Queensland

I'm just trying to think of somewhere that I might go for a couple of days between xmas and new years (if I can get a couple of free days) and I'm just wondering if anyone has been to stradbroke for a buggy.
The beach on google maps looks promising, but first hand knowlege would be even better. It's an expemsive ferry ride, so I'd rather not get there and find that the beach is no good or littered with 4wds
cheers

Hey Andy,

I am assuming you are talking about north straddie.
Sluggo has kited there before .... perdy sure he just dropped some info in the briskite buggy thread.

You could also give Jas a call @ Briskites for more info.


There will be heaps of 4wd's .... especially over christmas the christrmas holidays.

The forecast is looking like more wet weather as well

I have been there once and tried to buggy with great wind yet no real success. I tried main beach. I found the beach narrow, even though the satellite pictures look great, most of that sand is elevated soft sand. The hard sand is very narrow and if the wind is not going straight on to the beach then you have no room to manoeuvre. The beach is filled with 4wd tracks and there are many of them to avoid.
I think there is potential on the northern side as well around cylinder. The sand is hard with plenty of room, but I had issues with the wind coming over the island. I am sure not all experiences with straddie are like this, but mine was.

yeah, I did see what sluggo wrote.
From what ppl are saying, christmas may be the wrong time to go because of the extra traffic on the beach. I may just stay home and explore some of the remote beaches around this area

But there is South Straddie to consider ,If you can get a water taxi or have a boat you can either camp or rent a house And buggy with no cars . I have always wanteD to do it but never got around to it. Have a look on google earth ... Nice long beach and some small dunes At the northern tip

Sweet FA traffic on south straddie

For kite surfers, you can go across TOS and enjoy the nice waves just north of the bar (jetski's don't hang around there long). I havn't cruised the beach on a low tide, but i can tell you that the wind needs to be between SE and ENE, because the stradie islands curve around to the north and make things very unpleasant.

I kited half the length of south stradie a couple of xmas's ago, didnt see a single vehicle or ranger and only saw 6 people the entire length of the island...(people walking/fishing). I took a ferry from the broadwater marina which goes to couran cove, then navigated my way through the driveable tracks for about 15minutes through the scrub. No vehicles are allowed to be taken TO the island, but no one has said no buggies hey

I think most ferry's charge around $50 return, and camping is about the same per night peak season. Ideally, your best to do day trips with a mate who owns a boat if thats possible. Head up to the northern end of south straddie, kitesurf on the western site of the dunes for flat water (apparently that's THE spot to go but havn't done it myself yet!), and open slather on the eastern side for a buggy Only dilemma would be

A.) securing the boat for hours on end as you enjoy the lush of kiting
B.) rangers wondering why an anchoured boat on the beach, and half a dozen kites are spread out around the joint
C.) adequate emergency supplies - beer, beer and beer.

Dave
PS: or you can just stay south, and kite at lennox/evans?

Yeah, the local beaches are good. Another couple of options locally are south ballina and woody head.

All options may be rained out though