of local artworks and handicrafts, and shop for nautical-themed gifts and books about Stradbroke’s wildlife and history.
7. Hit the ‘sand highway’
Extending almost the full length of Straddie’s exposed east coast, 32-kilometre-long Main Beach is where you really know you’re on a sand island. The scenery is spectacular and often, so are the waves, meaning that surfers flock here. However, the conditions are generally considered hazardous for swimmers. The long, straight stretch of sand is a paradise for 4WD enthusiasts (a permit is required to drive on the beach), while the extensive dune system creates plenty of sand-boarding opportunities. Slopes range from gentle undulations to monster drops!
8. Go a gelato
Nothing says ‘beach holiday’ quite like an ice-cream cone enjoyed within sight of the ocean. To cool off and recharge after your surfing or sand-boarding adventure, stop by Whale Tail Gelati and Coffee Bar (formerly Oceanic Gelati) at Point Lookout. They have a huge range of flavours and the shop’s name (‘Gelati’, not ‘Gelato’) is an open invitation for plural indulgence. So, why stop at one?
9. Visit Brown Lake
Tea-coloured Brown Lake in the middle of the island has a very different feeling from the more upbeat coastal areas. Its deeply tranquil, almost mysterious atmosphere is due to its secluded position amid protective rings of paperbark and tea-trees. This is a place of great Aboriginal significance, and is considered sacred to women and children by the Quandamooka people. As a respectful visitor, you can make use of the barbecue facilities for a picnic, enjoy a short bushwalk around the lake, or take a dip in its tannin-infused water (said to be highly beneficial for the hair and skin).
10. Experience First Nations culture at Salt Water Murris
Salt Water Murris Quandamooka Art Gallery at Dunwich combines cultural history displays, educational workshops, and contemporary art exhibitions to provide visitors with an insight into North Stradbroke Island’s powerful Indigenous heritage. After exploring the island, take this valuable opportunity to immerse yourself in a deeper sense of Country and purchase a unique souvenir of your visit.
For more travel inspiration, visit www.stradbrokeisland.com.
Browse our range of North Stradbroke Island tours and experiences here. We offer a Best Price Guarantee.
Do you have any suggestions to add to our list of the best things to do on North Stradbroke Island? We would love to hear from you. Join the conversation on our Facebook page.
Additional images: Depositphotos, Bigstock, and Envato
About the writer
Roslyn Jolly is a freelance travel writer whose work has appeared in Escape (News Limited), Mindful Puzzles, Vacations and Travel, and Mindfood. In her former career as an English Literature academic, she studied and taught the work of great travel writers, such as Henry James, Herman Melville and Robert Louis Stevenson, and became fascinated by the history of travel and tourism. Two years at school in Wales and three years at university in England allowed Roslyn to travel extensively in Europe and North America, which she continues to do.
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