North Stradbroke Island
Minjerribah
Brisbane's Sand Island Escape
On the lands of the Quandamooka people.
schedule 1 min read / Updated Jun 2026
The world's second-largest sand island, just 30 minutes by ferry from Brisbane. Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island) is the home country of the Quandamooka people and a favourite weekend escape for Brisbane locals.
North Stradbroke Island, known as Minjerribah ('island in the sun') by the Quandamooka people, is the second-largest sand island in the world after Fraser Island (K'gari). It covers around 275 square kilometres and is reached by a 45 minute car ferry from Cleveland on the mainland. The Quandamooka have lived here for at least 21,000 years and operate several cultural tourism programs through Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation (QYAC).
The three main settlements on the island are Dunwich (the ferry terminal), Amity Point, and Point Lookout. Point Lookout, on the north-eastern tip, is the only place on the eastern Australian mainland or near it where you can stand on a headland and watch humpback whales migrating past in winter, manta rays in summer, and dolphins year-round, all from the same lookout. The North Gorge Walk loops around the headland and is one of the great short walks in south-east Queensland.
Sand mining ended on the island in 2019 and the cleared land is being returned to the Quandamooka under a co-management agreement with the Queensland government.
Tourist locations
Places to visit in North Stradbroke Island.
6 locations to explore
Blue Lake (Karboora) - Naree Budjong Djara National Park
Sacred pool, deep silence
Free
Full guide arrow_forwardBrown Lake (Bummiera)
Amber waters, ancient bush
Free
Full guide arrow_forwardCylinder Beach
Golden sand, calm turquoise water
Free
Full guide arrow_forwardHumpback Highway Whale Watching - Point Lookout
Whales breach, ocean thunders
Free (self-guided); guided land-based tours from $130 adult
Full guide arrow_forwardNorth Gorge Walk
Wild headlands, endless ocean
Free
Full guide arrow_forwardYura Tours - Quandamooka Cultural Experiences
Country, culture, living stories
From $79 adult (Sand Beneath My Feet tour)
Full guide arrow_forwardScenic views
Lookouts near North Stradbroke Island.
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Attribution
Sources & credits
Content (1)
Images (2)
- North Stradbroke Island 01.jpg · J Brew · CC BY-SA 2.0
- Sand mine on North Stradbroke Island, seen on Ferry trip to... · David Jackmanson · CC BY 2.0
Images sourced from Wikimedia Commons under licenses that permit commercial use. If you are the rights holder and believe an attribution is incorrect, please contact us.