The island paradise of Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island) has been the ancestral home of the Quandamooka People for many thousands of years.
Minjerribah — Quandamooka country
Lying just across Moreton Bay from Brisbane, Minjerribah is well-known for its magnificent beaches and spectacular Humpback Whales, which often swim close to shore.
However, there is much more to this ancient sand island’s unique wildlife and ecology, as a newly published field guide illustrates beautifully.
A Nature Guide to North Stradbroke Island (Minjerribah) has been produced by the Friends of Stradbroke Island (FOSI), an environment group founded in 1988 to protect this unique place. A true labour of love, this new book explores in wonderful detail the beauty and complexity of Minjerribah’s natural environment.
The Friends of Stradbroke Island aims to protect and help restore the natural environment of Minjerribah and its surrounding waters. Preserving the full range of habitats of the island’s native species, including rare and endangered plants and animals, is a major goal. FOSI recognises the custodianship of the island’s Quandamooka People and aims to work positively and cooperatively with Minjerribah’s Traditional Owners in pursuit of its environmental goals.
I’ve visited North Stradbroke Island many times, and have always returned to the mainland full of wonder for this stunning place, so close to one of Australia’s largest cities.
In 1979 I walked with two friends from Dunwich south through the middle of the island — passing by large areas torn asunder by sand-mining, hiding from mining vehicles on sandy tracks, walking through spectacular swamps and sleeping under huge scribbly gums. Great memories.
Me, lost somewhere in a swamp and loving every minute, North Stradbroke Island, 1979.
Looking south-east from North Stradbroke back to Lamb and Russell islands, and the distant Border Ranges, 1979.
Walking companion Russell Kelley, 1979.
I’m happy to have been able to assist the Friends of Stradbroke Island in a small way through contributing some of my photos for this field guide. I applaud this group’s important work, which you can find out about here.
A few of my fave Minjerribah images (click on any pic for a closer look).
Rob,
Tapping this on a highway bus leaving Matsuyama for Osaka! How’s that for dislocation (and excellent on-bus wifi)?
A lovely little jolt of homesickness for Moreton Bay and Stradbroke. Beautiful, warm pictures – especially love the bird shots and dawn ones at Pt Lookout. I went on the family boat to Stradbroke as a kid several times; later we had a biology camp at Dunwich when I was in high school, and later still we used to take Cambridge English students from my Brisbane language school there for mid-course breaks.
Good to see you blogging again! Hopefully it will become a habit!
Great photos. A reminder of bushwalking when appropriate attire was a flanno shirt a jeans.
Thanks Ken, much appreciated. Yeah, I don;t think there were too many ‘outdoor attire’ shops back in the 70s, lol.
Hi Rob, Your post brought back special memories for me. I spent my first time at North Stradbroke island way back in 1996 after my son had major spinal surgery to remove a tumour. It had been a terribly stressful experience for the family and kind friends offered us the use of their holiday house for free before we had to drive all the way back to our home in far north-western NSW. It was such a treat for my bush kids who rarely saw the sea and it was a great place for our son to recuperate. I still remember the dazzling white sands and gorgeous blues of the sea and the relaxed atmosphere.
What a wonderful set of images, Rob. Thanks for sharing them and also kindly contributing your shots to the nature guide. The Friends of Stradbroke Island do a great job. I look forward to one day heading back to North Stradbroke Island but this time as a hiker and nature lover. It’s great to see you blogging again! Best wishes. 🙂
Thanks Jane, appreciate your words re the photos. That sounds like it was a difficult time for you all, places like Stradbroke (and Coochie!) can be so restorative. Important places to look after. I hope this finds you well. Cheers, Rob.
Really enjoyed your post. The rainbow is spectacular above!