Brisbane & Around - Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef - page 196

where the ferries dock. Amity is a small village on the northwestern corner. Much of the is-
land's southern section is closed to visitors because of sand mining.
Interestingly, North and South Stradbroke Islands used to be one single island, but a
savage storm blew through the sand spit between the two in 1896.

Sights
At Point Lookout, the eye-popping North Gorge Headlands Walk is an absolute highlight. It's
an easy 20-minute loop around the headland along boardwalks, with the thrum of cicadas
as your soundtrack. Keep an eye out for turtles, dolphins and manta rays offshore. The
view from the headland down Main Beach is a showstopper.
There are several gorgeous beaches around Point Lookout. A patrolled swimming area,
Cylinder Beach is popular with families and is flanked by Home Beach and the ominously
named Deadman's Beach. Further around the point, Frenchman's Beach is another peace-
ful, secluded spot if you're not fussed by the odd nudist wandering past. Most of these
spots have surf breaks, too. Near the Headlands Walk, surfers and bodyboarders descend
on Main Beach in search of the ultimate wave.
Fisher-folk take their 4WDs further down Main Beach (4WD permit required; $39.55
from Straddie Camping ( Click here ) ) towards Eighteen Mile Swamp , continuing all the way
down the east coast to Jumpinpin, the channel that separates North and South Stradbroke,
a legendary fishing spot.
About 4km east of Dunwich, the tanin-stained Brown Lake is the colour of stewed tea, but
is completely OK for swimming. There are picnic tables, barbecues and a toilet at the
lake. About 4km further along this road, take the 2.6km (40-minute) bush track to Strad-
die's glittering centrepiece, Blue Lake , part of Naree Budjong Djara National Park
( www.nprsr.qld.gov.au/parks/naree-budjong-djara ) : keep an eye out for forest birds, skittish lizards
and swamp wallabies along the way. There's a wooden viewing platform at the lake,
which is encircled by a forest of paperbarks, eucalypts and banksias. You can cool off in
the water, if you don't mind the spooky unseen depths. Further north towards Point
Lookout, The Keyholes is a freshwater lake and lagoon system. There's 4WD access via the
beach (permit required). Another happy diversion is a visit to Myora Springs - swimming
holes surrounded by lush vegetation and walking tracks - near the coast about 4km north
of Dunwich.

North Stradbroke Island Historical Museum

MUSEUM