Stradbroke Island 4WD Day Trip from Brisbane

Paradise found

Absolutely brilliant day sightseeing "off the beaten track". Dave took me to all the places I wanted to see but couldn't get to because I didn't own a 4WD. Great vego lunch, informative, friendly guide with great stories & scenery was breathtaking. I didn't want to leave the keyhole water hole

Good visit

It was relaxing and laid back trip If you want to rejuvenate this will be highly recommended It is hidden gem of Australia

Straddie delightful

Wonderful day with Barefoot Dave exploring Straddie! He does not disappoint! Koalas, kangaroos, beaches, brewed tea and Sammie’s, and a beach side BBQ lunch

Great fun and lovely day

Had an excellent time with Barefoot Dave on Sunday. He’s so nice and we saw so many lovely things. Highlights were the Brown Lake and the swim at Flinders Beach, which was pristine and perfect. Dave was funny and informative. Highly recommend.

The perfect day

Stradbroke Island is beautiful and Barefoot Dave was an excellent tour guide and cook! It was a perfect day exploring the island - we never felt rushed to our next stop - and loved all the knowledge Dave had to share. Our traditional Aussie BBQ lunch Dave prepared was delicious! And the damper with jam and tea was perfect! The whale sightings from the beach were a special treat! One of our best days in Australia!

Our family had a...

Our family had a wonderful day on Stradbroke island. Dave was a great guide and an excellent driver and chief. We got to see all the animals we had hoped for and the kids loved the swim in Brown lake.

Must do Aussie experience!

What a great day! Dave is such a charming character. The 4WDriving especially off road was loads of fun. Learnt a lot about the fauna and local animals, as well as history. Dave's super knowledgeable. Enjoyed some beautiful scenery, good laughs and a true blue Aussie experience. We had some delicious home made damper (made by Dave) with delicious tea. Lunch was an outdoor BBQ of sausages with rice and salad. The day flew! Highly recommended

Wonderful day of exploring with friendly and knowledgeable local Dave.

Peaceful tree lakes, wild life, great fish cakes for lunch, driving on the beach, and fun company. Dave our guide put his heart and energy into the day to ensure we had a great day.

Best way to see and explore Stradbroke island!!

Had an incredible time on the 4WD tour on Stradbroke island. Dave took us to all the great sites and offered lots of informative and fun facts alone the way. He was able to answer all our questions regarding the island and it’s history. We had delicious morning tea and lunch all prepared by Dave while we got to go for a swim and explore the beaches and lakes. Would 100% recommend to anyone considering doing a tour as driving along the beach and the local knowledge was amazing. My friend and I are 21 and both thoroughly enjoyed it so is definitely suitable for everyone.

Best birthday ever.

We were collected from our holiday home right on time. The weather was against us but Dave managed to turn it into the most memorable day ever. What a perfect way to celebrate a special birthday. Plan B was the overall message of our day as the weather gods tried to thwart Dave's every attempt to get us out of the 4WD to eat. True to form Dave found a perfect solution to the rain. We all thoroughly enjoyed the driving through and around the island, places we would never have been able to visit. Dave is a true legend.

Straddie Dave, what a great host!

We had the best day ever on Stradbroke Island on a Kingfisher Tour with our great host Dave! Started with a beach run down to Amity Point where we saw a heap of wildlife in their natural habitat. Lots of kangaroo's, (must be well fed over there as some were huge!) follow up with spotting Koala's munching away on their gum leaves. Off to the beach side and stroll along the Amity jetty, Had hoped to spot a dolphin and we were not disappointed, a whole pod was hanging out and seemed very interested in us! An unexpected bonus was a Manta Ray cruising by in the crystal clear water. All this sounds good but the best was yet to come, we all hoped back into Dave's Landcruiser and headed off to Brown Lake for a swim is this stunning freshwater lake. The brown colour is stain from the tee-tree's, the water is beautiful not dirty at all. After a picnic lunch by the lake we head off for a bit of 4WD through the central part of the island before hitting the surf beach. It is absolutely stunning. Not another sole just us and nature, sea eagles soaring above and dolphins riding the waves. Doesn't get much better except for Dave's home made damper washed down with billy tea. Great Day, thanks Dave

