North Stradbroke Island

Getting to North Stradbroke

I had planned of making a trip to North Stradbroke Island this visit to Brisbane.  I had toyed with the idea of diving but in the end decided it wouldn’t be warm enough for me.  Having checked the weather forecast, I decided that my Stradbroke trip would be today because the weather was expected to deteriorate slightly.

With my body still on New Zealand time, I woke at 0600 and was on the rather empty train bound for Cleveland before 0700.  I had planned on catching the train about 15 mins later (or the one an hour after that).

The ride to Cleveland took about an hour through the city, then the suburbs and green patches.  I reached Cleveland around 0800.  It was a quiet seaside suburb with a marina.  I saw the free shuttle bus to the ferry leaving as I walked out from the station.  Damn!

My tummy was crying out for breakfast but there was nothing around the station area.  I returned to the station area and after a short wait, took the public bus to the ferry.  As a connection from the train, it didn’t cost me anything.

The bus terminated at the Sealink ferry office but everyone chose to walk over to the Gold Cats office next door.  Their schedules and prices are identical or similar.  I went along with the locals and went with Gold Cats at 0855.

Amity Point

After 25 mins of smooth conditions, we arrived at North Stradbroke Island.  The local bus connected seamlessly to the ferry and I bought a $10 all-day pass.  I wanted to go to Amity Point and that involved a transfer to a waiting minibus on which I was the only one.

At Amity Point, I could look back at the skyscrapers of Brisbane in the distance.  After initial disappointment of not seeing any koalas hiding in the trees, I saw one crawling in the carpark towards the nearby trees.  It climbed up the trunk of a tree and remained at a safe height, unafraid of my proximity.

I grabbed a pie from the general store and ate it looking out to sea, hoping to see some dolphins.  The area is supposed to be good for spotting the smaller marine mammal while the larger humpback whale may sometimes be sighted at my next stop.

After about 30 mins at Amity Point, I hopped back on the same minibus, again as the only passenger.  I was taken to the transfer point where I joined the main bus coming from the ferry and headed to Point Lookout.

Text continues after this gallery.

Point Lookout and Gorge Walk

At Point Lookout, it was nearly 1100 and I felt ready for more food.  That’s despite having had a pie not long before.  Yeah, it was the 2h time difference with New Zealand and the early start.

I started the Gorge Walk from the north side and noticed a sign stating that the walk is partially closed.   Due to a storm and resulting erosion, the mid-section of the W-shaped walk has been closed.  I would have to experience the walk from both ends separately.  As it turned out, the mid-section face each other and I didn’t actually miss anything in terms of view.

The Gorge Walk is a short walk, largely on well-constructed boardwalk.  Depending on one’s luck, humpback whales, turtles and manta rays may be spotted from land.  No such luck for me, but I had plenty of beautiful weather and gorgeous scenery of the sea and white sandy beaches.

Back at the shops of Point Lookout I grabbed an iced coffee and sat at the picnic area.  There was lot of kangaroo droppings but no kangaroos.  I don’t think they would be out here while the place was busy so I’m guessing they’re out in the early hours or at night.

[Edit:  I’m glad I didn’t go diving.  Two days after my visit, a dive group lost one diver.  It was the second loss in a month.]

Text continues after this gallery.

Returning to Brisbane

After less than 3h at Point Lookout, I boarded the 1350 bus to the ferry near Dunwich.  I was on the 1430 ferry back to Cleveland where the shuttle took me to the station for an immediate departure back to Brisbane.  I made it back to the hostel about 1600, making it an 8h day.

I had been introduced by Ivan to an app called EatClub.  Restaurants list highly discounted deals in anticipation of periods of low patronage.  I found a restaurant nearby specializing in Russian, Baltic and Balkan cuisine that offered 45% off meals and drinks.  I booked for dinner at 1700 and once there, ordered Golubtsi (cabbage rolls filled with mince) and Kvass (fermented bread drink).  It felt like a nice home-cooked dinner.

With not eating at the right times, my neckache and headache had returned during the day.  I felt like I needed an early night and settled into bed at 1830 but didn’t sleep till a couple of hours later.