Is it safe to swim at Stradbroke Island?

Written by: Cameron Ward

Published: May 8, 2021

Reading time: 3 mins

North Stradbroke Island, affectionately known as “Straddie”, is a natural paradise situated just outside of Brisbane.

North Stradbroke Island

Straddie truly is a place to come, unwind and take a deep breath as you hang out with local wildlife, learn about the island’s Indigenous history and take one of Australia’s best nature walks.

If all this excitement wasn’t enough, Straddie is also the perfect place to swim year-round! The island is absolutely blessed with turquoise waters and stunning beachfront, not to mention the beautiful weather Queensland experiences from January through to December and back round again.

Yes, you can certainly swim on Straddie – but just make sure you stick to the lifeguard patrolled beaches when you do!

Okay, so now that you know you can enjoy the cobalt waters of this most pristine natural wonderland, let’s check out some of the other awesome experiences you can partake in on the most amazing Stradbroke Island.

  • Get up close & personal with adorable Aussie wildlife

    Animals really feel comfortable at Straddie: the dolphins swim right up to the jetty at Amity Point, koalas are something like local celebrities and kangaroos chill out and have breakfast and dinner at North Gorge walk every day. So, if you’re looking for a place where you can see some of the country’s most loveable wildlife in one spot – Straddie is the place to be!

  • Learn about the local Indigenous heritage

    Stradbroke Island is an important site for its traditional owners, the Quandamooka people, and you can join them on a tour to learn about the island’s Indigenous significance. Take a walk along the historic Goompi trail with a Quandamooka guide, along the way learning about local bush tucker, artefacts, hunting methods, bush medicines and more.

    This wonderful educational experience offers you a snapshot into why Straddie (or Minjerribah) is so important to the local people, and is the best way to learn about the island’s natural elements.

  • You have to scuba dive!

    If you’re looking to have a few awesome dips at Straddie, why not take it up a notch and go for a scuba dive! Visibility is amazing here, with 15-20m and up to 30m in the summer months, making it the perfect place to spot leopard sharks, manta ray pods, colourful fish and super cute turtles.

These are just some of the incredible experiences you can enjoy on Stradbroke Island, not even mentioning the amazing hikes, lakes, delectable seafood and surfing adventures and more.

You’ll just have to find out for yourself…

Related article: Is Moreton Island worth visiting?

Cameron Ward
Cameron Ward
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.