4WD eco tour

We did a Tag-along tour with Dave and his 6hr 4WD eco tour. Dave is the nicest guy and we had a really good trip around North Stradbroke Island with him. He is very friendly and has plenty of interesting stories to tell. He is obviously knowledgeable about the area and was able to give us plenty of tips about driving on the sand and how to get out of any tight spots! We highly recommend doing any of the adventures available through Straddie Kingfisher tours. Thanks for everything Dave 😄 Baz and Ann

Perfect guide to explore the exquisite Minjerribah (Stradbroke Island)

We had a fantastic day visiting Minjerribah with Barefoot Dave as our guide. The Island is spectacular, the colours so intense and refreshing and Dave has the knack of making sure you see things you might have missed and not distracting you. We had the opportunity to 4WD along picture perfect beaches feeling the breeze and watching the waves and whales out to sea. There wasn't a thing to worry about, Dave had morning tea and lunch sorted and a schedule that felt like no schedule at all, just a relaxing day soaking up the beauty. This was my second Tour with Dave and I dream of going again. Can't recommend it highly enough.

Such a great experience — even for QLD locals

We saw koalas, kangaroos, soooo many whales, pods of dolphins, a turtle, and some of the most beautiful beaches you’ll ever see. Of course, we probably were really lucky — maybe you won’t always see all this in one trip, for various reasons (the weather, the seasons, the swell), but maybe you will 🤷🏻‍♂️ The food is traditional Australian camping fare and was really tasty and filling. Dave has really mastered the art and couldn’t have been a better host! He has lived on the island most of his life. His local knowledge is so interesting and he’ll often share interesting facts about the flora, fauna, and the occasional joke 😂 Highly recommend 👌🏻

A great relaxing day to connect with nature

What a wonderful day! The sky was blue and the water was lots of hues of blue. We saw koalas and dolphins and learnt a lot about the island from Dave. He made us fresh warm damper and billy tea in the traditional way and cooked a mean BBQlunch. We had exciting times, for us, along the beach in the 4WD and the tag-along convoy. Clear your head and connect with nature and have a great time with Dave.

Attention ANYONE planning a holiday in or near Brisbane - YOU Have to do this - it is a must must must !!!

Straddie Kingfisher Tours ... your ONE STOP activities for anything you want to do on Stradbroke Island. The best think about this business is that one phone call can book sand boarding, kayaking, eco tours, four wheel driving, fishing, tag along touring ... if i knew Dave was offering this All in one service last year it would have saved my trying to make all the phone calls to individual operators which was painful. Its also nice to hear 'in Dave's humble opinion' that customers have said best day of their life and i know he mean what he said here because he was almost embarrased being so honest. Thanks Dave, best day of my life.

Best way to experience North Stradbroke! Can't recommend it enough...

SO happy we decided to take a 4WD Eco Tour with 'Barefoot Dave' (as everyone calls him!). Definitely one of the highlights of our whole Australia trip. Dave was excellent to communicate with via email before the trip, sending extremely straight forward notes about how to get to the ferry, which ferry to take etc. He was there to meet us as we stepped off in Dunwich with his 4WD and a huge smile. We could have spent days talking with Dave, listening to all of the amazing bits of knowledge he had to share as he took us around the island. His vehicle was comfy and new... his driving clearly that of an experienced resident. We had delicous damper by the Tea Tree lake, spotted koalas, kangaroos, dolphins, incredible birds, and various other wildlife. We sampled some 'bush tucker' that Dave found on our adventures. He happily accommodated our request for a vegetarian lunch, which was delicious and filling. We were shocked to find out that most Brisbane residents have never been to North Stradbroke! It's such a gem! While one could certainly tour around on their own, they'd never learn all of the amazing things we did from Dave. Can't recommend him and his tours enough. Thanks Dave!

Such an amazing Eco tour!

Thank you so much for an awesome tour!!! All the scenery, foods, wild life, your stories, etc. everything was just amazing and my friends and I had a wonderful day!! Since it was my first sightseeing in Queensland, I was so glad that you were my first guide! I am totally in love with your Island! The Brown Lake was absolutely beautiful. Running through the beach by your 4WD was absolutely exciting. It was a lovely time to have lunch at the beautiful beach in an 'Aussie' way! Thanks for the cooking as well. The scenery from the point lookout was astonishing. When I saw you picking up the rubbish, I sincerely hoped for this beautiful Straddie Island to last forever. I must visit again during my stay in Brisbane!! And if I could visit, please be my guide again!!^^ Again, thank you for such a wonderful day. Wishing you all the best!

amazing 4WD Eco tour

Dave our 4wd tour was such an amazing driver we did a very personal half day tour of straddie beaches n rain forests with morning tea at the brown lake . He is very passionate about the island we have some amazing pictures even seen a KOALA he took time to look for dolphins n whales . He stopped for us a couple of times so we could take pics it sure was a great way to see Straddie n we will highly recommend his tour to everyone a real MUST do - thanks again Dave .. wish I knew how to add a pic

The perfect introduction to Straddie - whales, koalas, dolphins, magnificent views!

