South Stradbroke Island Voyage Tips and guide

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South Stradbroke Island is an island and a suburb of the Gold Coast, west of Labrador and is the Southern part of the two Stradbroke Islands. It's the longest and least crowded but also the most remote and inaccessable beach in the Gold Coast area. It is also one of only 15 sand islands in the world.

South Stradbroke has no roads connecting to it so the only way to get there is via a ferry or private boat.

Tipplers Ferry provides a water taxi from Jacobs well to Tipplers Island Resort

The Couran Cove ferry is temporarily shut (Dec 2024) due to a legal dispute with the main resort

If you have a private boat you can go from the Labrador Boat Ramp and park your boat at any of the campgrounds.

Although not recommended it is possible to kayak to the island from Labrador. Only being a 1-km paddle, it is dangerous because of the risk of sharks, sharp rocks near the coast and potentially strong currents. If you wish to kayak over, exercise caution and plan carefully.

Although 4WD vehicles are permitted on the island there are no public vehicle ferry services.

If you have access to a private boat you can freely travel throughout the island's coast with plenty of places to safely park the boat.

Due to the lack of paved surfaces and travel options walking is the main way to travel the island. From north to south the island is approximately 21 km and takes around 4 hours to walk.

South Stradbroke has hundreds of wild wallabies that are usually freindly to humans. They are known for stealing food and joining campers at their fires.

• -27.932851153.4309551 South Seawall Lighthouse (3.5 km south of South Currigee Campground). It is at the southern most tip of the island and provides a view to the northern tip of Main Beach at the Spit (updated Dec 2024)
• -27.732054153.4442492 Jumpinpin Channel (7 km north of Tipplers Resort). Formed in 1898 by a combination of an explosion and a cyclone, this channel seperates North Stradbroke and South Stradbroke island (updated Dec 2024)
• -27.7968153.43073 Dux Hut (1 km north of Tipplers Resort). Heritage listed hut built during the 1930s. (updated Dec 2024)
• -27.768608153.4423961 South Stradbroke Island Middens (4 km north of Tipplers Resort). (updated Dec 2024)

• -27.804995153.4272951 Tipplers Cafe. 9AM–3:30PM or 9AM–5:30PM during school holidays. The only open restaurant on the island. Offers delivery to your campsite. Also serves alcohol. $15-20. (updated Dec 2024)

• -27.905533153.4217961 South Currigee Campground, ☏ +61 7 5577 3932. Offers shacks, cabins and campsites $50-150. (updated Dec 2024)
• -27.884268153.4206592 North Currigee Campground, ☏ +61 7 5577 3932. Only campsites. $50-60. (updated Dec 2024)
• -27.824404153.4136793 Couran Cove. It was the biggest resort on the island, but it is closed due to ongoing legal disputes. (updated Dec 2024)
• -27.80583153.4277434 Tipplers Resort, ☏ +61 7 5577 2849. It is the main resort and has a direct ferry connection from Jacobs Well. (updated Dec 2024)

Avoid swimming in the ocean as there are no patrolling lifeguards and there may be rips and sharks.

Exposed sand dunes and sand cliffs can collapse without warning. Do not climb, slide down or dig into sand dunes or sand cliffs.

Mosquitoes are common in the warmer months, bring insect repellant.