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Weekend in North Stradbroke Island!

Clint Bizzell | July 5, 2012 | 3:15 pm | Comment

Jesse and Clint on a Boys Weekend in North Stradbroke Island
Jesse and Clint on North Stradbroke Island (‘Straddie’)

North Stradbroke Island, or ‘Straddie’ as the locals affectionately call it, is just a hop, skip and a jump from Brisbane, and a popular holiday spot among people from Queensland. Just a short 40-minute ferry ride from Cleveland, 30km southeast of Brisbane, and you are on the second largest sand island in the world. It’s the perfect getaway for a weekend (or longer!) and we are on a boys weekend in North Stradbroke Island to see what adventures await.

Boys Weekend in North Stradbroke Island

Driving the XV off the ferry and into the arrival town of Dunwich early in the morning, the sun is shining and the ocean sparkling. You can’t help but feel those prickles of excitement when you know that there is fun ahead… Driving the 18km or so north towards the area of Point Lookout where most holidaymakers congregate, we can see the beaches to the right of us and coastal wilderness to our left where freshwater lakes and waterways pepper the landscape.

An easy and spectacular drive later, we arrive at Adder Rock Campground, our home during our weekend in North Stradbroke Island and it’s not long before we have the caravan set up and the barbie sizzling with bacon and eggs. For me (Clint), it is a nostalgic return to this island, the place of my childhood holidays. Keen to get back into the swing of things and show Jesse around, it’s not long before the temptation of getting into the water is too much to resist. After all, one of the best things to do around here is surf on Cylinder Beach. Meeting Murray from North Stradbroke Island Surf School, it’s not long before we are out on those clear aqua waves and having a ball!

The beaches are pristine, white and sandy, and there are spectacular rocky outcrops, which provide a haven for all kinds of sea life, from turtles to dolphins to manta rays. From Cylinder Beach, it is also not uncommon to see humpback whales during the season.

After our surf, we have to experience the North Gorge Walk, a new headland walk at the western end of Point Lookout. This is the very best vantage point to see those whales, and today we are treated to turtles putting on a show for us in the clear, turquoise waters.

Kayaking on a Boys Weekend in North Stradbroke Island
Having a ball while kayak fishing

There are so many things to do around here. The ‘Straddie Pub’ is an iconic old hotel first opened in 1962 and a great place to while away an afternoon or evening. But we are keen to work hard for our dinner and are heading out with Luke and Mia from Straddie Watersports for some kayak fishing – what’s a better thing to do on a boys weekend in North Stradbroke Island, right?

Kayak fishing might sound like a hard combination of two activities. But there is a little trick to this – a motor in the kayak! It’s not long before we put them to use. It’s a fantastic trip out from Amity Point at low tide. Luke tells us you can catch flathead, whiting, bream, mackerel, snapper, tuna, squid and more out here, but just our luck and nothing is biting!

It doesn’t really matter though, lots of fun was had and there are great seafood trawlers back on land to stock up on what we didn’t catch! It’s the perfect end to the day back at the campsite with fresh prawns on the barbie, as the sun sets over the magnificent cove behind us, and a great reminder of why I loved this island so much as a child.

Have you ever spent a weekend in North Stradbroke Island?

About Clint Bizzell

From climbing mountains, to finding himself in bronco-branding competitions in the Outback, Clint is always up for a good time and willing to give anything a go. Clint enjoyed 12 years as an AFL footballer, but these days he shares his love for the world and it's people through Places We Go.

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I was lucky enough explore regional Victoria earli I was lucky enough explore regional Victoria earlier in the year (between lockdowns!), and tour the Goldfields with @big4holidayparks – Sure, I got my much-needed fix of the outdoors and was able to feed my insatiable curiosity as I explored the regions utterly fascinating history & culture, but it was sitting up at the old bar of family run Munari wines, just outside of Heathcote that got me.
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 Chatting to the chief winemaker Adrian Munari, and his daughter India (over a lovely red, of course) I heard all about the historic sheep station that was established in 1871, and life on the property today. (I wonder how the farmers endured the pandemic in 1919?)  
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Here’s to a happy summer holiday for us all, of enjoying those ‘moments’, wherever we are. 
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 I based myself at the @BIG4BendigoAscotHolidayPark 
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 See link in bio if want to plan your own getaway 😍
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#holidayhearthisyear #ExploreBIG4 #BIG4HolidayParks #VisitVictoria @visitmelbourne
WHO WANTS TO **WIN** A LUXURIOUS 2-NIGHT GETAWAY? WHO WANTS TO **WIN** A LUXURIOUS 2-NIGHT GETAWAY?
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How would you (and a friend!) like to escape to NSW’s New England Tablelands on a 2-night LUXURIOUS getaway, experiencing the best of Armidale’s premium accom, stunning food, wine & beer, an immersion in the local arts AND a World-Heritage Listed backyard to cap it off? 
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Your weekend will include: 
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- 2 night premium suite package at the historic Tattersalls Hotel (including food & drink from their award-winning restaurant & breakfast included) 
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- A special "Private Directors Tour" at the New England Regional Art Museum of HINTON: Treasures of Australian Art, plus some goodies to take home! 
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- Grabbing a beer at Great Hops Brewing Company PLUS some special gifts delivered to your home
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- A special Hema Australian Atlas & Guide plus a NSW State Map 
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Take it from me, this is worth entering, and if you do in fact WIN, set your alarm and get up for sunrise in the New England National Park, followed by a trip to Wollomombi Falls (the second highest falls in the county!) - it was sincerely exceptional.
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Oh and say hello to John at the Tattersalls Hotel, Rachael from the Art Gallery, and Sam from Great Hops Brewery. 
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 **TAG A FRIEND YOU'D  LOVE TO TAKE, and increase your chances of winning by both entering.. I know I would 😉❤
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Good luck, 
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WE HAVE LIFT OFF!!! ON TV TODAY 😎🕺 . Would WE HAVE LIFT OFF!!! ON TV TODAY 😎🕺
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Would love you to join me as we celebrate the locals of #armidale on TV today
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Tune in (or set your record buttons) @ 1.30pm, ON TEN **TODAY**
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A special thanks to all those that not only shared their magnificent backyard with us, but who opened their hearts and let our TV cameras in.
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Armidale, you can no longer use the term “hidden treasure” 😉
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Ps did I say “today” enough times? 😆🤪🙏 Jen xx
ARMIDALE IN THE SPOTLIGHT Ready for another cele ARMIDALE IN THE SPOTLIGHT
 
Ready for another celebration of a brilliant person and travel experience for us all?
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Meet James Rainger from @fleetadventures 
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He not only spends his life taking us travellers on scenic chopper tours over his World-Heritage Listed backyard of the #newengland region – he’s one of the many brilliant pilots who you’ll find hovering above the blazing heat helping fight our Australian Bushfires.
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“To be part of the firefighting team is being in the #armidale  community - we all live here, our kids go to school here, so we love it. Armidale is a community where we all band together, we’re very passionate about our backyard, and we hope it shows.. and we certainly hope people come and see what it’s like. We’ve got a unique view of part of the world that not many people get to see. And there are not hordes of people here, so it’s very personal, we like to bring people into our world and our life – and share it – thank you for taking the time to come and visit us… “
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As for the flight? Put it on your @theaustralianbucketlist
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Jen xx

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