Jumpinpin, South Stradbroke Island, Qld
There is something special about spending time on the water, the natural roll and rhythm relaxes and restores your energy. For me, a day-trip is the perfect tonic to bring balance back into a busy life and one of my favourite destinations is Jumpinpin on the northern tip of South Stradbroke Island. Fathers Day is a great day to layout a plan that involves being on the water and escaping to a place that feels far from the Gold Coast, and our busy lives, without too much traveling.
This year, it fell on the first weekend of spring, the temperature was about 25C, the wind was failing to entice the flags and cumulus clouds offered voluminous dimensions to the sky as we launched the boat at the Gold Coast City Marina on the edge of the Coomera River. Our destination was Jumpinpin, or The Pin as locals call it, on the northern tip of South Stradbroke Island only 11nm (20kms) from the marina.
GETTING THERE
GPS: 27° 45′ 14.2″ S / 153° 26′ 15.9″ E
The Pin is easily accessible from the Gold Coast. It is about 14nm (26kms) from Main Beach/Southport, allowing you to launch at Runaway Bay or Paradise Point to reduce your travel time. If you are coming from Brisbane or north of the Gold Coast, Jacobs Well is the closet jumping off point. The relaxed village of Jacob’s Well has a great four-lane boat ramp with parking, though it can get a bit busy during summer months. Parking against the wall near the camping ground is floodlit for better security. Launching and parking are free and there is a bait and tackle shop right on the ramp that sells ice. There also is a bottle shop and small supermarket across the road for any last minute shopping or a return visit to extend your stay at The Pin.
The Gold Coast waterways connect with Brisbane and the southern Moreton Bay Islands. The delta-like network of channels are protected from the Pacific Ocean by North and Stradbroke Islands and provide endless hours of exploration in protected waters for craft big and small.
Our destination today is a great demonstration that you don’t need a big boat to escape suburban life. Heading down the Coomera River in the RIB, the tide is low but there is plenty of water for a vessel under 8.0m to bypass the 6knot (11km/h) restriction of the main channel and break away down the smaller north arm. Larger vessels should stick with the main channel of the Coomera River.
The north arm, made up of three large sweeping over sized hair-pins weaving down to the Broadwater, is a fun section of river to travel. Our young children loved the ride sitting at the bow of the boat grinning broadly as the throttle is opened a little wider. After the final big sweeping turn, the Broadwater appears and the north arm pops you out near the entrance to Couran Cove resort on South Stradbroke Island.
We headed north up the main channel, bypassing Tipplers passage, slowing down to watch a pod of dolphins herding fish into the shallows. Continuing up the main channel we reached a point where it heads west to Jacobs Well and the Canaipa Passage, we broke away at the North Cardinal and headed north-east towards Jumpinpin, which brings you back to South Stradbroke Island. As we reached the 6knot zone we arrived at the southern end of the main anchorage are known as The Bedroom. It offers good anchorage, except in a westerly wind. You also need to be aware of the tide movements and the low tide depth before you drop the anchor.
THE DESTINATION
Arriving a couple of hours after low tide the lagoon has slowly started to fill with water, attracting Pelicans into the bay and a couple of them tag along with us, curious about the intrusion.
As the tide fills in the lagoon, the shallow water is warmed faster than the swift moving water around the corner. It also is much safer for swimming and is popular today. Once we have the boat safely anchored we set up a small rope swing with some driftwood for the kids and the friends they have made on the beach. Bent over trees from previous storms also provide a playground for the kids to enjoy with their new-found friends. It also allows us to relax and enjoy a few treats — after all it is Father’s Day.
Our pre-departure preparations included a visit to a favourite prawn trawler. Nestled between the Versace Hotel and Sea World, the fishing co-op is a great place to buy fresh seafood. Large king prawns, fresh or cooked in the same seawater they were caught on the trawlers that caught them. Dipped in a freshly made spicy Thai sauce and washed down with a delicious Ale from the boutique brewers in Burleigh Heads makes it the perfect Fathers Day for this Dad. Kids happily playing and making friends, good food, cold drinks and no phone switched on to interrupt the serenity – this has to be the Gold Coast’s Bonnie Doon.
