North Stradbroke

North Stradbroke Island holiday - Christmas 2011
Shot with Panasonic GH2, Voghtlander 25mm, Panasonic 14mm, Minolta 50mm, MInolta 135mm and Panasonic 14-140mm. Period: 24 - 31 December 2011. Places: North Stradbroke island - Point Lookout, Domain Resort (All Seasons) Shack 18, Home beach, Main beach, Frenchman beach, Deadman beach, South gorge, North gorge, Whale Rock Blowhole, Flinders beach, Brown Lake. Brisbane - CBD, Botanical gardens. Mornington peninsula - Gunnamatta beach. Melbourne.

North Stradbroke Island Camping
North Stradbroke Island or 'Straddie' is certainly not short on flash holiday accommodation with options from house rentals to flash apartments. For more information on North Stradbroke Island go to www.queenslandholidays.com.au/destinations/brisbane/places-to-visit/north-stradbroke-island/index.cfm?cmpid=1998

Flat Rock : North Stradbroke Island
With Brisbane city on the verge of another catastrophic flood in late January 2012 and the rain still pummelling down some friends and i decided that our diving addiction couldn't wait any longer and tried our luck diving North stradebroke island. With 6 foot swells and an almost boat flip trying to get past the massive beach breakers the day was off to a dreadful start and the mood was quite sour. My hopes were dashed about a dream dive day at flat rock but i conceded a dive's a dive and got on with it. James our skipper with Manta Scuba lodge decided to ignore the rest of the dive shops splashing about at shag rock in the hope of some calmer conditions and boot it out too flat rock and hope. When we arrived at flat the water was green and i mean really green and i was devastated to say the least but geared up and hoped in. After deciding 5 metres the most amazing thing happened, the water turned a crystal blue with 10 - 15 m vis and 26 deg water temp! I was in heaven and this was some of the best dives i have ever done ( except for a very green safety stop). So just remeber never let your ideas about dive condituions get in the way of the chance of an amazing dive and as always local knowledge is always best with shag rock having a disappointing 4- 5 metres vis and virtually no life about. Filmed on a Panasonic Lumix tz 10 on the 29th of January 2012 Music By 'Boy and Bear' With thanks to Manta Scuba Lodge for some great diving.

Keyholes - 4x4 North Stradbroke Island
We just wanted to have a quick look at the Keyholes on Straddie. In the end it was a 2,5h offroad trip which was much fun but quite unpredictable. Maybe prepare yourself before you get there and consider the drivelines when going there without a snorkel. You might get wet :-)

New North Stradbroke Island, Creek to Coast segment
This video features an interview with David Thomson, Chair of the Straddie Chamber of Commerce, about the type of people coming to North Stradbroke Island for holidays, four-wheel-driving options, restaurants and new tourism-based attractions.

North Stradbroke Island - motorbike riding
Dual purpose motorbike riding - Australia Kawasaki KLR 650 & Yamaha Tenere 660

Feeding wild dolphin on North Stradbroke Island March 2012
Me feeding a pilchard to a dolphin off the jetty at Amity Point on North Stradbroke Island. We were told they come by every afternoon around 5pm so tried our luck and after a while of thinking none would show this fella came along. Song is 'Coolum' by brisband Kooii.