About South Stradbroke Island

Pristine white sand dunes, miles of secluded beaches, livistona rainforests and melaleuca wetlands, abundant wildlife and boating and fishing opportunities in the calm waters of The Broadwater, make South Stradbroke Island Conservation Park a peaceful getaway, just a stone’s throw from the Gold Coast.

South Stradbroke Island is one of more than 360 islands within Moreton Bay. South Stradbroke Island, commonly referred to as ‘Straddy’ by locals, sits just 200 metres north of the northern most point of The Spit. The island has hundreds of wild wallabies that are well known for joining campers at their fires.

Location

South Stradbroke Island is 1–2km by boat from the Gold Coast.

South Stradbroke Island Conservation Park features 

South Stradbroke Island Conservation Park features 22km of pristine white surf beach on the eastern side of the island. The calm waterways of The Broadwater on the western side are perfect for paddling and other water sports.

The island is the most southern sand island in Moreton Bay and its tip is the southern boundary of Moreton Bay Marine Park. Together with North Stradbroke Island and Moreton Island, it forms the eastern boundary of Moreton Bay.

The island’s vegetation consists mainly of coastal dunes, remnant livistona (cabbage palm) rainforest, melaleuca wetlands, and coastal forests and woodlands. The intertidal areas boast an array of mangroves, salt marshes and mudflats.

The striking golden swamp wallaby, endemic to North and South Stradbroke islands, and the agile wallaby, once common to the region, are often seen on the island.

The park offers spectacular views of the Gold Coast and vantage points to catch glimpses of humpback whales on their annual migration between July and October.

Getting there and getting around

South Stradbroke Island is 1–2km across The Broadwater from the northern Gold Coast suburbs of Paradise Point and Runaway Bay. You can get there several ways, either by private boat, water taxi, boat hire, sea plane, jet ski or kayak.

The island lies between the Gold Coast Spit and North Stradbroke Island (Minjerribah). To the south, The Spit is just 350m across the Gold Coast Seaway while North Stradbroke Island to the north is separated by the 1km wide Jumpinpin bar.

Private boat access

South Stradbroke Island can be reached by private boat from several departure points including the Jacobs Well boat ramp, Runaway Bay Marina, Sanctuary Cove Marina and Marina Mirage at Main Beach. Select a departure point that best suits your destination on this island.

For Couran Cove Resort and Couran Point (location of the house), on the central-west of the island, the boat ride is approximately 20 minutes from Runaway Bay Marina or 25 minutes from the Jacobs Well boat ramp.

No public moorings are available at South Stradbroke Island. Private vessels can anchor in The Broadwater along the western side of the island.

Boating maps by Maritime Safety Queensland should be used as a guide for navigation.

Four-wheel-drive access on the island

Four-wheel-drive access for visitors is limited as transport to the island is by boat only. There are no public vehicle barge services operating to the island. Four-wheel-drive (4WD) vehicles using the park’s tracks must stay on designated roads and vehicle tracks. Driving on or over vegetation, including the fore dunes, is prohibited. All vehicles must be fully road-registered and drivers licensed. All Queensland road rules apply. Erosion and sand build-up along Eastern Beach can impact on beach access tracks making them unsafe to traverse. Access tracks may be temporarily closed when conditions are deemed unsafe. Drivers are advised to use an alternative beach access track when this occurs.

The below tracks provide access to Eastern Beach:

Doeblien Drive

Lake Clayton Road

Currigee North beach access

Currigee South beach access

The use of conditionally registered vehicles such as side by sides and quad bikes are not permitted in the conservation park