Labelled ‘Straddie’ for short, Stradbroke Island is a must-visit when you’re in Brisbane! You can easily visit Stradbroke Island (Minjerribah) in one day.
Stradbroke Island is the place to be if you’re a fan of sandy beaches and blue skies.
The summer is full of sunshine, and you will struggle to find a grey day on Straddie Island!
Full of sunshine, beaches, bushland and wildlife, Stradbroke Island is a beautiful escape from the city of Brisbane. After Fraser Island, Stradbroke Island is the second biggest sand island.
It has a thriving heritage and a dense marine life. It’s a natural paradise with gorgeous views and terrific landscapes.
Getting there
From Brisbane, getting to North Stradbroke Island is easy and affordable. It’s only a 40-minute drive from Brisbane, and the ferry is very reasonably priced for a return journey.
You can catch a ferry from Cleveland to Dunwich – look out for ‘Sealink ferries’ for your carrier.
The whole island is about a 30km long stretch in total, so if you don’t have a vehicle then it’s a good idea to catch buses to get around! Luckily, the buses around Straddie are regular, so you’d be able to get to Point Lookout easily.
What you should do in a day on Stradbroke Island:
Here’s what we’d recommend doing on Stradbroke Island:
- Gorge board walk
- South gorge swimming
- Wildlife spotting
Getting yourself to the Point Lookout and head to the cafes on the island for a quick coffee.
Gorge Board Walk
For landscape views that give you a slice of paradise, check out the Gorge Board Walk. The whole walk is 1-2km one way across the boardwalk and it’s very easy to navigate. If you go in whale migration season, you’ll likely see whales in the ocean as they make their way up to warmer waters.
The Gorge explores some not only gorge-eous views, but incredible wildlife too! There are some colonies of koalas – you’ll be able to see kangaroos too.
Swimming in South Gorge
For a serene swim in a bay hugged by rocks, check out South Gorge. On a calm day, the ocean provides a beautiful swimming oasis, like nature’s swimming pool.
Surfing in Main Beach
If you’re ready to ride the waves, then check out the surf at Main Beach. Or take a body board!
Wildlife
Look down from the jetties and you might spot some pretty wildlife swimming around in the waters. Hammerhead sharks and turtles in the pristine blue waters. You might even spot dolphins in the distance. The wildlife here is pristine and beautiful. This is Point Lookout, where you’ll get the best views of Frenchman’s beach.
Managing Director at Sightseeing Tours Australia
Cameron Ward turned his travel passion into a thriving Australian tourism business. Before he co-founded his own business, Sightseeing Tours Australia, he was enjoying being a Melbourne tour guide. Even now, Cameron delights in helping visitors from all around the world get the most out of their incredible Australian trip. You’ll see Cameron leading tours or writing about his favourite Australian places where he shares his local insights.