Queensland · Attraction
North Gorge Walk
Wild headlands, endless ocean
schedule 1 min read / Updated Jun 2026
The North Gorge Walk is the signature experience on North Stradbroke Island (Minjerribah), tracing 1.2 kilometres of dramatic, wave-carved headland at Point Lookout on the island's north-eastern tip. The self-guided loop meanders along rocky outcrops, timber boardwalks, and coastal stairs, offering sweeping views of the Coral Sea. Wildlife sightings are frequent, with kangaroos grazing at the cliff edge at dawn, while sea turtles, dolphins, manta rays, and sharks cruise the gin-clear water below.
The walk begins on Mooloomba Road opposite Fishes Cafe and loops around Cylinder Headland before returning the same way, taking most walkers 30 to 45 minutes at a leisurely pace. The track is graded easy and suits all fitness levels, though some short staircase sections require care. Benches at key lookout points invite walkers to pause and take in the panorama of Moreton Bay and the open Pacific.
Between June and November the gorge walk doubles as one of the finest land-based whale watching vantage points on Australia's eastern seaboard. Tens of thousands of humpback whales migrate north along the so-called Humpback Highway, and from the headland visitors regularly spot breaching, tail-slapping, and mother-and-calf pairs travelling in tight pods just offshore. Sunrise visits combine golden light with the best chances of spotting kangaroos and lace monitors on the clifftop heath.
Scenic views
