North Stradbroke Island Wildlife Tour: Gorge Walk & Koalas

The Gorge Walk runs 40 to 45 minutes along cliffs where manta rays and dolphins move through the water below.

A full-day wildlife and coastal walking tour from Brisbane to North Stradbroke Island with a live English-speaking guide, small group capped at 11 people, and return ferry crossing included. You walk the Gorge Walk, a 40-to-45-minute coastal trail where manta rays, turtles and dolphins are often visible; visit Brown Lake's freshwater; and search for wild koalas with the guide at a secluded spot. Lunch is at Point Lookout with a choice to bring your own or buy takeaway. Swimming time at Amity Point Beach is built into the day. The ferry crossing takes 45 minutes each way, and the pace is unhurried throughout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore North Stradbroke Island highlights

• Take ferry and enjoy Moreton Bay views
• Visit Brown Lake and learn local culture
• Walk and take photos at paradisiac beach
• Walk the Gorge Walk and spot marine life
• Have lunch at Point Lookout
• Relax at Amity Point and spot koalas

The experience

The day starts with a 45-minute ferry crossing from Brisbane across Moreton Bay, where you can grab a coffee and settle in. Once on North Stradbroke Island, the guide takes the group to Brown Lake first: a freshwater lake stained brown by native tea trees and known locally as Lake Bummiera. You'll learn about the Quandamooka People and the island's cultural history before a quick walk at a lookout beach with views across the Coral Sea.

The centerpiece is the Gorge Walk, a 40-to-45-minute coastal trail that has been recognized as one of Australia's best. The path runs along cliffs overlooking the South Pacific, and the marine life below is the draw: manta rays, turtles, dolphins and other species move through the water regularly enough that spotting them is a real possibility, not a hope. There's no rushing. The guide sets a pace that lets you stand and watch. Lunch follows at Point Lookout, where you can either bring your own food or buy takeaway from options the guide will recommend and eat with the ocean in front of you.

The afternoon splits between beach time and a guided walk to find koalas in the wild. A secluded spot the guide knows. If koala-spotting doesn't appeal, you can stay at Amity Point Beach instead and swim. The return ferry departs in time to catch the sunset crossing back to Brisbane. The group stays under 12 people throughout, which shapes the whole experience: smaller numbers mean the guide can move at the pace that suits the group, stop when someone spots something, and take the time to explain what you're looking at.

What’s included

• Return ferry crossing from Brisbane.
• air-conditioned vehicle transport on the island.
• bottled water throughout the day.
• a live English-speaking guide leading all walks and stops.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:45

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (14 and older) · Child (7 to 13 years) · Under 7: can't be booked

GroupUp to 11

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearby

Operated by HIT THE ROAD TOURS

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're staying in Brisbane without a car or prefer not to drive. The ferry is included and the guide handles all the stops and timing, so the day holds together without you arranging transport or navigation. The small group size (capped at 11) is what makes the pace unhurried and the wildlife spotting possible: the guide can stop when someone sees something and adjust the walk to what the group needs.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (7 to 13 years). Children under 7 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is the Gorge Walk like, and how often do people actually see manta rays and dolphins there?

The Gorge Walk is a 40-to-45-minute coastal trail that runs along cliffs overlooking the Coral Sea. Manta rays, turtles, dolphins and other marine life move through the water regularly, so sightings are common enough that the guide builds the walk around watching for them, though nothing is guaranteed on any single day.

Do I need to bring my own lunch, or is it provided?

Lunch is at Point Lookout, and you choose: bring your own food, or the guide will point you to takeaway options nearby that you can buy and eat with ocean views. Either way, you eat at the beach.

Will I have time to swim at Amity Point Beach?

Yes. After the koala walk (or if you skip it), there is built-in time to swim at Amity Point Beach before the return ferry departs.

How do I get to North Stradbroke Island, and how long is the ferry?

The ferry crossing from Brisbane takes 45 minutes each way and is included in the tour. You board at the mainland terminal, and the return crossing leaves in time to catch the sunset.

What is Brown Lake, and why do we stop there?

Brown Lake, also called Lake Bummiera, is a freshwater lake stained brown by native tea trees. The stop includes a walk and time to learn about the Quandamooka People and the island's cultural and historic significance before you move on to the coastal walks.