Stepping onto the ferry to North Stradbroke Island is like walking in on a secret that only locals are supposed to know about.
Next to us in line to board the Stradbroke Flyer was a Wildlife Rescue Minjerribah worker with three crates housing local fauna awaiting their new island home. And a few dozen local Queenslanders waiting to return to theirs.
It takes about half an hour to cross the turquoise waters of southern Moreton Bay to reach the pier in Dunwich, on the mid-western coast of the island.
Located just 30 kilometres from Brisbane, but feeling like a world away, North Stradbroke Island is the second largest sand island in the world – following Fraser Island just a few hundred kilometres to the north.
Aside from three small towns with just a few hundred people in each, much of the island is home to Naree Budjong Djara National Park, Its name meaning ‘My Mother Earth’ to the Quandamooka people, the island’s traditional owners.
On this little slice of paradise in Southern Queensland, you’ll find pristine (and quiet!) beaches, coastal walks, plenty of campsites and even a brewery.
TL;DR: North Stradbroke Island weekend in a nutshell
- Where is it? Moreton Bay, Queensland, about 30km from Brisbane, CBD
- Price: Stradbroke Flyer is $21 per person, return. All activities mentioned in this itinerary are free (except for any food purchased)
- What to do and see: Home Beach, North Gorge Walk, Sunset Point, Straddie Brewing
- When to go: Late spring, summer or early autumn
How much time do you need on North Stradbroke Island?
How long is a piece of string?
We spent two nights/three days on the island but could have easily spent longer. This would have given us more time to explore other parts of the island, including Amity, the lakes in the centre of the island and spending more time in Dunwich.
That said, if you only have a day, the island is still well worth a visit. You can pack the Point Lookout (Day 2, below) sites into a day trip, which would give you a great taste of what North Stradbroke has to offer.
We felt a weekend was enough to do the island justice, but short enough that you’re left wanting more.
Things to do on North Stradbroke Island
Day 1: Getting to the Island and relaxing
Take the Stradbroke Flyer Ferry
The sea was sparkling with sunlight when we arrived at the Stradbroke Flyer’s jetty in Cleveland, a coastal suburb of Brisbane. The shallow coastal waters were murky but a beautiful shade of blue-green, with the odd mangrove tree being lapped at by the calm seas.
After the hours’s direct journey by train from South Bank to Cleveland, there was a complimentary shuttle bus to take us to the jetty and brought to the ferry’s departure point. You can buy tickets here too.
The crossing to the island was smooth, despite the wind we were having that day.
(The same can’t be said for the sand on the beach when we arrived, however. We were definitely much more exfoliated by mid-afternoon than earlier in the day!)
If you’re coming from Brisbane city, you can expect the journey to the island to take a couple hours when paired with the train.
Recommended? Yes. While there are other options in getting to the island, Stradbroke Island is the only one that provides a complimentary bus from the train station. The bus is well-timed with the trains, too.
Take a dip at Cylinder Beach
One of three patrolled beaches on the island, Cylinder Beach is home to crystal-clear waters and a long stretch of squeaky white sands.
It’s mostly north facing, so the beach is more exposed to waves and stronger currents than the Moreton Bay side of the island.
We did find a strong pull in the water during our visit, but as long as you’re a moderately strong swimmer you should be fine.
That said, it’s probably wise to stick between the flags as much as possible.
Recommended? Yes.
See the colours at Sunset Point
What felt like a secret spot on a secret island was by far the highlight of the weekend. Unfortunately it only lasted a short while as the sun only sets for so long.
This stunning little headland between Home and Flinders Beaches boasts incredible views of the sun setting over the island, with crashing waves in the foreground.
Recommended: Yes
Day 2: Exploring Point Lookout
Stroll along the Gorge Walk
At less than 1.5 kilometres long, this walking track packs in a punch. It’s scenic, has plenty of wildlife along the track and isn’t too busy.
(The walk isn’t quite a loop, but the ends are very close together. You can start at either end, but we happened to start across the street from Oceanic Gelati.)
Within minutes of stepping onto the track, there were dozens of manta rays visible in the waters below the track as it passes along the cliff. Summer is manta season, and North Stradbroke is a popular place to see them. While diving is one of the best ways (but was unfortunately sold out the weekend we visited), you can see them from the shore too if you’re lucky.