Jumpinpin channel is an area of swift moving water that is constantly changing with the spit sometimes extending a vast distance out to sea. During a treacherous storm 121 years and a couple of days before our visit, a ship named the Cambus Wallace was wrecked just off the coast of where the channel now lies. Much of the ship’s cargo was washed ashore and while the locals salvaged what they could, mainly whiskey, a large quantity of dynamite that had also washed ashore was left behind. The wet and unstable dynamite was eventually gathered up in a pile and detonated. It is believed that the explosion on the narrow isthmus of sand contributed to the destabilisation of this area. A few years later a storm, which generated big waves that lashed the already narrow band of unstable land turned the 6000-year-old sand island into two sand island that we now call North and South Stradbroke Islands.
Taking a stroll over the sand dunes provides a magnificent view back down to the Gold Coast and back over the anchorage where the boats look like silhouettes against the setting sun.
FISHING
The Pin juxtaposes two sprawling urban areas of south- east Queensland. Thanks to the Fisheries habitat protection there has been no development up stream. The water is constantly replaced and the nutrient balance appears to be very healthy. The fishing is fantastic, particularly for Flathead and Bream, while those who adventure more toward the tip of the Pin will be rewarded with Tailor, Whiting or even the elusive Mulloway.
Heading up to the point you encounter deeper, faster moving water as it enters the bay on the incoming tide. It’s not safe for swimming but there are people who say it’s a highway for the fish entering the area on the incoming tide. Crossing the bar beyond is not recommended. If you want to head out to the open water go further south to the Gold Coast Seaway. We packed our fishing gear but the serenity and fine food trumped fishing this time.
EXTENDED STAYS
You feel a world away after a 30-minute journey that you can make in most trailerable boats. While it is a perfect destination for a day-trip you can also stay over for a few nights and really unwind. While it does get busy on weekends if you can get away for a couple of nights mid week you will almost have the pick of the place to drop your anchor. The great thing about this area is you don’t need an overnighting boat to stay here. Open and day boats can find safe anchorage along the western shore where there are many camping areas available to use. If you plan on camping you’ll probably see the local ranger who comes to area on a quad bike.
OVERVIEW
Those visiting for the first time will find it hard to believe that such a seemingly untouched world of nature exists between too large urban environments. South-east Queensland is a sub tropical paradise and coming to places like Jumpinpin shows you that you don’t need to travel far to experience the beauty and serenity it offers. I am definitely planning a return trip to camp with the family — no power, unplugged and after a short 30 minute ride with no road works and little traffic. Feeling the breeze in our face as you navigate to a place like Jumpinpin sure beats losing valuable free time on the motorway.
This year, it fell on the first weekend of spring, the temperature was about 25C, the wind was failing to entice the flags and cumulus clouds offered voluminous dimensions to the sky as we launched the boat at the Gold Coast City Marina on the edge of the Coomera River. Our destination was Jumpinpin, or The Pin as locals call it, on the northern tip of South Stradbroke Island only 11nm (20kms) from the marina.
GETTING THERE
GPS: 27° 45′ 14.2″ S / 153° 26′ 15.9″ E
The Pin is easily accessible from the Gold Coast. It is about 14nm (26kms) from Main Beach/Southport, allowing you to launch at Runaway Bay or Paradise Point to reduce your travel time. If you are coming from Brisbane or north of the Gold Coast, Jacobs Well is the closet jumping off point. The relaxed village of Jacob’s Well has a great four-lane boat ramp with parking, though it can get a bit busy during summer months. Parking against the wall near the camping ground is floodlit for better security. Launching and parking are free and there is a bait and tackle shop right on the ramp that sells ice. There also is a bottle shop and small supermarket across the road for any last minute shopping or a return visit to extend your stay at The Pin.
The Gold Coast waterways connect with Brisbane and the southern Moreton Bay Islands. The delta-like network of channels are protected from the Pacific Ocean by North and Stradbroke Islands and provide endless hours of exploration in protected waters for craft big and small.Our destination today is a great demonstration that you don’t need a big boat to escape suburban life. Heading down the Coomera River in the RIB, the tide is low but there is plenty of water for a vessel under 8.0m to bypass the 6knot (11km/h) restriction of the main channel and break away down the smaller north arm. Larger vessels should stick with the main channel of the Coomera River.
The north arm, made up of three large sweeping over sized hair-pins weaving down to the Broadwater, is a fun section of river to travel. Our young children loved the ride sitting at the bow of the boat grinning broadly as the throttle is opened a little wider. After the final big sweeping turn, the Broadwater appears and the north arm pops you out near the entrance to Couran Cove resort on South Stradbroke Island.
