North Stradbroke Island is surrounded by an abundance of marine life. Spot whales, dolphins, rays and turtles along Point Lookout’s short and easy loop track.

Highlights
  • Stunning views
  • Excellent land-based whale, dolphin, and turtle watching
  • Suitable for all ages
  • Beautiful beaches
  • Easily accessible from the mainland
Take The Gorge Walk Around Point Lookout

Minjerribah, North Stradbroke Island, or ‘Straddie’ as the locals call it, is an island paradise on Quandamooka Country that’s easily accessible from Brisbane by car or public transport.

The Gorge Walk is a 1.3km loop on a well-maintained track that includes sections of boardwalk and stairs that protect the headlands from erosion. The views from the entire track are stunning, particularly when the wind is blowing from the west. On such days the gorge shelters the ocean around it and it feels like you’re looking down into a crystal-clear aquarium rather than the open ocean.

Although terrestrial wildlife can be spotted along the track, it’s the marine life that steals the show. From June to October, the land-based whale watching from this walk is excellent as humpback whales migrate from Antarctica to Hervey Bay and back. Loggerhead turtles frequently enter the gorge looking for jellyfish that become trapped inside. 

There are two headlands along the walk, each with stairs going down to the bottom of them. These are undoubtedly the best spots to sit and wait for marine life to pass. Pods of dolphins frequently come to feed here, or to surf the waves repeatedly as they break towards the gorge.

At the end of the loop are a few shops including a restaurant, bakery, and gelato shop to visit before you head down to one of the patrolled surf beaches below. Main Beach, to the south of the gorge, is home to the Point Lookout Life Saving Club. This beautiful beach is a short walk from the gorge and offers stunning conditions on days when the wind is coming from the north.

Cylinder Beach is a slightly longer walk (or bus ride) from the gorge, and provides sheltered swimming conditions when the wind is blowing from the south. Cylinder Beach also offers a patrolled swimming area and was voted Queensland’s best beach in 2017.

At the southern end of the beach there’s a small headland with excellent marine life viewing of dolphins, as well as eagle rays and manta rays. Sometimes these curious dolphins will swim right up to beachgoers. 

Essential Gear
  • Swimmers and towel
  • Insect repellent and sunscreen
  • A hat
  • Plenty of drinking water
  • A camera 

 

How To Get There

There’s a bus service from Cleveland Train Station to the ferry terminal for those who aren’t travelling to the area by car.

Options from the ferry terminal include a walk-on water taxi or vehicle barge with Stradbroke Ferries, or a walk on water taxi with the Stradbroke Flyer.  If you aren’t taking your own vehicle, the island bus meets up with both water taxis. To reach the Gorge Walk at Point Lookout stay on the bus until the final stop.

Activities
  • Land-based whale and dolphin watching
  • Patrolled beach swimming
  • Walking
  • Wildlife spotting
  • Marine and terrestrial wildlife photography

 

Skill Level

Beginner. The Gorge Walk is well signposted and follows a well-maintained track with sections of boardwalk. Unfortunately, the stairs mean that only part of the walk from each end is wheelchair accessible.

Distance Covered / Elevation Gain / Time Taken

The walk is 1.3km return, with a small number of stairs scattered throughout the walk and 30 – 40 leading down to each of the headlands. This walk is easily completed within 30 minutes, however, at least an hour is recommended with time spent on each of the headlands watching for marine wildlife.