Bicyclists Trip to North Stradbroke Island

Saturday 15 May & Sunday 16 May 2004

Pre-Departure

Bookings –

Camp Site - Stradbroke Island Tourist Park 3409 8127 [Brian and Jan] has camp-sites about garage (not double-garage) size.  Camping fees are 2 persons for $15.20, and additional persons for $4.40 per person.  Manager indicates that there are plenty of sites available for Saturday 15^th May, so we can probably spread ourselves at 2 persons per site (you decide whether you’re in 1 or 2 tents!!) 

Cabins and Villas – Stradbroke Island Tourist Park 3409 8127.  Villas are not available for one-night stays.  Cabins have en-suites, 1 double bed and 2 single beds.  You need to supply your own linen, but they supply pillows.  Cost is $59.20 for 2 persons, and $72.40 for 4 persons. 

Introduction to Bowls

Point Lookout Bowls Club 3409 8182 [Rhonda regularly answers the phone].  On 16 May they have a $8 "Breakfast & Bowls Morning" with breakfast starting at 8 til 9:30am; then bowls til about 11:30am then stay for lunch (costs extra) and afternoon "entertainment".  You need to 'book' for the B&B introduction to bowls event.

Packing – What to Take

Pack for the trip using Bob’s Bike Book list, provided by Robyn! Thanks Robyn. 

You need to carry supplies – water, food, snacks, etc. for your needs whilst peddling from Dunwich to Point Lookout on Saturday as there are no services en route.  Similarly you need supplies on Sunday from Point Lookout to Dunwich along the bitumen. 

Mobile Phone Coverage

I understand that North Stradbroke Island has coverage within the major island townships of Dunwich, Point Lookout and Amity.  Beyond those localities, coverage is doubtful.  However, this will allow us some spontaneity and pragmatism should the need/inclination arise during the trip. 

Itinerary – Saturday 15 May 2004.

Where to Go!!

Cyclists travel to Cleveland Ferry Terminal at the east end of Middle Street Cleveland. 

Departure

Sea Stradbroke Ferry Terminal is virtually in the middle of Cleveland ( end of Middle Street, Cleveland UBD Map186 D17). 

Arrive in time to board the 08:00am Saturday Sea Stradbroke "Ferry service" to Dunwich.  Bike and rider costs $16.50 return.  Ferries depart on the hour (so trip of 11 Km is much less than 1 hour allowing for loading etc.)  Sea Stradbroke Ferry Site www.seastradbroke.com has timetable specifics, no terminal maps, but lots of other useful information (plagiarised below). 

Arrive North Stradbroke Island

On North Stradbroke Island, at Dunwich, we will despatch our camping gear by taxi to the evening’s base camp, and take our expedition-day packs and water etc. with us. 

The Taxi Service is Stradbroke Cab Service 3409 9800 with Maxi Taxi's so they can take 'lots of gear' in one uplift and delivery.  They told me "You need to ring them with details of your ferry arrival so they can meet you (and probably pre-pay them?), and you need to remind the Stradbroke Island Tourist Park 3409 8127 (next door to the Point Lookout Bowls Club) to arrange to let the cabbie put the luggage in their Office (Office opens at 08:00am) for your arrival/collection later in the day. 

Breakfast / Morning Tea

Only a passing thought, Dunwich has a few places for foodstuffs etc. e.g. Stradbroke Island Bakery 3409 9062 is at Ballow Road Dunwich for those wanting to buy their Saturday breakfast/brunch/lunch, after arriving on the ferry, and before "riding off into the sand hills".

"Riding Off Into The Sand Hills"

Those going on the ‘Grey Nomad’ tour will travel ‘north-east’ along the bituminised East Coast Road towards Point Lookout – about 20Km.  See you at the Stradbroke Island Tourist Park later in the day!!  There is a very nice ‘cliff-top’ walk around Point Lookout to take in while you await our arrival in mid afternoon. 

Those going on the expedition will travel ‘east’ out of Dunwich on the Mining Company Road towards Brown Lake.  The detour to Brown Lake is worthwhile, and you can have a rest pause by its shores. 

Continuing east we will pass through Blue Lake National Park (Blue Lake is closed – access stairs not in good repair), and down to Blue Lake Beach – about 18Km. 

