A Designer's Guide to Minjerribah / Stradbroke Island
A Designer's Guide to Minjerribah / Stradbroke Island
Over the summer break, Minjerribah (Stradbroke Island) is our favourite family holiday spot. We swim in the ocean, wander along beautiful beaches, and soak up the ever-changing colours of the sea and sky.
Life on Straddie is wonderfully laid-back. Swimmers, a cover-up or shorts, a T-shirt, and bare feet or beach shoes is pretty much the uniform. Salty hair, no makeup, no deadlines and the days naturally slow down.
Stradbroke is a special place. The island, the second-largest sand island in the world, is home to wallabies, kangaroos, echidnas, koalas, bandicoots, turtles, and abundant birdlife.
Its beaches, lakes, dunes, and the Naree Budjong Djara National Park are all part of Quandamooka Country, cared for by the Quandamooka People for tens of thousands of years.
Holiday snaps from Straddie / Minhjerribah where we have spent many memorable holidays with our family and where I am constantly inspired by the colours of the ocean and the sky and the natural environment.
As an interior designer, I can't help but look at places through a designer's eye, even on holidays. The colours, the relaxed atmosphere, and the way homes respond to this unique environment are a constant source of inspiration.
It evokes a style deeply connected to nature: linen, natural fibres, timbers, and worn patinas. These are all hallmarks of thoughtful coastal interior design Australia is known for.
Here's my guide to Straddie, through a design lens, of course.
Where to Stay- Classic Beach Shacks to Architecturally Designed Masterpieces and More
We rent a house each year, and somehow I end up bringing half our home with me, including the coffee machine! With two of my four adult kids and their partners living away, this time together is incredibly special. Lots of personalities, lots of fun, and a beautiful reminder of why relaxed, considered coastal house design matters so much for how we live.
Accommodation on Straddie ranges from classic fibro beach shacks and relaxed beachfront apartments to beautifully designed, architect-led homes tucked gently into the landscape, a wonderful snapshot of modern coastal homes Australia does so well. Airbnb and Discover Stradbroke Realty are both great places to start.
Point Lookout is the most popular areas, close to beaches, walking tracks, and food spots. There are also beachfront campgrounds for four-wheel-drive travellers.
A few favourites to explore:
A simple, much-loved beach shack with Danish vintage furniture, an indoor–outdoor shower, a well-equipped kitchen, and a big backyard. This was our family favourite until we outgrew it.
Stradbroke Island House by Kara Rosenlund
A beautifully considered private retreat filled with warmth, nostalgia, and artful touches by Brisbane artist and photographer Kara Rosenlund. I haven't stayed here personally, but it looks incredible.
Boolarong - Iconic Architect Designed Beach House
Boolarong is a contemporary award winning 3 level beach house with expansive views of the Coral Sea to Moreton Island. Designed by architect Shane Thompson, Boolarong showcases Queensland modern casual beach living. The house has been designed for maximum cross ventilation and captures the prevailing breezes.
The Straddie Hotel Apartments
Perfectly positioned between Cylinder and Home Beach. Beachfront, central, and easy.
Allure Stradbroke Resort
Cute, architect designed, beach shacks with a relaxed holiday feel and resort facilities. Across the road from Home Beach
Claytons on Cylinder
Apartments right on the beach, designed in a natural, relaxed beach-house style. Hard to beat for location.
Camping
North Stradbroke Island (Minjerribah) offers diverse camping, from oceanfront 4WD-only spots at Main Beach and Flinders Beach to serviced sites at Adder Rock, Cylinder Beach, and Amity Point. Managed by Minjerribah Camping.
Boolarong, a contemporary award wining 3 level beach house designed by architect Shane Thompson, has been designed for maximum cross ventilation and captures expansive views of the ocean and the prevailing breezes.
Frenchman’s Folly where we stayed for many January holidays until our family outgrew it - is a classic fibro beach shack - with architectural details and Danish furniture. We cooked a lot of meals, read many books and played lots of games in this shack after long swims and walks on the nearby beaches and often shared the backyard with the local wildlife.
Where to Eat or Drink
Straddie isn't really a foodie destination and that's exactly its charm. We often cook at home, but there are a few laid-back spots for a good meal, a glass of wine, or a local Straddie beer, usually with a view.
The Straddie Hotel
Recently renovated with a cool, beachy vibe. Striped umbrellas, French café chairs, and ocean views. Perfect for an Aperol at sunset.
Straddie Brewing Co
Casual and friendly, perfect for a casual night out if you prefer not to cook. Locally brewed beers, relaxed vibes, wood-fired pizza, and sunset views over Moreton Bay.
Six Beaches Fish Grill & Café
The most upmarket restaurant on the island, but still relaxed. Your good shoes and lippy optional.
Point Lookout Lifesavers Club
Very chill and probably the best view on the island, overlooking Main Beach and the Gorge. Ideal for a post-swim lunch or an afternoon drink with friends.
