Beach of the Week: Main Beach, North Stradbroke Island

Each week we bring you one of the best beaches in the world as our Beach of the Week. This week’s best beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in Australia

BEACH: Main Beach, North Stradbroke Island

WHERE: Stretching from the rather strange sounding town of Jumpinpin all the way to Point Lookout on N. Stradbroke Island, Main Beach is a as picturesque as a beach can get. Not only does it have soft, warm sand and crystal clear water, if you’re really lucky you’ll spot one of its resident dolphins out at sea.

H2O TONE: Azure blue

SAND TONE: Crème brûlée sugar

HOW: The gateway to the island is through the pretty coastal town of Cleveland where you can hop on a ferry (there’s one every hour) and enjoy the fantastic scenery on your way to North Stradbroke. Trains run regularly from Central or Roma St stations in Brisbane to Cleveland.

WHY: A laid-back attitude is the mainstay for this wealthy, cosmopolitan area. Main Beach is a popular place for active types (bodysurfers and bodyriders in particular) who are drawn here for the great surfing (it’s known for its ‘big swells’) and the spectacular views. Reflecting nearby capital Brisbane, North Stradbroke has a great mixture of beach-side relaxation and the buzzy feel of a city. On calmer days you can enjoy snorkelling, scuba diving, or for a dry land activity, take a long walk along the beachside, stopping for refreshments at the historic Main Beach bathing pavilion for a cocktail (don’t mind if we do).

STAY: A beach ‘shack’ at the Allure Stradbroke Resort. Less rustic than they sound, the beach ‘shacks’ are more like loft-style apartments with your own private deck and outdoor barbeque, should you and travel buddies choose to cook up a feast one night. It’s an easy ten minute stroll to the bustle of Main beach and Teddy Avenue, which is packed with fashionable restaurants where local seafood is the main event. If a late night dip takes your fancy you can use the heated on-site swimming pool, or have a few drinks al fresco.

By Hannah Hopkins
A freelance journalist she has travelled extensively in Europe and Asia and has written for a number of different print and online publications.