North Stradbroke Island - Part 2. The beaches and the lakes.

There was so much to see - so many parts of the island to explore!

Driving on Main Beach watching the oyster catchers pulling out the cockles from the sand.Walking in the sand dunes and finding interesting prints which made us wonder what animal made them. Beautiful shells and sun bleached wood, fishermen fishing and miles and miles of uninterrupted views. Waves crashing on a white sandy beach that squeaked when we walked on it.

Goanna perhaps ? 

The oyster catchers, always in pairs, feasting on the cockle shells. They were so efficient at pulling them out from the sand and opening them with their beaks. 

We visited the two lakes, The Blue Lake, Karboora a sacred sight for Aboriginals, and Brown Lake, Bummiera and we remembered our first visit to the island a number of years ago when we could not see them as 2/3rds of the island had been ravaged by forest fires. Now the grass trees and banksias are back in force, the forest is wonderfully diverse with broad leaf tea trees, many types of eucalypts and colourful banksias. It was full of birds and bird song.It is only the second time in Queensland that we spotted glossy black cockatoos.  We walked to the Blue Lake and then continued in the National Park which was a round trip of some 8.5 kms. Magical views and a forest bursting with life. 

Banksias everywhere. 

The unmistakable and amazing Grass Trees which take 20 years to sprout above the ground and then produce these flowering stalks. We found one with a distinct bend to it and we wondered how that happened. 

The views from the top of Neembeeba Lookout looking back onto the south island and mainland.

Brown Lake was more easily accessible and is a perched lake you can swim in. A totally serene setting. While we did not swim we enjoyed a picnic on the sandy beach and a walk to explore the many birds in the area. 

 

Finally onto to Amity Point, a great fishing and camping spot where the sand is red and the sea turns golden. We saw a lot of fishermen catching bonito, a type of tuna, and were amused to see these two waiting for their lunch.