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moreton bay: general info
· regional links
· history
· things to do
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NORTH STRADBROKE ISLAND
Calling Code: +61
While for some, the sleepy atmosphere of Straddie takes a little getting used to, it takes no time at all to appreciate the island's natural beauty.
First stop, Main beach. This is a 32km straight run of wide white sand to the island's southern tip and is ideal for island-style camping, swimming and fishing. The uninhibited camper would love Main Beach.
After a 4WD south along the beach for 13km, you're free to choose your own campsite. If you want to camp behind the dunes with nothing else but a tent, good mates, smelly bait, no toilet or water, and some beer, then Main Beach is the perfect place for some male bonding.
Try a 4WD off the beach and up a dried up creek bed to a great picnic spot called the Keyholes. Here, clean fresh water, filtered by the sand, gathers in a keyhole-shaped lagoon. This area is considered an open-air aviary for more than 250 species of native birds.
Back to the beaches - Flinders and Cylinder Beaches. While both are popular with families, Cylinder Beach is also a favourite with surfers as it dishes out long barrelling waves that break some distance offshore.
Flinders Beach is situated between Amity Point and Point Lookout and 19km from Dunwich. Camping is right on the beachfront but accessible only by 4WD from Amity Point or Point Lookout.
North Stradbroke Island is fully accessible by private 4WD's and conventional vehicles from the mainland using Stradbroke Ferries from Cleveland. There are 14 vehicular ferry services each day, but it is still wise to book.
Permits are also available for beach driving from either the ferry operator and selected outlets on the island.
North Stradbroke or "Straddie" to the locals offers a full range of accommodation from the hotel on the bluff near Point Lookout to caravan parks, backpacker hostels and luxury homes and flats. The island's National Park includes the strikingly beautiful Blue Lake and was once considered the site for the capital of Queensland. It was home to Oodgeroo Noonuccal (Kath Walker), an Aboriginal activist and one of Australia's best known poets.
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