North Stradbroke Island is one of the largest sand islands in the world. It is located off the east coast of Australia and is a part of the state of Queensland. Also known as "Straddie", the island is a ideal escape from the tough life of the city. The downbeat and relaxed lifestyle, the kilometres of pure white sandy beaches, and the lovely sub-tropical weather make Straddie the perfect place to relax and chill out. Most of the island is untouched with lakes such as the Blue and Brown lakes as well as the Keyhole lakes. Most of these idyllic lakes have sandy shores and are still accessible along gravel tracks. Scenery changes from the rain-forest to the pristinely clear springs and finally to the smashing blue waves along the various beaches.
There are three small areas on the island that are inhabited by humans. Dunwich is the gateway to the island for people coming over from the mainland. This is also an interesting place to explore. It is home to the island's history museum, various historical sites. It also has a waterfront cemetery that has important links with the history of the land. Remnants of both indigenous and European history are present in this particular area. Lookout is paradise for surfers with its high waves at the various popular beaches. These beaches are also the location of most of the island's holiday homes and visitor accommodation. Although there are many clubs and restaurants on the island, the only bar is at Pt Lookout and overlooks the Pacific Ocean. Amity Point is the third and smallest settlement which has a simple laid back charm of its own. Although it is inhabited, the natural beauty of Straddie is virtually untouched. One of the most charming things about the island (for me at least) was the way in which modern developments have come up on it, all the while taking care not to disturb the original inhabitant of the area, i.e. nature.
Getting to Straddie
Although Straddie is not a part of the mainland, getting there is not much of a problem. There are a large number of ferries and water taxis that travel between Cleveland and Straddie at regular intervals. You can catch a train from Brisbane to Cleveland and then hop on to a free bus that will take you down to the ferry terminal.
Activities
Straddie is replete with activities for you to keep yourself busy. Being an island, most of the available activities are related to the sea. These include fishing, snorkelling, scuba diving and surfing.
Accommodation
The variety of holiday accommodations available on Straddie is simply unbelievable. You have a very wide range to choose from, both in terms of comfort and in terms of prices. The most popular mode of accommodation on the island is the apartment. A large number of properties are available for rent and most provide excellent facilities. Living in a property is the preferred for of residence for many people as it is more private than spending nights in hotels. If you are one of these people you'll certainly like the residence options on Straddie.
For more information on island activities, hotel rates and availability, and special package deals and offers, log onto http://www.straddie.info
Amanda Millard is an ardent traveller who has roamed all over the world. She considers herself a global citizen but being an Australian by birth, her heart lies here. Her writings on the various tourist destinations visited by her are both informative and fun to read.
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