R&H Suburb Profile NORTH STRADBROKE ISLAND

North Stradbroke Island is an island on the outer edge of Moreton Bay, Queensland, 30km south-east of Brisbane. Before 1896 the island was part of the Stradbroke Island. A storm separated it from South Stradbroke Island, forming the Jumpinpin Channel. The island is about 38km long and 11km wide. It is known colloquially as Straddie.

The permanent population is quite small, but the number of people on the island swells significantly during the holiday season. The only access is by vehicular or passenger ferries leaving from Cleveland.

North Stradbroke Island has three townships. Dunwich is the largest and has most services including a school, medical centre, local museum and university marine research station. Point Lookout is on the surf side of the island and is the major tourist destination in the holiday season. The third is Amity Point, a much smaller popular fishing spot. Flinders Beach is a small settlement of mostly holiday houses located on the main beach between Amity and Point Lookout.

The only public hotel on the island is at Point Lookout, affectionately known by locals as the Straddie Pub. There are also a variety of cafes and restaurants.

North Stradbroke Island is known for its long clean white beaches in the east and its peacefulness due to a long isolation and a rich diversity of nature, including whales passing Point Lookout. After a brief rest the Humpbacks, Southern Wright and occasionally Blue Whales move on to their Hervey Bay and Whitsunday breeding grounds.

All townships on the island are linked by bitumen roads. A 4WD is required for driving on beaches and inland tracks. A permit is required and is available from Stradbroke Tourism.