We have chosen a week-end when Saturday’s low tide occurs at about noon.  This should allow you to cycle along the beach on firm compact barely damp sand.  Alternatively, a travel route behind the dune-lagoons comprises a gravelled roadway which links with Fishermans Road about 1 Km south of Point Lookout.  Fishermans Road is about 2Km long (uphill) and there is a further 1Km along the bitumen East Coast Road to Stradbroke Island Tourist Park, located 1Km west of Point Lookout.  [Consult your own maps!!]

If you ride the beach route, your exit is either George Nothling Drive or via the Point Lookout Surf Life Saving Club at the end of Kennedy Drive –about 18Km. 

Accommodation

Camping - Stradbroke Island Tourist Park 3409 8127 has camp-sites about garage (not double-garage) size.  Camping fees are 2 persons for $15.20, and additional persons for $4.40 per person.  Manager indicates that there are plenty of sites available for Saturday 15^th May, so we can probably spread ourselves at 2 persons per site (you decide whether you’re in 1 or 2 tents!!)  Collect your luggage from the Office and pitch your tent and prepare for dinner.  Or did you book a cabin??

Maybe take a stroll / ride along the Recreation Reserve from South Headland to Rocky Point before dinner, spotting sea-life and watching the sun set in the West.  Or taking in the view from the hotel?

Dinner

We will be dining at the Point Lookout Bowls Club  3409 8182, Rhonda regularly answers the phone.  Point Lookout Bowls Club offers Evening Meals Saturday 6pm - 8pm [Col Griffin vouches for the ‘value for money’ and ‘generous serving portions’ with dinner price about $15.  (Lunch & Dinner 7 days), and normally no Sunday breakfasts...

Itinerary – Sunday 16 May 2004.

Breakfast & Bowls

On 16 May Point Lookout Bowls Club has a $8 "Breakfast & Bowls Morning"  breakfast starts at 8 til 9:30am; then bowls til about 11:30am, then stay for lunch (costs extra) and afternoon "entertainment".  You need to 'book' for the B&B introduction to bowls event. 

Departing Point Lookout

We take our expedition-day packs and water etc. with us.  We will despatch our camping gear by taxi from Stradbroke Island Tourist Park to the Dunwich ferry terminal for our collection when we arrive in the afternoon to board the ferry. 

The Taxi Service is Stradbroke Cab Service 3409 9800 with Maxi Taxi's so they can take 'lots of gear' in one uplift and delivery.  They told me "You need to ring them with details of your ferry departure so they can collect luggage from the Stradbroke Island Tourist Park 3409 8127 (next door to the Point Lookout Bowls Club) to arrange to get the cabbie to collect and deliver the luggage to us at the Dunwich ferry terminal waiting to board for our return to Cleveland. 

Cycling from Point Lookout to Dunwich

Distance is about 20Km. – along the bitumen, no water or services en route.  I have no idea how hospitable Dunwich is on a Sunday afternoon. 

Luggage Collection

You will need to collect your luggage from Stradbroke Cab Service driver, at Dunwich and pay for its transport.  Your contribution payment will be required to release you luggage. 

Ferry – Dunwich to Cleveland

Ferries leave Dunwich (UBD Map 333 Inset B M13) on the hour (so trip of 11 Km is much less than 1 hour allowing for loading etc.) Site has timetable specifics, but no terminal maps.  Arrive in time to board the 0X:00pm Sunday "Ferry service" Sea Stradbroke (see their site for timetable and other useful information - www.seastradbroke.com ). 

Bike and rider costs $16.50 return, so your return trip is free (presumably you have kept your ticket!!). 

Home from Cleveland

Presumably the reverse of how you got there – and it was only yesterday!!

Costs and Budget Ready Reckoner

[Fill in the bits relevant for you!!]

Miscellaneous

I spoke with Mark Davidson EPA boating officer about salt air/spray protection for bicycles.  Mark disagreed with a suggested use of Lanotec; saying it is sticky, collects sand and dust as an outer coating, and is itself also difficult to remove. 

Mark suggests we are better to just pre-emptively use WD-40 (not directly on tyres), and use it again at the other end to displace any accumulated water, and its dissolved salts?; assuming that it is of any concern to you, anyway.