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Straddie: Our official guide

July 23, 2025

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.

Where to eat at Point Lookout

Straddie has transformed a lot over the years, but there are some things that never change…

Point Lookout is home to the best gelato.
Fish and chips are always a good idea.
Nothing beats dinner at the pub.

Whale Tail Gelati and Coffee Bar, Point Lookout Headland

Or simply ‘the gelati shop’, as it’s known to frequent visitors. Perched atop the best whale watching spot on the island – right above Frenchman’s Beach, next to the Gorge Walk – it’s the perfect place to enjoy a cold treat at any time of day. No judgement here. If you need something more substantial, nearby Fishes Café & Bakery has you sorted.

Fins ’N’ Fries, Meegera Place

Serving up fresh, locally-sourced seafood and an impressive lineup of burgers, it’s hardly a surprise that there’s almost always a queue at Fins ‘N’ Fries – but trust us, it’s worth the wait. The undisputed star of the show? Their chicken salted fries. We’re salivating just thinking about them.

Foodworks (Bob’s Shop), Endeavour Street

Another Straddie staple – Bob’s. Family owned and operated for three decades, Bob’s Shop stocks everything you’ll need for your Straddie stay – from gas bottles to grapes, and T-bone steaks to toilet paper.

The Beach Hotel, Cylinder Beach

Otherwise known as ‘the pub’, the Beach Hotel is the unofficial meeting place for (what sometimes feels like) the entire Point Lookout community on any given night. If you’re looking for a good old fashioned family feed, or somewhere to watch the big game, this is it. Note: The Beach Hotel is currently undergoing renos, but it’s expected to reopen by late 2025. Stay tuned!

The Blue Room Cafe, Mintee Street

Fill up on breakfast staples, cabinet pastries and delicious coffee at this quintessential beach shack. The island décor inside is rivalled only by the panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean outside. We can’t think of a better place to enjoy a morning cuppa.

Things to do at Point Lookout

A visit to Straddie isn’t all surfing, swimming and snacking – there are a handful of other essential experiences to tick off during your visit. Here are three of them…

The Gorge Walk

This cruisy 1.2-kilometre track is the perfect way to walk off the aforementioned chips and gelato – and maybe spot a turtle or dolphin while you’re at it. Wrapping around the rocky Point Lookout headland, the Gorge Walk treats you to spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean, wild bushland and the rugged North Gorge.

Thursday night bingo

A Straddie institution, taking place on Thursdays during the school holidays at the Point Lookout Bowls Club (or Bowlsie, as it’s affectionately known). Book your spot or arrive early to be guaranteed a seat, because the tables fill up fast – both with hungry patrons, and competitive bingo players hungry for a cash prize.

The Point Lookout Markets

On select Sundays throughout the year (mostly during the school holidays), a collective of island vendors come together at the Point Lookout Bowls Club for an impressive market. Browse the stalls, enjoy the food, and head back home with armfuls of handmade wares. You’re supporting the local economy, after all.

Boujee bottle-o’s: Where to buy wine on the Gold Coast

July 23, 2025

Looking to level up your wine game beyond the bargain bin at BWS? We’ve found five boujee bottleshops on the Gold Coast where the shelves are stacked with small producers, sommelier-approved drops and fit-outs as Instagramable as the wine labels themselves.

Somm Wine Store, Mermaid Beach

Like your own personal sommelier, without the pomp. Perched on the Gold Coast Highway, Somm is a mecca for wine lovers. Here, you’ll find your next favourite chardonnay, cab sav or chianti – all handpicked by the husband-wife duo behind Somm.

www.sommwinestore.com.au

Flor Grocer, Burleigh Heads

Tucked away behind the hustle and bustle of Burleigh, Flor is so much more than your average bottle shop. Wine, flowers, deli goods – basically, everything you need to make the perfect Saturday afternoon.

www.florgrocer.com

Carafe Wine, Southport

We have a few wineries around the Gold Coast (find them, here) but only one ‘inner city cellar door’ – and that’s Carafe. Featuring a premium selection of wine from Australia’s leading regions – on tap, no less – this is the perfect place to take the wine lover in your life.