Continue on a bit further, and you’ll likely see kangaroos or wallabies, if you haven’t seen them already. They seemed quite used to people walking by their track-side home, so you’ll have plenty of time to snap a picture of two of them as you walk past.
The namesake gorge along the boardwalk is easily the highlight. Between lush cliffsides, clear, turquoise waters crash and bring with it sea turtles. A handful were seen bobbing in the gorge’s waters in the few minutes we were there.
According to the island’s tourism board, the walk is also a prime place to spot humpbacks during the migration season (June to November). Unfortunately, none were spotted during our mid-November visit.
Recommended? Yes
Swim at South Gorge Beach
Nestled between the cliffs of the Gorge Walk and the Point Lookout Surf Life Saving Club, this scenic bit of sand is tucked away from the island’s main beaches, but is still right in the middle of town.
To get to the beach,
This beach is not patrolled like the neighbouring Main Beach, making it a quieter option.
Recommended? Yes
Day 3: Unwinding on Home Beach and checking out Straddie Brewing
Relax on Home Beach
Right across the street from our hotel, The Islander, is the beautiful stretch of sand that is Home Beach. Extending for hundreds of metres and eventually turning into Cylinder Beach, this spot was perfect for a final morning on the island.
As it’s not patrolled, it was quieter than the other beaches we visited save for a pod of dolphins swimming in the shimmering waters just offshore. (!)
The water was crystal clear and the perfect shade of turquoise, making getting on the ferry a few hours later that much harder. We had perfect conditions during our morning visit, but it’s noted that there could be strong currents or rips when the conditions are a bit rougher.
Recommended? Yes, if you’re staying nearby.
Have tasting paddle with lunch at Straddie Brewing Co
Of course, there’s a brewery on North Stradbroke Island.
Found in Dunwich and within walking distance of where the Stradbroke Flyer docs, Straddie Brewing C0 was the perfect final stop to a three-day island escape.
The three-storey brewery features a sunny rooftop with incredible views of Moreton Bay, just a few hundred metres away. The white-and-wood decor sure made it feel like an island bar.
The bar serves up a pretty large variety of items, many using Australian ingredients, to pair up with the half-dozen or so beers they brew. Tasting paddles were $16, and a great way to taste a few different brews if you didn’t want to have too boozy of a lunch.
Recommended? Yes, especially the Myora Springs Gose!
More about North Stradbroke Island
Where to eat on the island
We’d recommend eating at these restaurants and cafes when on the island:
- The Prawn Shack
- Oasis Cantina
- Stan’s Chicken and Beer
- Straddie Eats
- Straddie Brewing Co
We were pretty pleased with most places we ate on the island and found prices to be quite reasonable.
Most things may have been 5-10% higher than what you’d expect to pay in cities, but nothing too extreme. Being isolated from the mainland and requiring everything to be sent over by boat, we were expecting to pay much higher prices than we were.
Lunch on day one: Straddie Eats
The winning combination of being next to our resort, The Islander, and across the road from the beach is what drew us to Straddie Eats for lunch, but we’re glad we went.
The open-air cafe has a decent menu with the usual cafe breakfast offerings, along with a selection of burgers and other eats.
We had a pulled pork burger and an açai bowl, and both lunch options were tasty and reasonably priced. (Given that it’s an island, we quickly found most things cost a bit more here). Service was friendly and the food was pretty quick to arrive at the tables after ordering at the counter.
Recommended? Yes.
Dinner on day one: Oasis Cantina
When you picture a laid-back island restaurant, you picture Oasis Cantina. White tables and chairs arranged on a large lawn, and strings of lights held up by a central tree. The warm glow from the festoon lighting creates the perfect ambience.
There is indoor seating too, if it’s raining, but the charm of this place is truly outdoors.
One of the few restaurants along the Home Beach coast, Oasis dishes up a small menu of Mexican-inspired dishes. Think burritos, tacos and bowls.
We ordered the chicken and beef (pictured above) Mexican bowls, which came with rice, corn chips, guacamole, salsa and sour cream. We also weren’t about to say no to a glass of sangria.
