A local's guide to Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island)

Taking a beat in the shady garden cafe of The Barn Café (formerly the Fruit Barn) should be first on the agenda when you disembark. It’s right near the dock at Goompie (Dunwich), and offers some of the tastiest and healthiest eats on the island. As a community hub, this café is where locals congregate. Everything here is made from scratch and with love, so you can be assured of a healthful feed. Start your island visit with a yarn over coffee, then grab some gourmet salad for a picnic later. 

Can't-beat-it breakfast

Even though you’re not on the mainland anymore, a fulsome breakfast with a stellar view is still the most invigorating way to start the day.

Located at Point Lookout, the Blue Room is an ever popular cafe serving nourishing, hearty breakfasts and damn fine coffee before a sweeping view of the ocean.

Whether you start your day here, or make your way over after an early morning surf, they’re guaranteed to put you in good stead. Duck next door to the adjoining grocery store for some pantry basics if you’re planning to extend your stay.

Top spot for a tipple

When the sun starts sinking and the sky turns orange, locals in the know head for Yabby Street and the beautifully landscaped lawns of the Little Ship Club. The crowd is quiet and mostly local, which makes for the perfect mellow ambience to see out a day on the surf. With a nightly chorus of lorikeets, and views over the water, it’s a top spot for a sundowner or three.

For a casual beer with some of the best views on the island, you can’t beat grabbing a table on the deck of Point Lookout Surf Life Saving Club. The bar is open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 12pm – and you might even spot a humpback whale or two during migration season.

Best fish & chips

Brothers Dan and Colin Battersby opened Fishes at the Point in 2006, and have been going strong ever since. Their promise is simple, but always fills the bill, offering some of the freshest fish on the island, and icy cold beer to go with it. As locals, both brothers are passionate about island conservation and their local community. So Fishes adheres to the highest standards of sustainability in every aspect from overheads to the fresh produce used. Come by for a classic fish and chips and take it across the road for a picnic overlooking the pacific. 

Feast on local produce

Fish and chips are a well-trod classic, but for something a bit special for Sunday lunch,  grab a whole bunch of cooked prawns and head to your favourite beach. The Prawn Shack deals in the freshest catch from local trawlers, with everything from fresh fillets to calamari to mussels. It’s an absolute go-to for locals.

If you’ve already spent most of the day on the beach, head off to Bummiera (Brown Lake) just east of Goompie (Dunwich). It’s one of Stradbroke’s largest and most sacred lakes, surrounded by tea trees. The Traditional Owners used the banks as a place to show respect to the spirit snake, Yuri Kaboo. Today, locals come to enjoy and connect with nature.

The secret only a local would know

Point Lookout Bushcare is a volunteer group of dedicated locals who help preserve the local bushland. They hold regular working bees to help regenerate parts of the island. As part of their efforts, the community group also propagates native plants for sale, most of which aren’t available in mainland nurseries. You can buy some of these plants at their nursery, located at Headland Reserve, or at the Sunday Market. 

Must-do activity

Wake up with the birds, just before sunrise, and do the North Gorge Walk at Mulumba (Point Lookout Headland). This track can get busy during the day, which is why locals know to go early. Along the trail you might catch sight of a family of kangaroos, black cormorants watching for fish, and sometimes even the odd echidna. Down near the water there are sea eagles, manta rays, turtles, dolphins, and, in season, as many as a dozen whales. Early morning is always best. 

Delve into Minjerribah's culture