Animal Encounter Cleveland

Looking for an Indigenous cultural experience from Brisbane that combines Aboriginal culture, Australian wildlife and the spectacular landscapes of North Stradbroke Island?
Spend a full day discovering North Stradbroke Island (Minjerribah) in a small group of no more than 11 guests, combining the island's famous wildlife and natural attractions with local food and a dedicated 90-minute Quandamooka cultural experience with Quandamooka man Matt Burns. A North Stradbroke Island day trip from Brisbane
Depart Brisbane City by private minibus before travelling by vehicle ferry across Moreton Bay to Minjerribah. Your local tour guide accompanies you throughout the day, taking care of the journey while introducing you to the island's landscapes, wildlife and special places. Wildlife and spectacular coastal scenery
Explore the North Gorge Walk at Point Lookout (Mulumba), one of North Stradbroke Island's most spectacular locations.
Follow the coastal walking trail with sweeping views across the Pacific Ocean while looking for wild kangaroos around the headland and dolphins, turtles and other marine life in the waters below. From June to November, this is also an incredible location for land-based whale watching as humpback whales migrate along the Queensland coast. Taste a famous Straddie favourite
Lunch is part of the island experience.
Stop at Point Lookout's iconic Prawn Shack, famous for its Straddie Prawn Roll. Pick up their signature fresh prawn roll before enjoying a relaxed lunch overlooking beautiful Frenchmans Bay — a genuine taste of Straddie in one of the island's most beautiful settings. Discover Bummiera and Myora Springs
Visit Bummiera (Brown Lake), a naturally occurring perched freshwater lake surrounded by native bushland. Its distinctive amber-coloured water is stained by the surrounding tea trees, and the lake holds cultural significance for the Quandamooka People.
Continue to Myora Springs (Capembah), a naturally flowing freshwater spring and wetland surrounded by melaleuca forest. This special environment has a long connection to Quandamooka people and forms part of a culturally significant landscape where freshwater has supported generations of life on Minjerribah. Experience Quandamooka culture
A highlight of the day is a dedicated 90-minute Aboriginal cultural experience with Quandamooka man Matt Burns on Quandamooka Country.
Begin with a Welcome to Country before Matt shares stories, cultural knowledge and traditions passed through generations of his family.
See cultural artefacts connected to Matt's own family lineage and experience demonstrations of traditional tools and techniques, including fire-making, spear throwing and boomerang use. You'll even have the opportunity to try throwing a boomerang yourself. Listen as Matt plays the didgeridoo and discover the traditional use of natural ochres through an ochre painting presentation.
Walk along the foreshore and amongst native vegetation as Matt explains how generations of Quandamooka People have read the signs of Country and lived in connection with the land and sea.
Discover how flowering plants, changing seasons and other signs in nature can indicate when particular fish and food sources are available. Learn about bush tucker and traditional medicines, and discover how native plants and natural materials have been used for practical purposes including making soap and rope.
It's an opportunity to experience Aboriginal culture through a distinctly Quandamooka perspective and gain a deeper understanding of the connections between people, Country, plants, animals, seasons, land and sea. One incredible day on Minjerribah
With return transport from Brisbane, vehicle ferry travel, a professional local tour guide, a maximum of just 11 guests, Australian wildlife, the North Gorge Walk, culturally significant island locations, a famous local lunch and a dedicated Indigenous cultural experience, this is much more than a traditional North Stradbroke Island sightseeing tour.
It's a day to experience the wildlife, landscapes, food and living culture that make Minjerribah such a special part of Queensland.