We headed north up the main channel, bypassing Tipplers passage, slowing down to watch a pod of dolphins herding fish into the shallows. Continuing up the main channel we reached a point where it heads west to Jacobs Well and the Canaipa Passage, we broke away at the North Cardinal and headed north-east towards Jumpinpin, which brings you back to South Stradbroke Island. As we reached the 6knot zone we arrived at the southern end of the main anchorage are known as The Bedroom. It offers good anchorage, except in a westerly wind. You also need to be aware of the tide movements and the low tide depth before you drop the anchor.
THE DESTINATION
Arriving a couple of hours after low tide the lagoon has slowly started to fill with water, attracting Pelicans into the bay and a couple of them tag along with us, curious about the intrusion.
As the tide fills in the lagoon, the shallow water is warmed faster than the swift moving water around the corner. It also is much safer for swimming and is popular today. Once we have the boat safely anchored we set up a small rope swing with some driftwood for the kids and the friends they have made on the beach. Bent over trees from previous storms also provide a playground for the kids to enjoy with their new-found friends. It also allows us to relax and enjoy a few treats — after all it is Father’s Day.
Our pre-departure preparations included a visit to a favourite prawn trawler. Nestled between the Versace Hotel and Sea World, the fishing co-op is a great place to buy fresh seafood. Large king prawns, fresh or cooked in the same seawater they were caught on the trawlers that caught them. Dipped in a freshly made spicy Thai sauce and washed down with a delicious Ale from the boutique brewers in Burleigh Heads makes it the perfect Fathers Day for this Dad. Kids happily playing and making friends, good food, cold drinks and no phone switched on to interrupt the serenity – this has to be the Gold Coast’s Bonnie Doon.
Jumpinpin channel is an area of swift moving water that is constantly changing with the spit sometimes extending a vast distance out to sea. During a treacherous storm 121 years and a couple of days before our visit, a ship named the Cambus Wallace was wrecked just off the coast of where the channel now lies. Much of the ship’s cargo was washed ashore and while the locals salvaged what they could, mainly whiskey, a large quantity of dynamite that had also washed ashore was left behind. The wet and unstable dynamite was eventually gathered up in a pile and detonated. It is believed that the explosion on the narrow isthmus of sand contributed to the destabilisation of this area. A few years later a storm, which generated big waves that lashed the already narrow band of unstable land turned the 6000-year-old sand island into two sand island that we now call North and South Stradbroke Islands.
Taking a stroll over the sand dunes provides a magnificent view back down to the Gold Coast and back over the anchorage where the boats look like silhouettes against the setting sun.
FISHING
The Pin juxtaposes two sprawling urban areas of south- east Queensland. Thanks to the Fisheries habitat protection there has been no development up stream. The water is constantly replaced and the nutrient balance appears to be very healthy. The fishing is fantastic, particularly for Flathead and Bream, while those who adventure more toward the tip of the Pin will be rewarded with Tailor, Whiting or even the elusive Mulloway.
Heading up to the point you encounter deeper, faster moving water as it enters the bay on the incoming tide. It’s not safe for swimming but there are people who say it’s a highway for the fish entering the area on the incoming tide. Crossing the bar beyond is not recommended. If you want to head out to the open water go further south to the Gold Coast Seaway. We packed our fishing gear but the serenity and fine food trumped fishing this time.
EXTENDED STAYS
You feel a world away after a 30-minute journey that you can make in most trailerable boats. While it is a perfect destination for a day-trip you can also stay over for a few nights and really unwind. While it does get busy on weekends if you can get away for a couple of nights mid week you will almost have the pick of the place to drop your anchor. The great thing about this area is you don’t need an overnighting boat to stay here. Open and day boats can find safe anchorage along the western shore where there are many camping areas available to use. If you plan on camping you’ll probably see the local ranger who comes to area on a quad bike.
OVERVIEWThose visiting for the first time will find it hard to believe that such a seemingly untouched world of nature exists between too large urban environments. South-east Queensland is a sub tropical paradise and coming to places like Jumpinpin shows you that you don’t need to travel far to experience the beauty and serenity it offers. I am definitely planning a return trip to camp with the family — no power, unplugged and after a short 30 minute ride with no road works and little traffic. Feeling the breeze in our face as you navigate to a place like Jumpinpin sure beats losing valuable free time on the motorway.