The Prawn Shack
Famous for a reason, the best fresh prawn rolls on the island. Ideal after a surf or long walk. They also sell fresh local produce and seafood if you want to cook at home.
An iconic local landmark and venue, the Straddie Hotel has been recently renovated to honour the relaxed beachy vibe it is famous for - Designed by KP Architects and culture agency Example, the interiors include mosaic tables, rattan lounges, french cafe chairs, and striped umbrellas alongside surfing memorabilia.
My Favourite Local Stradbroke Design Finds
A beautiful space owned by a local business woman and artist, full of books, Stradbroke Island art, fun beads, straw bags and baskets, towelling hats, puzzles, and beachy homewares.
Starfish Studio
Clothing, swimwear, accessories, and soft furnishings in fabrics designed by local textile artist Jess Scott (a Stradroke resident for over 20 years). Linen tea towels, hand-printed T-shirts, cushion covers, and more. All Australian made, with a strong focus on breathable natural fabrics.
Delvene Cockatoo-Collins Art
Contemporary Indigenous art and homewares that reflects the stories and spirit of Minjerribah.
I always drop in for a wander through this gorgeous store featuring local art, a great library of books, coastal homewares, towelling hats and vintage baskets
Where to Swim
Each beach has its own personality, and depending on the weather, wind, and your mood, you can choose accordingly and they are all within walking distance. You'll often see groups of teenagers wandering from beach to beach.
Main Beach & The Gorge
Expansive, wild, and beautiful. Great for long walks and whale watching in season. While swimming conditions can be dangerous, there are rare, magical days when everything aligns.
Frenchman's Beach
Not suitable for swimming, but stunning for walking, sitting, or kicking a footy.
Deadman's Beach
Quiet, protected, beautiful rock pools and often less busy. It’s our personal favourite. On a quiet day it feels like your the only one on the island.
Cylinder Beach
A family favourite. Patrolled, swimmable, and perfect for long summer days. Cool cabanas are slowly taking over… ahh!
Home Beach
Calm waters, relaxed vibe, and dog-friendly.
Flinders Beach & Adder Rock
Best accessed by 4WD, these beaches are wide open, stunning, with beachfront campgrounds.
Brown Lake (Bummiera)
A pristine rainwater lake just outside Dunwich (Goompi). Its distinctive colour comes from tannins in surrounding melaleuca and tea-tree bushland, making it one of the island's most iconic spots.
Main Beach on Straddie photographed by photographer Kara Rosenlund (available as a print)
Stradbroke Island Interior Inspiration- My Straddie Beach House Project
In 2024, I was lucky enough to work on a client's beach house on Straddie. Think natural green paint, colour-drenched walls, oversized linen pendants, linen curtains, timber shutters colour-matched to the walls, and matte black hardware throughout. Calm, grounded, and deeply connected to place.
A reflection of both Australian coastal home design and thoughtful coastal home styling. You can rent this house at Straddie Beach House 1. I look forward to sharing more on this project soon. Watch this space.
Before and After at the Straddie Beach House Project - From all white walls to colour drenching in khaki greens.
How Stradbroke Inspires My Work
Coastal home design in Australia is not one uniform style. From one end of the country to the other, the coast looks and feels very different, shaped by climate, landscape, and culture. Designing these homes does share common threads, though.
They should respond intuitively to their surroundings, capturing an unmistakable Australian beach spirit. Effortlessly relaxed yet deeply considered, the spaces should echo the laid-back rhythm of coastal living - a sensibility that sits at the heart of Australian coastal home design.
This is often where clients start asking: " What does an interior designer do?” Beyond selecting finishes or furniture, it's about interpreting a place, understanding how people live, and translating that into spaces that feel calm, functional, and deeply connected to their environment.
What I consider when designing coastal abodes:
Practicality is key. Durable coastal home materials, particularly for flooring and furniture, are essential to withstand sand, salt, and water.
Flow matters. Coastal homes often need to respond to the elements, with places to store beach gear or wash sandy feet after the beach.
Holiday homes should feel effortless. Opt for uncomplicated finishes and consider how much maintenance you really want.
Ambience is everything. Evocative lighting, comfortable nooks, storage for board games and holiday reading, and space for beach-found treasures.
Natural materials in coastal design. Linen, washed timbers, woven fibres, sisal mats, and rice paper feel right at home.
Comfort above all. Sink-in sofas, day beds for an afternoon nap, dining chairs you can linger in, quality outdoor furniture, and a calming colour palette that supports relaxed coastal living.
Decorating an apartment at Burleigh on the Gold Coast with a relaxed coastal vibe
While there are many interior design styles, I'm always drawn to those that feel authentic to place. So, at Stradbroke this means relaxed, layered, and quietly considered rather than overly themed. As you know, I love to layer! You can read more on my blog all about this very topic.
If you're looking for someone to help curate your dream beach home on Straddie or beyond, I would love to help. I work with clients locally and interstate, and for those searching for interior designers in Brisbane, Stradbroke Island remains one of my greatest sources of inspiration we can bring back to the city!
And shhh… don't tell too many people about Straddie