www.carafewine.com.au

Ferry Road Wine and Beer, Southport

The Gold Coast’s only boutique booze emporium – think craft beers, indie wines and small-batch spirits from all over. They take their liquor seriously (so you don’t have to), curating a lineup that’s basically a world tour in a bottle. Oh, and whisky lovers, take note: they’re one of just seven official Ardbeg embassies in the whole country – Sláinte!

www.brickworksferryrd.com.au

Rob Roy Deli and Drinks, Tweed Heads

This chef-and-sommelier-run bottleshop-meets-deli just over the border slings top-notch vino, small-producer goodies and damn fine cheese. They’re all about good taste (literally), from low-intervention wines to spontaneous pop-ups and masterclasses.

www.robroy.com.au

The scout six: The best pancakes on the Gold Coast

July 16, 2025

Whether you like them stacked and smothered or dainty and dressed with edible flowers, pancakes are a breakfast (and let’s be honest, any-time-of-day) classic that deserve the spotlight. Better still, they make for the ultimate “table dessert” – a dish you can casually order for the group under the guise of being generous, when really, you just want a few syrup-drenched bites yourself. From Japanese-style soufflé stacks to sticky date indulgence, these are six of the best pancakes on the Gold Coast.

Hudson & Rosie’s Table, Highland Park

Local favourite Hudson & Rosie’s isn’t afraid to switch things up when it comes to pancakes. Their current creation is a salted caramel popcorn number, but true fans will remember the banoffee version that lived in our heads – and on our brunch tables – rent-free. No matter the toppings, their pancakes always hit the sweet spot.

Pancake Diner, Burleigh Waters & Coolangatta

The retro younger sibling to Surfers Paradise’s Pancakes in Paradise (which gets an honourable mention), this diner dishes up big plates and even bigger toppings. Think: bacon, jam and cream, spiced apple, fresh fruit, chocolate fudge, and ice cream. It’s a full sugar rush, in the best way.

Sens Fusion, Southport

Soufflé pancakes, Japanese-style. These jiggly cloud-like creations are as pretty as they are pillowy. Go for the matcha version to embrace traditional flavours, or lean into decadence with their biscoff or crème brûlée pancakes. Trust us: that brûlée crack is what dreams are made of.

Mudjira Village Eatery, Mudgeeraba

Sticky. Date. Pancakes. We could leave it there, but let’s indulge a little. Their current dish features fluffy vanilla pancakes with house-made date jam, warm butterscotch sauce, maple, oat and walnut crumble, and a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top. Worth the drive inland? Absolutely.

Pancakes on the Rocks, Surfers Paradise

An Aussie institution that’s made its way from Sydney’s The Rocks to the GC – and even Beverly Hills, USA. The menu is part nostalgia, part novelty, with pancakes served alongside everything from scrambled eggs and sausages to pineapple, chocolate peanut butter, and apple crumble. It’s maximalism, pancake-style.

The Milkman’s Daughter, Mermaid Beach

For a plant-based option that’s as beautiful as it is satisfying, The Milkman’s Daughter delivers. Their current pancakes are dressed in vanilla turmeric custard, whipped lemon ricotta, poppyseed, nutty granola and fresh fruit – a feast for the eyes and your Insta grid.

The local’s guide to shopping on the Gold Coast

July 16, 2025

Whether you’re a bargain hunter, a boutique browser or just in it for the food courts, the Gold Coast has no shortage of spots to flex your shopping muscles. We’re talking mega malls, seaside markets, hidden op shop hauls and even a fudge shop or two in the hinterland. So grab your reusable bags (and maybe your credit card), and let’s go shopping.

Shopping centres

Pacific Fair, Broadbeach

It’s the Gold Coast’s largest – and most iconic – shopping centre for good reason, though the jury is still out on which is better: the old Pac Fair, or the new one. Obviously, the new one boasts a sprawling, sun-soaked layout, 400+ stores and restaurant-quality food options. But the old one had a train. It’s a tough call.

Harbour Town Premium Outlets, Biggera Waters

Pac Fair might be our largest shopping centre, but did you know the Gold Coast is also home to Australia’s largest outlet shopping centre? Harbour Town has over 240 stores, all offering big name brands at discounted prices. There’s also a cinema and an impressive food court, should the rush of bargain hunting wear off (or work up your appetite).

Robina Town Centre, Robina

It’s way less of a tourist hotspot than its counterparts, but locals know that Robina Town Centre is the place to go if you need to tick a ton of items off your shopping list. They have everything: clothing, tech, homewares, toys… not to mention three food courts, with options for whatever you fancy.

