Ahhh, Straddie. The feature of countless bumper stickers sitting in traffic on the Gold Coast and Brisbane, with drivers who would undoubtedly rather be sipping a frothy at the Point Lookout Surf Club. 

As someone who grew up on the Gold Coast, I had – I am ashamed to admit – only visited South Stradbroke once, and never North Straddie. Well, that all changed in 2020 when amongst snap locky-dees i managed to visit four times. It is gloriously laidback, accessible, features a novel ferry ride and plentiful options for accommodation. Whether you’re into snazzy places or you have an old-beach-shack-with-shutters-shaped hole in your heart like me, there’s something for everyone.

There are a few different spots you can stay.  Amity Point has a classic sleepy vibe, dolphins visit every night (!!) and also has a great seafood shop where you should absolutely grab some prawns from.

Point Lookout is where the “action” is (I use quotation marks strongly there) and is handy if you don’t have a car because you were stingy and didn’t want to put it on the ferry – no judgment, that has also been me. There’s a bus and it’s handy, it’s not the worst option by any means. I haven’t stayed anywhere else on the island apart from these areas, so I can’t comment on the other spots but it’s not that big if you do have a car and want to drive from one to another. 

Head to the Green room for daily coffee and delish brekkie and lunch bites, stop at the whole food shop next door for your hummus and corn chips and olives and sourdough etc etc, and to the aforementioned Point Lookout Surfclub for (in my humble opinion) one of the best views for a beer in Australia. Apart from that, laze on the beach, go for a walk around the headland or if you are so inclined, go for a surf. 

It’s the ultimate ‘beach holiday’ vibe, but in a simpler sense, not a ‘Let’s-go-to-Noosa-and-deal-with-wankers-from-Brisbane’ sense (the usual legal disclosures apply here #notallbrisbanites, etc etc). What I mean is, there’s less fuss and more enjoyment of the things that make for my opinion of the good life – walks to the pub, simple meals after a day in the sunshine, walks on the beach and dips in the ocean. What more can you really ask for?