If you want to see North Stradbroke Island, no one's a better guide than Barefoot Dave of Straddie Kingfisher Tours. We travelled to Straddie with our 3 sons (11 & 14 year old twins). The highlight of their week there was sand boarding with Dave. We also did the 6 hour Eco tour which really showed you all the best features of the island in a day. I really recommend doing that on your first or second day there, to get a great overview of the place. Dave and his family have lived on Straddie since 1966. There's not much Dave doesn't know about the island. He is a very friendly and fun host who loves to share his passion for the environment. Dave's tour was recommended to us by a hotel manager who said Dave was the original and best tour to go on. Our only regret was that we didn't do one of Dave's fishing tours as well.

North Stradbroke island day tour

Excellent experience with Dave. We arrived at Dunwich and he was already there waiting to pick us up. Went over to his garage to get fitted with the gears for snorkeling and off we went to Brown Lake for the morning tea. First time trying a damper, can't say that i liked it but it was something different from the regular bread that i usually have. After tea, off we went to the dunes for some sandboarding action. After all that action under the hot sun, Dave drove us to Cylinder beach for a cooling dip in the sea while he prepares a tasty lunch for us. Though the meal is simply sausages and salads, it was one of the best meal in the trip (probably we were all hungry and tired from the action). Then we went snorkeling !! Waves is kinda strong for us, so we didn't really get to swim out. The day with Dave had been a wonderful one. He is friendly and easy going unlike others tours operated by bigger companies where the guide is just doing his job. For Dave, the tour is like part of his daily life. So what you get is a very personal experience with him and the island. This makes all the difference. There is no rush to meet any schedule and we can really take our time to enjoy the island. Thank you Dave!!

A great day out for everyone

If you are not following Dave’s excellent instructions and going by train / bus (a taxi from Brisbane cost us $75 - however it did give us time to have a leisurely breakfast) note that there are two ferry services – the one you are looking for is over to the right. Take drinks with you– we didn't stop anywhere for purchases though Dave did supply cordial with lunch. Our BBQ lunch was served up on a pristine kilometres long beach - we enjoyed excellent snorkers (sausages) & plentiful fresh salads. tThis was a relaxed, enjoyable look at the island and Dave is a friendly and knowledgeable guy (though sadly barracks for Carlton). Wear sensible footwear as we did a fairly long but not strenuous boardwalk along the cliffs slowly taking in the wonderful scenery and the bluest water. A great day out for all ages and you will see some of the most beautiful beaches ever.

Inside look at another part of Brisbane

Barefoot Dave was a great guide! Picked us up and returned us to our hotel in Brisbane CBD. He is a very informative as well as friendly guide. Toured us via 4WD to brown lake, on the empty beach, and around the island. Sand surfing was a lot of fun but the sand is VERY hot and quite a hike back up the dune. He was flexible with what we wanted to do and provided a very enjoyable day!

Good tour, but a disappointing end

I and a friend have done the tour with Dave in May and we had a great day on Stradbroke Island. It was very convenient that Dave pickes you up directly at your hotel. Dave was a really easy-going and friendly guide and we saw a lot of cool places on the island. We were at some beaches but we didn't go for a swim as the weather was not that good and it was quite cold. But nevertheless, the views of the lakes, the sea and the beaches were breathtaking. The barbecue lunch at the beach was really amazing. We could relax at the beach while Dave prepared the food (sausages). Afterwards, Dave showed us some trees with koalas which was really cool. The only disappointment was at the Bushtucker Food. The tasting of crocodile and kangoroo was the main reason for me to book this tour and not one of the cheap tours to Stradbroke Island. But when we arrived at Bushtucker, it turned out that they did not take Dave's reservation for us and therefore, they could not offer us any kangaroo or crocodile. As compensation, they gave us really small glasses of marmelade and a pencil, but nevertheless, we have paid a lot for this tour and I am sure that the kangaroo and crocodile are worth more than the two small glasses of marmelade. I would have appreciated it if we get our money back from Bushtucker for the Food tasting as we could not eat anything except the cookies. But we didn't get any monetary compensation for that. I will give 4 stars for the tour anyway because Dave felt really sorry. But in the end, it could have been a perfect tour that has been dimmed by Bushtucker.

