North Stradbroke Island – or “Straddie” as it’s affectionately known by Queenslanders – is a perfect place for a short break from Brisbane.

Straddie is a sand island in Moreton Bay offering an abundance of wildlife and adventures. Right on Brisbane’s doorstep and with ferries making the crossing several times a day, it’s a great option to escape the city and enjoy the slower pace of life on the island.

We recently visited Straddie on a weekend getaway from Brisbane with our golden retriever. We got the Friday afternoon 4.30pm ferry, stayed two nights in Amity Point and were back home by Sunday afternoon. Here are our favourite things to do on North Stradbroke Island.

For more ideas of things to do in and around Brisbane have a look at these.

What To Do On The Island

North Gorge Walk

Located in Point Lookout the North Gorge Walk should be top of your list of things to do in Straddie. It’s an easy 1.2km walk mostly on boardwalks and runs right alongside the ocean giving you spectacular views over turquoise water, rocky shoreline and hidden coves. This is a loop walk which you can do in either direction. We prefer to start across the road from the Point Lookout cafes, walking the boardwalks first and finishing up at the Main Beach overlook after which there is a playground and toilets. At the Main Beach overlook stop and spend some time looking out over the water where the surfers congregate. With epic views across the ocean you are almost guaranteed to see wildlife. In the winter you’ll see humpback whales on their annual migration, and in the summer we saw a pod of dolphins and several turtles.

Although this walk is very easy, in the Australian summer the boardwalks get hot when the sun is beating down. Take lots of water and be prepared to be plagued by horseflies. Reward everyone with a cold drink or ice cream at one of the Point Lookout cafes afterwards – we chose the cool shaded Kiosk cafe right across from the playground.

Beaches

You are spoilt for choice on North Stradroke Island with endless coastline and beaches. Main Beach, Cylinder Beach and Home Beach are some of the main beaches.

Home Beach is one of those epic Queensland beaches that seem to stretch for miles. As a bonus, some parts of this beach are off-leash dog friendly so the kids can sit and build a sandcastle while your pooch has the time of his life running around on the beach. Keep in mind the sea is rough here so it’s not the place for swimming.

If you’re thinking about bringing your dog to Straddie and wondering whether the island is dog-friendly, have a look at this article I wrote on that exact subject!

Amity Point

If you prefer to swim in calmer waters, head for the small sheltered swimming beach at Amity Point. The water here is calm and shallow and there are nets up so it’s a safe place to go for a refreshing swim on a hot day. As the marine life is so abundant, bring your snorkel equipment. Walk to the end of the jetty, jump off and snorkel back to shore.

If you’re not inclined to jump into the water, why not sit on a waterfront bench under the shade of a tree at Amity Point and watch the world go by. The pace of life is slower here so embrace it.

Wildlife Spotting

There’s no question – you will see wildlife on Straddie. If you haven’t seen any kangaroos during the day you only have to drive around Point Lookout at dusk and you’ll see them all over the place munching on the grass.

As well as kangaroos you’ll also see a lot of long-legged curlew birds. And if you look up in the trees around Amity Point you might be lucky enough to spot a koala.

As for marine wildlife, this is really abundant. The waters around North Stradbroke Island contain dolphins, whales, turtles and so many different types of fish. Bring your snorkel gear. Around Amity Point especially there is a lot to see close to the shore.

Where To Stay

We like to stay at Sea Shanties in Amity Point. Sea Shanties is a small grouping of cabins sitting right on the water, some of which are dog friendly. On this part of Straddie there aren’t as many beaches and the shoreline is rocky, but the water is teeming with fish and the sunsets are beautiful. There’s a waterfront grassy area where you can sit and watch the water while the kids frolic on the grass. You can go snorkeling right off the rocks, bring your own equipment. In the evening they shine lights onto the water and you can see huge amounts of fish and other marine wildlife, even dolphins if you’re lucky. We saw squid, sharks, dolphins and a lionfish.

In terms of the Sea Shanties cabins themselves, they are small but modern, well-appointed and reasonably priced. If you’re visiting in the summer you’ll be pleased to know the cabins have ceiling fans and air conditioning. Each cabin is only a few steps from the waterfront area.

For alternative accommodation, there are plenty of apartment hotels in Point Lookout and holiday rental houses dotted all over the island. You’ll find lots of accommodation options here.

Where To Eat

The Sea Shanties complex has a camp kitchen where you can prepare your own meals, as well as a small kitchenette inside each cabin. If you’re not inclined to cook you can walk 200m down the road and you’ll stumble upon the Amity Tavern which is casual place to grab a burger and a local beer. It’s also dog-friendly as you’ll be sitting outside on a large deck.

During your time on the island you might also want to go to The Beach Hotel. This is a massive hotel and pub complex overlooking Home Beach near Point Lookout. Up until recently they did not allow dogs, but now you can bring your dog onto the outside deck.

If beer is your tipple, head to the new Straddie Brewery Co in Dunwich for some Island-crafted beer.

Also in Dunwich is The Barn Cafe for coffee or breakfast in the garden.

In Point Lookout there’s quite a few cafes and ice cream shops, but evening dining is limited as these cafes close after lunch.

Getting Around

You can bring your car on the ferry. North Stradbroke Island is a small island and easy to drive around. The towns are located 20 minutes from each other so you can easily get from A to B without too much driving.

For the off-roading fans, there’s a whole world of sand tracks for you to explore on the island. If you like the sound of this but don’t have a 4WD vehicle, why not catch one of these tours instead.

Getting There

The Sealink North Stradbroke Island Ferry runs several times a day from Cleveland on the mainland to Dunwich on Straddie. There are car ferries and passenger ferries, booking ahead is a must. The crossing takes 45 minutes and the ferries have cafes and viewing decks onboard. Loading of the cars is extremely efficient and the ferries run on time. If you’re wanting to catch an earlier ferry than your booking you can join the standby lane for a small fee, they can usually squeeze a few more cars onto each ferry.

If you’re looking for more things to do around Brisbane I have plenty of ideas here.