Stradbroke Island, Australia

Stradbroke Island

Ever had a time where you just couldn’t remember a persons name or a place no matter how many times it was told to you? That is Stradbroke Island, perhaps I’m thinking Brokeback Mnt. That ruined it for me. Allan’s kids (3 out of 5 of them and their wives/partners), 2 grandkids and I set off after days of packing and shopping to spend 4 nights including the New Year at Stradbroke Island.Oh the supermarket, what a joy.

We drove 50 minutes past Eucalyptus and Pineapple fields, Electronic Tolls and Road Trains ( 3 semis hooked together) then took a car

ferry for 50 minutes. The passage was calm, but in the water I spotted Hundreds of Jellyfish! Once on the island we drove 20 mins. to North Stradbroke, or Minjerribah as it is known to the local Quandamooka People. Stradbroke Island is the second largest sand island in the world, Fraser Island just north of here is #1.

It is picturesque, with rocky headlands and stunning ocean views, long stretches of white sandy beaches that squeak when walked on. The surf where we camp at Amity point the water is calm but over at the northeast corner at Point Lookout the surf rolls in. We drove to Cylinder Beach to Body Surf but the waves crashed too shallow. We played in the surf just the same, the water was cool and refreshing. The beaches are very different from St. John, they are very crowded, wide and long, and guarded by some paid and some volunteered lifeguards. Swim between the markers and they will save you! Where we are camping there is a portion netted off for shark protection, of course I swam in the unprotected areas, I just didn’t go too far in! Snorkeling is not really the highlight here but I did get to see an octopus by one of the pilings. I also got to see a Koala in nature, in the tree behind the public bathhouse.

 So we get to the campground and Allan and I look at each other in a bit of shock. We pictured the experience much different than what was before us. Camping or Glamping as I call it, has communal grills, portable water, and electricity for hairdryers, hot showers and a far cry from the Adirondacks or Vermont Camping. There are tents on tents on camping trailers, sardined in together! The only saving grace is that we are the last tents on the beach that look out to the water, so we sit in our chairs facing the ocean and pretend we are by ourselves! Ken and Meg’s set up is quite fancy complete with a solar fridge, food cabinet, clothes rack, portable tables and chairs, and a gas grill a bit different than I have seen. They have the pop up camper similar to my families one when I was young.  After setting up in the heat of the day under full sun, NO sunscreen made could prevent the burn that we all got that day. Did I tell you how hot Australia sun is? I thought I had a Caribbean base tan, but it didn’t matter, even when you slather sunscreen on you get burned. One must just get out of the sun, and here trees are limited. There is a jetty where people fish and jump in the water ( a teenagers dream vacation). 

The sand is golden bronze in color and perfect for sand sculpture. I took an hour out of my day to sculpt an iguana in the sand. It’s just too hot. If I had my tools I may be more motivated. Feels funny to be on vacation and to have sold everything and not have a home again in my life. It is freeing, yet at times frustrating. 

Tonight is New Years Eve, we will be seeing fireworks from Brisbane across the bay, and I think there will be a few Sparklers going off. Laws are tight in Australia for Firearms and Fireworks. They’re not allowed period. Everything feels just a bit different…because it is. Oh there were fireworks on Stradbroke alright, a nice show for a small island. 
Days blend into other days and you know you are on vacation when you do not care what day it is. We play games, we fish, we swim, we explore and sit around and talk.

Even though English is spoken here, there are times I do not understand what is written or said! Seems they abbreviate most words and it’s not Afta it’s Avo for afternoon. At the store the other day I asked for beer, only for sale in Liquor stores Mate. I am drinking "Ruski" the triple filtered distilled Vodka drink 4% Alcohal 0.9 . Tastes like a weak Smirnoff. Nothing like the caribbean drinks at all.
Dolphins graced us with their presence, we visited Brown Lake where the tea tree's surrounding the lake gave it its' color. It was warmer than bath water and fresh water! One of my favorite places. 

Kale befriended Ryan a young determined fisherman who would be on the pier at 6am until 8pm every night. I witnessed my first squid squirting ink after being caught. What a mess, what an incredible creature. 

After many tournaments of Finska (a Finnish game of bowling like darts like pool) it was time to pack it in and head home. I do think Finska is my new favorite game. Another little side trip we took was to Capembah Creek which is a small waterfall coming out of a culver near the road. It was fresh and cool and a sacred spot for the native people long ago.

 I enjoyed my time on Stradbroke Island, getting to know the family and waking to the ocean outside the tent every morning. Thank you Allan!