Shopping areas

James Street, Burleigh Heads

We may come to Burleigh for the beach – and the food – but more often than not, we stay for the shopping. James Street is just a short walk from the beach, and is packed with stores of all kinds – fun boutiques (Sean Scott Boutique, Dore and Saint Harlowe are some of our favourites), homewares stores and op shops, to name a few.

Gallery Walk, Tamborine Mountain

You’ll be hard pressed finding a more scenic shopping destination than Tamborine’s Gallery Walk. Set amongst the lush hinterland, Tamborine’s main street is sprinkled with dozens (over 70, to be precise) of quaint, quirky shops – clock makers, fudge makers and wine makers alike.

Griffith Street, Coolangatta

Tourists flock to the golden sands of Coolangatta’s beach, but locals know there’s just as much fun to be had a block back from the surf. If you love op shopping, you’re in luck – there are plenty to be found on Griffith Street, along with other retailers. And when you’re done, you can head to nearby Bay Street – the coolest address in Tweed Heads.

Markets

Surfers Paradise Beachfront Markets

There are few more picturesque places to shop than along the waterfront at the Gold Coast’s most iconic beach. On Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, the Surfers Paradise Esplanade comes alive with vendors selling all kinds of wares – artisan goods, handmade pieces, artworks and more.

Dusty Rummage, Currumbin

Perhaps the coolest collection of second-hand clothes and accessories can be found at Dusty Rummage. Once a month, on a Sunday afternoon, the Dust Temple’s outdoor space fills with racks of pre-loved goodness, ripe for the picking. What better way to end the week?

Carrara Markets

From the outside, the Carrara Markets looks somewhat unassuming. But on a Sunday, when the cars roll in for the car boot sale and the sellers roll up the doors of their stalls, the space transforms into a bustling bazaar of leather goods, accessories, swimwear and so much more.

On the hunt for more markets? Click here.

10 must-watch movies filmed on the Gold Coast

July 9, 2025

If you think the Gold Coast is all theme parks and surf breaks, think again. Our glittering coastline has played host to Hollywood blockbusters, cult thrillers, and some of Australia’s most iconic films. Add these 10 movies filmed on the Gold Coast to your ‘must-watch list’ – for the story, sure, but also so you can yell “Wait, I know that street!”.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017)

Starring Johnny Depp, Javier Bardem and Geoffrey Rush

Captain Jack Sparrow is back in the fifth instalment of the famous franchise – and once again, he’s running for his life. This time, it’s ghost pirates (led by a vengeful Javier Bardem) doing the chasing.

The production commandeered Village Roadshow Studios and took over Maudsland with a full-blown village set. A huge green screen setup went up in Helensvale, and jungle scenes were shot in Mount Tamborine. Oh, and who could forget the giant shipwreck that rose dramatically in Doug Jennings Park on the Southport Spit? Just another day in ‘Goldywood’.

Elvis (2022)

Directed by Baz Luhrmann, starring Austin Butler, Tom Hanks and Olivia DeJonge

Baz does nothing by halves – and his glitzy take on the life of Elvis Presley is no exception. Told through the eyes of his mysterious manager, Colonel Tom Parker (a prosthetics-heavy Tom Hanks), ‘Elvis’ is a kaleidoscopic look at fame, excess and blue suede shoes.

While Elvis himself never made it Down Under, his story did – via Arundel, which doubled as Memphis’s Beale Street, and soundstages at Village Roadshow Studios. Long live the King – through films like this one, and through public murals like the one you can see in Burleigh when you’re heading northbound on the Gold Coast Highway.

Muriel’s Wedding (1994)

Starring Toni Collette, Bill Hunter and Rachel Griffiths

Muriel’s stuck in Porpoise Spit (or as we know it, Tweed Heads) with no job, no prospects, and a dangerous ABBA obsession. But when she steals some money, changes her name to Mariel, and makes a new bestie, things take a turn – for better and worse.

Tweed Heads and Coolangatta play themselves here, sort of – this area is the hometown of writer/director PJ Hogan and the spiritual home of ‘you’re terrible, Muriel’. Look out for cameos from Elanora’s The Pines Shopping Centre and Surfers Paradise beach, which Muriel and Rhonda famously bid farewell on their way out of Porpoise Spit.

