"It might be only 40 minutes by ferry from Brisbane, but when North Stradbroke Island, or Minjerribah, comes into focus - a soft line of bush, dunes and open water - and you roll off the barge, the city skyline feels like a sci-fi memory. It's no wonder that the locals and in-the-know Brisbanites guard this island with a conspiratorial hush."
"Roads curl past scribbly gum and paperbark wetlands, and weather-beaten shacks with corrugated iron roofs and wraparound verandas added over decades. On blue days, teenagers with salt-dried hair wait at bus stops, surfboards tucked under their arms, duffel bags slung low. There's a recurring motif of kids peeling off on half-hidden tracks that open onto unbroken crescents of biscuit-coloured sand. People often describe "Straddie" as "Byron before Byron became Byron", but the analogy undersells it."
Australia contains celebrated cities alongside many overlooked corners that merit attention. North Stradbroke Island (Minjerribah), a 40-minute ferry from Brisbane, presents bush, dunes and open water that feel removed from the city. The island features weather-beaten shacks, paperbark wetlands and protected foreshore stretching from Cylinder Beach to Main Beach. Local life is laid-back, with surfers, backpackers and teenagers using half-hidden tracks to reach unspoilt sand crescents. Development is limited and the land is fiercely protected, preserving surf culture, community-focused hubs like Point Lookout and frequent whale sightings.
Read at CN Traveller
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