STRADBROKE ISLAND

 North Stradbroke Island is a sub-tropical Island, located 30k south east of Brisbane, and is the world's second largest sand island: about 38 km long and 11 km wide. It's nickname is Straddie but it's real name is Minjerribah, named by the Quandamooka people the traditional custodians of the land. They have been there for 21,000 years.

European contact was first made by Captain Cook in 1770 and he named Point Lookout. Later  Stradbroke Island  became a convict depot, a quarantine station, an asylum and a pilot station to guide ships through Moreton Bay to the penal settlement on the mainland, which eventually became Brisbane

In those days Stradbroke was one island but a cargo ship carrying dynamite ran aground and it was detonated for safety reasons. The explosion could have caused the fragile sand mass to move and a gale helped to eventually break through the island and now we have North Stradbroke and South Stradbroke Islands.

North Stradbroke is very beautiful, with beaches, lakes and a National Park. It now has camping grounds, holiday houses and resorts but it is a very laid back destination for a holiday or a day visit. Tourism started in 1964 when a drive on drive off barge started operating from Cleveland to Dunwich. There are three townships on the Island. Dunwich, Amity Point and Point Lookout.

After my dad died my mother used to fly from Sydney to Brisbane for holidays. We took her to Stradbroke Island in 1984. She was 72 and I was 52.

This is where we stayed. It was winter time but the weather was beautiful and warm. We walked on the beaches and through the National Park.

Cylinder Beach Stradbroke Island. There are other beautiful beaches on Straddie but this one is the most popular because it is easily accessible by car and the waves are gentler perfect for families. Life savers patrol the beach, (photo from web)

Blue lake in the Naree Budjong Djara National Park on North Stradbroke Island. (Photo from web.)