Straddie Tour with Bare foot Dave

We booked this tour at the Tourist Information and were told we would have an excellent day with Dave. An understatement, it was absolutely fantastic! We were picked up from our hotel in Brisbane by Dave on the dot at 7.30 a.m. and driven up to the ferry. Throughout the journey Dave was a fantastic source of information and anecdotes. Ferry journey was fun and the on to our tour. Down 4x4 trails to the Brown lake and our first swim... far warmer than the UK's North Sea and the water is clar and the colour of weak tea. Then over to the first of many beaches, more swimming (in the surf this time) and then on to Lookout Point and the nearby gorge. Then on to Flinder's beach and a Bar-be-que prepared by Dave. Onwards along the beach and then back across the island. We stopped and saw wild koalas in the trees by the road. Then back to the mainland by boat, a short drive and bush tucker(food) with a lizard (water dragon) watching. We give Dave 100%.

Great Day Out!

We booked on the Kingfisher tour on the Wednesday and we went on the Thursday. This did involve us travelling to Straddie by our own devices but Dave knocked 50% off the tour for doing this and the public transport was easy to work out and the tourist information centre staff in Brisbane were very helpful. When we arrived on Straddie Barefoot Dave picked us up from the ferry port and we were surprised that it was just the two of us on the tour! We went to the Brown Lake and swan in the tea-tree infused waters, walked around the coast line and saw dolphins, sea turtles and a manta-ray. We then stopped and had a cup of tea on the beach with some damper cake and jam. The weather was not great, with intermittent rain showers, but Dave kept us busy and dry with a nice drive along the beachfront. We then stopped for lunch where Dave cooked us a wonderful BBQ with an enormous tasty salad and we saw some dolphins from where we were sat eating. Then we drove through the centre of the this island off road to see some fantastic views. Dave was a fantastic guide, very knowledgeable and friendly. Knows the island like the back of his hand and tailored the day to us and the weather!

Great way to see Straddie!!

My husband and I were given a voucher as a wedding present and we decided on the full day "Eco Tour" with Straddie Kingfisher Tours. My parents who had been to Straddie several times were also keen to come. It started with a 25 minute Taxi ferry across from Cleveland to Stradbroke Island and we were met at the Jetty by Dave. Dave was very warm and welcoming and made the day fun and interesting - he knows the island very well and he really looked after us. We saw Whales, Dolphins and Manta Rays, drove along the beach, saw a tea tree lake, ate Damper with jam and a cuppa and Dave also cooked us a fabulous BBQ lunch on the beach. After lunch we had a lovely beach walk while Dave packed everything away and then we made our way back to the ferry. Dave accompanied us back to Cleveland on the Ferry and then to afternoon tea at a very interesting place called "Indigiscapes". We tried lots of very interesting and delicious food and learnt a bit about the native environment. The Lemon Myrtle butter on scones was divine as were the Duck and Davidson's plum spring rolls!!! Dave left us at this point as we had our own car to make our way home but he made us feel as though he really enjoyed spending his day with us and showing us around the island. My parents said that even though they had been to Straddie several times this was the best day and they saw more of the island than on any of their previous trips. There is no doubt that "Barefoot Dave" made the day one to remember!!

Best day out

My husband first met Dave when he organised a "tag-a-long" 4WD day some time ago. This time we were hosting an international visitor so we wanted to pack our day with activities and were happy to travel in Dave's truck. Dave suggested we start with kayaking, which we followed by a 4WD on the beach and fishing, then a BBQ lunch. Finally, we did some sand boarding, which was an absolute hoot and exhausting walking up the great sandhills. I haven't had so much fun in one day in a long time! Dave was pleasant and really seems to enjoy what he does. We were a family of parents plus a 21yo, 18yo, 16yo and 15yo and one middle aged aunt. Everyone had a great day! Dave will tailor your activities to age, fitness and preferences and pick up from accommodation on North Stradbroke Island or arrange to meet you off the ferry. There were other activities to choose from depending on the time of year. A highly recommended day.