Why boaters love it
Tipplers on South Stradbroke Island is one of Gold Coast's favourite island destinations, just 10-15 minutes from mainland boat ramps.
Tipplers Passage on the northwestern side provides protected anchorage and pontoon access to the café and campground. The eastern beach offers world-class surf breaks and fishing, while The Broadwater side features calm waters perfect for families, swimming, and water sports.
Quick facts
- Ramp → beach
- ~30 min from Gold Coast ramps. 10-15 mins from Jacob's Well
- Access
- Boat only, ferry from Jacob's Well
- Best tide
- All tides (deep anchorage)
- Anchorage
- Tipplers Passage (NW side)
- Dogs
- No - prohibited on island
- Camping
- Yes - book via https://www.tipplers.au
- Toilets
- At café and campground
- Wildlife
- Wallabies, dougons, dolphins, 150+ birds
- Vibe
- Natural, peaceful, family-friendly
- Activities
- Beach walks, swimming, fishing, dining
- Fishing
- Tailor, Bream, Flathead, Whiting, Dart
- Coordinates
- -27.8053°, 153.4270° (27°48'19"S 153°25'37"E)
Getting there
Launch from Jacobs Well (20 min), Runaway Bay Marina (30 min), or Paradise Point boat ramps. Head east across the Broadwater, watching for marine life and shallow banks. The island is clearly visible from the mainland on clear days.
Navigate to Tipplers Passage on the northwest side. The passage can get busy on weekends — arrive early for best pontoon access. The public pontoons have 20-minute limits for loading/unloading. Anchor in the Broadwater along the western side for longer stays.
| No. | Description | Coordinates |
|---|---|---|
| A | Jacobs Well Boat Ramp | -27.7736, 153.3650 |
| B | Tipplers Anchorage | -27.8050, 153.4260 |
Best conditions: Tipplers Passage offers mostly deep water anchorage accessible at all tides (at least 2 meters through high traffic areas from Gold Coast to Tipplers). However, the passage can become choppy with strong northerlies. Weekends and holidays see heavy boat traffic — consider weekday visits for a more peaceful experience.
Safety first
Emergency contacts: Triple Zero (000). Yellow emergency positioning signs (SSI 1-9) are located along the eastern beach. No patrolled swimming areas exist — ocean swimming is at your own risk due to rips and marine life.
Things to do
Tipplers Dine and Camp
The licensed café serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner Friday through Sunday and on holidays. Enjoy fresh meals with Broadwater views. The kiosk stocks basic supplies, ice, and firewood. Families can make a weekend of it at the nearby campground, with shaded areas perfect for tents, plenty of open space for the kids to play, and the beach just a short stroll away.
Fishing
Target tailor, bream, whiting, flathead, and dart from the beach. The Broadwater holds trevally and mangrove jack. Jumpinpin to the north is legendary for large bream. Check size and bag limits with Queensland Fisheries.
Beach & nature walks
The Tipplers and Surf Beach trails wind through bloodwood forests to 22km of pristine ocean beach. Walking times: 20-90 minutes. Watch for wallabies at dusk — they're quite tame around the campground.
Wildlife watching
June to October brings humpback whales migrating north. The island hosts the endemic golden wallaby, 150+ bird species, and 40,000 migratory shorebirds (September-April). Loggerhead and green turtles nest on the eastern beach (October-March). Dugongs frequent the seagrass beds — maintain go-slow speeds.
Important restrictions
Dogs and generators are strictly prohibited throughout the island to protect wildlife. Campfires are permitted only in designated fire rings at campgrounds. Everything in the conservation park is protected — take only photos, leave only footprints. Pack out all rubbish.
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