Once a well-kept secret among Brisbane and Gold Coast locals, North Stradbroke Island – Minjerribah (Straddie) has become a must-visit destination for tourists travelling to South East Queensland – and for good reason.
While long-time island goers (and Straddie locals themselves) may long for the good old days, there’s no denying: the tourist boom has kept the island’s businesses afloat. And what’s a visit to Straddie without your daily gelato fix?
Here, we break down everything you need to know about visiting Point Lookout – the most popular destination on North Stradbroke Island.
Getting there
Straddie is most conveniently explored by car, but don’t fret if you’ll be travelling by foot – the walk-on water taxi and island’s buses have you covered. The official Stradbroke Island website will tell you everything you need to know.
The best beaches at Point Lookout
Point Lookout has no shortage of beaches to choose from – seven, in fact. Being on the north-eastern corner of the island means no matter which way the wind is blowing, you can almost always find the perfect spot to swim or surf.
- Flinders Beach: Stretching from Point Lookout’s Adder Rock toward its western neighbour, Amity Point, Flinders is perfect for beach camping and four-wheel driving, if you’re keen for an adventure.
- Home Beach: A great beach for the whole family, where conditions are generally calm and you can let your dog run off-leash. It’s not patrolled, though, so keep an eye on your kids and pets at all times – especially if there’s a strong westerly drift.
- Cylinder Beach: One of the most popular beaches at Point Lookout, thanks to its ample facilities, great surf and swimming conditions and year-round surf lifesaving patrol. Watching the sun set over the water on the headland is a core Straddie experience.
- Deadman’s Beach: It’s not as scary as it sounds, we promise. Though conditions vary greatly here, you can luck out with ideal surfing and swimming conditions – particularly when the rock pools form at the base of the large sand dune near the beach’s eastern point.
- Frenchman’s Beach: Though it’s generally not ideal for swimming, Frenchman’s is great for surfers when the beach breaks are just right. But commitment is key – Frenchman’s can only be accessed by rounding Dune Rocks at Deadman’s, or scaling the long, steep staircase that leads down from the main road.
- South Gorge: Picturesque South Gorge could easily be mistaken for a beach in Europe, with rocky outcrops framing the azure waves. Unfortunately, it’s not patrolled, and conditions need to be just right to enjoy all that the South Gorge has to offer – but when they are, this is one of the best beaches on the island.
- Main Beach: It’s the largest beach on Minjerribah, and also the most exposed – meaning Main Beach is heaven for surfers and four-wheel drivers alike. Set up camp for the day at the northern point, near the Point Lookout Surf Life Saving Club, or drive south on the sand for an off-the-grid camping adventure.
