While plenty of Australians flock overseas each year, there's nothing quite like holidaying at home. And for most of us, the quintessential local holiday means a holiday by the sea. If you haven't yet visited North Stradbroke Island, get ready to unearth some of Queenslands best beaches. With glorious stretches of white sand and crescent bays, Straddie is an island paradise that's ideal for any family. Here are just some of the family beaches on Stradbroke just waiting for your arrival!
Amity Point
Located on the northwestern tip of the island, Amity is a charming village just waiting to be explored. The Amity swimming enclosure is located beside the public jetty and the calm waters of Moreton Bay make it a popular spot for families, especially those with young children. Paddle boarders and kayakers also appreciate the tranquil ocean on this side of the island. It is unpatrolled however, so if you do swim here, remember to take care.
Toompany Beach
A secluded paradise, Toompany Beach and its ever-changing shoreline is the perfect option for long walks on the beach. With its ever-changing shoreline and raw beauty, Toompany Beach allows vistors to unwind and connect with nature. Fronted by the Rainbow Channel, beach fishing can be a successful venture with mackrel, tuna, taylor, brim and whiting being common catches. Toompany Beach is not patrolled - do not swim out into the deep tidal channel with its strong currents.
Flinders Beach
Flinders Beach is a popular camping spot, and is also unpatrolled. It is dog friendly however, if you bring your pooch, it must be kept on a leash at all times. Flinders Beach runs all the way along the eastern end of the island and on low tide it is possible to drive a 4WD all the way to Point Lookout.
Dunwich
Dunwich is the main village gateway to Straddie, and it's here that most of the locals live. There's a sandy beach at Dunwich, which like Amity Beach, faces the calmer western waters of Moreton Bay. Again, it's unpatrolled, so always watch children carefully.
Point Lookout
Point Lookout is located on the north-eastern tip of Stradbroke Island and arguably offers some of the best surf beaches in Australia. Depending on the wind direction, a good swell can usually be found on one of the five beaches around this bustling township. Offshore are several rocky outcrops above sea level which offers excellent diving experiences and the headland is an ideal location for land-based seawatching.
Main Beach
As the name suggests, Main Beach is Straddie's most significant beach, with 32km of soft white sands and quite a few sand dunes. It's popular with swimmers, surfers and bodyboarders. Swells can be strong at certain times, however it is patrolled. When swimming here, always stay within the flags. Don't miss a climb to the headland for spectacular views. If you're lucky, you might even spot dolphins or whales frolicking offshore.
Cylinder Beach
Cylinders beach is a pretty crescent beach located between Cylinders and Home Beach Headlands on the east of the island. It's one of the most popular family beaches on Stradbroke, being easily accessible with a carpark nearby, and it is patrolled in summer. There are picnic tables, BBQ facilities and toilets on hand, so it's a great spot to make a family day of it.
Deadmans & Frenchmans Beach
Both of these pretty beaches are in secluded spots on the eastern rim of the island. There are no lifesaving patrols, but both offer lots of rockpools where you might discover small fish, crabs and anemones.
Home Beach
Home beach is unpatrolled, but is a great spot for a relaxing stroll with no 4WD vehicles permitted. The beach extends for around a kilometre from Cylinders Beach Headland to Adder Rock.
Ready for your Family Holiday?
Not only are there great beaches to explore on Straddie, there's a network of ecologically important lakes in the centre of the island, a wonderful array of wildlife and marine life, and plenty of great spots to eat. With a wide range of island accommodation available, it's also friendly on the family wallet. Choose from our range of Stradbroke holiday homes, cottages, apartments, waterfront and even pet-friendly properties.
Wherever you go, we're pretty sure you'll have a ball discovering all there is to wonderland North Stradbroke Island. So when you're ready for a fantastic family holiday experience on Stradbroke, take a look at our range of quality holiday rentals.