Compared to restaurants in the city, it’s not the best Mexican-style food you’ll have, but it was tasty and the overall vibe of the restaurant was perfect for a Saturday night on the island.
Recommended? Yes, if you’re staying nearby.
Lunch (#1) on day two: The Prawn Shack
With great Google reviews and an island being the perfect place to enjoy some fresh seafood, we popped over to the Prawn Shack for some fresh oysters and a prawn roll.
We arrived just before noon and we were told we’re lucky they had any left. So get in early if you want to try one – and if you like prawns, you will.
This roll was just about perfect; soft bread (kept dry with a piece of lettuce between it and the fillings) was stuffed to the brim with prawns, avocado and a creamy seafood sauce. The roll was about $12, and well worth it. They were not skimping on the prawns.
Recommended? Yes
Lunch (#2) on day two: Fins and Fries
One of the surprising few fish and chip shops on the island, Fins and Fries serves up a mix of fried seafood delights and burgers.
Unfortunately for what was the best-rated fish and chips in the area, the food was underwhelming. While it wasn’t bad, I wouldn’t necessarily go back.
Recommended? No.
Dinner on day two: Stan’s Chicken and Beer
Not a lie, we mostly went based on the name of this place. But, left pleasantly surprised.
It seems like Stan really does know how to cook a chicken. Both the tacos and chicken burger were cooked to perfection.
Unfortunately, it does close early at 7pm, so it will need to be an early dinner here. That said, an early dinner here isn’t the worst thing. The dining area does have a surprisingly nice view looking out toward Home Beach. Some good chicken, a cold drink and a sea breeze certainly make this place worth a visit.
Recommended? Yes.
Lunch on day three: Straddie Brewing Co
Much more than just beer and stunning views of Moreton bay, the Straddie Brewing Co has quite an extensive list of nibbles and meals available.
The menu during our visit featured some clever uses for native ingredients, including lemon myrtle and pepperberry calamari and Moreton Bay bug rolls, which were served like sliders.
Recommended? Yes
Where to swim: North Stradbroke Island’s beaches
There’s a dozen or more beaches on North Stradbroke Island, but these are the ones we visited:
- Cylinder Beach
- South Gorge Beach
- Home Beach
Of the three, only Cylinder Beach was patrolled. We did notice life guards checking in at South Gorge Beach, but it’s not officially patrolled.
If you’re keen for calmer waters or to explore some of the island’s underwater life with a mask and snorkel, Amity is said to have calm waters and some sea creatures. Unfortunately, we didn’t make it to Amity on this trip so can’t vouch for it as a swimming destination.
How to get to North Stradbroke Island (and how to get around once you’re there)
The only way to get to the island is by ferry or private boat. Ferries arrive at one of two wharfs in Dunwich, depending on which ferry company you travel with. Sealink offers both passenger and car ferries, while Stradbroke Flyer is a passenger service only. The town sits on the west side of the island, about two-thirds of the way between the northern and southern tips, toward the top of the island
The island’s main, patrolled, swimming beaches, as well as many other attractions and dining, are found in Point Lookout, at the northeastern tip of the island. It’s about 20km from Dunwich by road and can be travelled easily by bus.
Busses arrive and depart in time to pick up and drop off Stradbroke Flyer passengers. However, that does mean the busses only travel about once per hour.
Without a car, seeing North Stradbroke beyond the ferry wharf and where your accommodation is located isn’t easy.
For example, to get from Point Lookout to Amity, the bus trip would have taken more than an hour with a 30-minute transfer time at a stop surrounded by bushland.
You can bring hire cars onto the island or rent scooters when you get there.
Best time to visit North Stradbroke Island
Late spring to early autumn is the best times to visit North Stradbroke Island for a classic island escape.
This time of year, the water will be warm enough to swim in the ocean. If you’re heading to the inland lakes, the air should be warm enough that you’ll want to jump in.
For manta ray sightings, October through March bring the best chances of seeing one. We visited the island mid-November and were able to see quite a few from the shore.
Like the sound of North Stradbroke Island? Check out our list of the the best Queensland island getaways for more weekend escapes.
