5 Straddie Highlights
EL Singapore|October 2019
Shamus Sillar enjoys a return to one of Australia’s great holiday islands, easily accessible from Singapore.
Shamus Sillar
5 Straddie Highlights

Queensland is famous for the Great Barrier Reef, a 2,300km string of 900 islands that has been a World Heritage Site for almost 40 years.

Head beyond the southern end of the reef, closer to the state capital Brisbane, and you’ll find a handful of very different islands: Fraser, Moreton, and Stradbroke. These three have their own claim to fame: they’re the largest “sand islands” on Earth. They’re also winning spots for a holiday – particularly for families.

I visited Stradbroke Island many moons ago, but it was for my brother’s “buck’s night” (bachelor party). Let’s just say my memory of the place is ... hazy. Now that I’ve returned for an extended weekend with my wife and two daughters in tow, I doubt I’ll ever forget it. “Straddie”, as it’s known by locals, impressed us at every turn.

#1 Gorge on the views

Get your bearings while taking in a stretch of Greek Island-worthy coastline by doing the 1.5km North Gorge Walk. It conveniently starts across the road from some of Straddie’s best cafés, so you can fuel up on flat whites and milkshakes before setting off. The rock formations and water colour along the kid-friendly boardwalk are so pretty, you’ll be ripping out the “gorge”/”gorgeous” puns in no time. Kangaroos lining the path are an added bonus.

#2 Watch for whales

This story is from the October 2019 edition of EL Singapore.

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This story is from the October 2019 edition of EL Singapore.

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