Aquaman (2018)

Starring Jason Momoa, Amber Heard and Willem Dafoe

Half man, half fish, full hero. Arthur Curry has a trident to claim and a world to save from his power-hungry brother, Orm. Expect high-stakes underwater battles, dazzling visuals, and Jason Momoa doing his best brooding sea god impression.

Much of ‘Aquaman’ was filmed at Village Roadshow Studios, but the GC cameos don’t stop there. Main Beach was transformed into Amnesty Bay, Massachusetts, and Currumbin’s dramatic rock formations were made to look like Morocco for an important training scene.

The Shallows (2016)

Starring Blake Lively

In this harrowing survival thriller, a stranded surfer fights just metres from shore – with only open water and a very persistent Great White in between. The plot is simple, yet super suspenseful.

Although it looks like Mexico, most of the film was shot right here in Queensland. The bulk was filmed inside a giant pool at Village Roadshow Studios, with lush Mount Tamborine doubling as jungle.

Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

Directed by Taika Waititi, starring Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston and Cate Blanchett

Thor’s having a rough week. He’s imprisoned, facing off against Hulk in an alien gladiator pit, and his long-lost sister (Cate Blanchett in goth glam) wants to destroy Asgard. Good thing he’s got a Kiwi director with a killer sense of humour.

This Marvel epic was mostly shot on the Gold Coast, and featured its fair share of homegrown Aussie talent. Over two dozen sets were built at Village Roadshow Studios, and more scenes were filmed at Oxenford Quarry and Mount Tamborine. Even the New York scenes? Faked in Brisbane. Perhaps the Bifrost is closer than we think?

Thirteen Lives (2022)

Starring Viggo Mortensen, Colin Farrell and Joel Edgerton | Directed by Ron Howard

You know the story: a Thai soccer team is trapped in a flooded cave, and an international rescue mission scrambles to save them. But Ron Howard’s retelling is as tense and gripping as if you were hearing (and seeing) it for the first time.

While it’s set in Thailand, much of Thirteen Lives was filmed in the Gold Coast hinterland – Mudgeeraba, Numinbah Valley, Canungra and Springbrook (Old School Road, if you’re hunting locations). Cave scenes were built in Village Roadshow Studios, proving once again the GC can stand in for, well, anywhere.

House of Wax (2005)

Starring Elisha Cuthbert, Chad Michael Murray, Paris Hilton

Ah, the mid-2000s: low-rise jeans, nu-metal soundtracks and horror movies with Paris Hilton. ‘House of Wax’ is delightfully, frightfully ridiculous – a group of friends stumbles upon a creepy wax museum and realise the exhibits are a little too lifelike.

The fictional town of Ambrose was built near Guanaba, off Hollindale Road. But the production made headlines for more than its jump scares. A fire broke out on set, destroying part of Warner Bros. Movie World Studios and prompting a $7 million lawsuit. The drama behind the scenes was almost as wild as the movie itself.

Peter Pan (2003)

Starring Jeremy Sumpter, Jason Isaacs and Rachel Hurd-Wood | Directed by PJ Hogan

Forget the animated version – this live-action Peter Pan brings the story’s darker undertones to the fore, with Jason Isaacs pulling double duty as both Mr. Darling and Captain Hook. It’s magical, a little eerie, and very early-2000s.

Filming took place at Village Roadshow Studios, with sprawling sets standing in for Neverland. There’s also a touching backstory: the film was co-produced by Mohammed Al-Fayed, in honour of his late son Dodi’s – who died in the same Paris car accident that killed his girlfriend, Princess Diana – dream of making a ‘Peter Pan’ film. That same year, the release of ‘Finding Neverland’ was pushed back so this version could fly solo.

Goodbye Paradise (1982)

Starring Ray Barrett, Robyn Nevin and Guy Doleman

A sun-drenched neo-noir with big ‘80s energy, ‘Goodbye Paradise’ follows disgraced ex-cop Michael Stacey as he drinks, types and digs into corruption on the Gold Coast. It’s got cults, secessionists, seedy motels – basically Queensland’s answer to ‘Chinatown’.

Filmed entirely in and around Surfers Paradise, the script was shaped by a week-long research trip here. The original plot featured a Jonestown-style commune, but real-world events forced a rewrite. Critics have called it “the greatest Queensland film ever made” – and honestly, they might be right.

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