Law firm marketing: Making the most of what you’ve got!

2011 October 13
by squadron

If the marketing strategy for your law company depends on online marketing, niche marketing to particular industries, traditional advertising, or just retaining and growing a share of your stable of clients, you’ll need to create content.

Content is an essential part of legal marketing, without it you may as well not have a law firm marketing plan. But producing content means hard work, and you need to make the best of the material you manage to produce. Following are some ideas for making sure you use two of the most commonly produced types of legal marketing content as effectively as you can.

Law Firm Marketing – Written material (blogs, email alerts, brochures, guides, information sheets)
If you have written some quality, interesting material in any of the forms mentioned, you don’t need to only send it off once or print it and let it sit in your reception area. You should distribute the content as much as is possible. For every piece of writing you produce, consider:

- Have I distributed it to as many, relevant, clients as possible?
- Has it been loaded to my website?
- Have I emailed it directly to people who have referred me, associates and other professionals?
- Have I linked it with a post on Facebook and a tweet on Twitter?
- Has it been sent to media contacts?
- Are others in the firm aware of it and could they explain it in detail if a client questions them?
- Can I turn it into a different type of content and distribute in a different forum?

Law Firm Marketing – Presentations
Presentations are generally prepared with a particular reception in mind, or because of a particular request. As a result they tend to be presented only once then left to become stale. The large amount of effort and time required to prepare it gets just one presentation. To get far more benefit from your presentation consider:

- What other companies could I show it to?
- How could I let the most people know about it?
- Have I discussed it on our website, Facebook, Twitter, or offered to present it to others?
- Is it relevant to send a hard copy of the presentation to people who couldn’t attend the seminar?
- Could I record an audio or video of the presentation and distribute it via email or directly?
- Is it viable to write an article or blog to discuss topics that arose from the presentation?
- Have I sent additional content to all the people that were at the presentation?

Although these suggestions might seem like additional work just when you’ve probably created a dent in your monthly billings with the amount of time you spent preparing the first lot of material, it’s crucial to remember that it is much easier to add a small amount of time at the end to really impact on what you’ve already produced than it is to produced a whole new piece of legal marketing material.

Maximise the benefits of all the time and effort you put into law firm marketing and you’ll find that the next time you need to create content you’ll feel more positive about how effective that content will be.

John Gray is a practising lawyer and the Senior Marketer at John Gray Marketing, an Australian specialist law firm and legal marketing consultancy. If you are interested in law marketing, legal marketing and marketing for lawyers, contact John Gray today.

Relationship Combatibility Factors

2011 October 12

Relationship and Marriage counseling can assist you find out how compatible you are.

The two most important factors that decide how similar you are as a couple are:

A similar degree of psychological vitality and maturity and a similar ranking of Instinctual Variants.

What are Instinctual Variants?
The 3 Instincts represent the natural energy or drives that are essentially part of us as humans. Our personality is highly engaged with and is often dependent on these libidinal, instinctual energies to give it its spark.

Self Preservation Instinct.
People of this Instinctual type are often with the basic survival needs as they translate into our modern society, for example, finance, food, housing, health, safety and comfort.
Being secure and physically comfortable are priorities, and they will tend to bring these supplies with them.
When entering a room, they will tend to notice lighting, uncomfortable seating, the room temperature, when the lunch break will be, and whether they will enjoy the food provided. They tend also to be the most practical in the sense of taking care of basic necessities of life.
They are the most introverted of the types.

Sexual/ Intimate Instinct.
People of this type have a strong desire for intensity of experience and affection. The honest riveting gaze is the dead giveaway. When they enter a situation they automatically gravitate toward people they feel attracted to, as if they are looking for the juice. These people can be intimacy junkies, often ignoring pressing obligations or even basic hygiene if they are swept up in something that has captured them. This gives a wide ranging exploratory approach to life, but can also generate a lack of focus on one’s own achievements.

Social Instinct.
People of this variation are preoccupied on their interactions with other people and with the sense of value and self esteem they derive from their participation in collective activities. These include work, family, side activities and clubs.
Upon entering a room, these people would immediately be aware of the power structures and subtle politics between different people and social circles. They are subconsciously focused on other’s reaction to them, particularly about whether they are being accepted or not.
They need to interact with others to feel secure, alive and energised. They tend to live for interacting with people, but they avoid intimacy.
They are the most extroverted of the types.

Within a person, one of these Instincts will predominate. In fact the three variants can be ordered like the layers of a cake, with the most predominant one at the top. The least powerful one, at the bottom, is termed the blind spot.
These instincts play an essential role in our relationships because personalities of the same type tend to share values and understand each other completely, and therefore feel very compatible.

In relationships between 2 different Instinctual types, each will struggle to convert the other.

For further information on discovering whether you and your partner are compatible, contact the Hart Centre Australia. We are Australia’s premier relationship and marriage counselling service with 53 locations Australia wide, and 8 relationship counselling centres in Brisbane, 3 marriage counselling centres in the Gold Coast, and 2 relationship counselling locations on the Sunshine Coast. Phone 1300 830 552 for appointments at all centres.

For relationship counselling Brisbane, marriage counselling gold coast and marriage counselling sunshine coast, contact your local Hart Centre.

Stone Veneer

2011 October 10
by squadron

Stone veneer is a modern way to decorate the walls of a creating. The stone veneer cladding presents a stylish method adopted by architects to impart a dynamic look to a lifeless construction. This is mostly used for visual purposes and has a long life. The elegance and simplicity of stone veneer provides homeowners, architects, builders and developers with a versatility and flexibility to be more to creative. Stone veneer is also efficiently used in landscape and complementing the natural beauty of the open spaces as well.

Stone Veneer acts as a ornamental and protecting protecting on exterior as well interior walls and surfaces. The veneer is commonly one inch thick; it is lighter in weight and weighs about 15 lbs. / sq. ft. It does not need any extra structural support for its installation.

Stone Veneer is mostly made from natural stones. It can also be produced from manufactured stones. The natural stone veneer is manufactured from stone, which is collected from quarries or as area stone. The stone is then sawn utilizing huge diamond impregnated cutters equally spaced to get the slices of the stone in a consistent thickness and weight. This stone is also known as “thin stone veneer”.

Besides the natural stone veneer, manufacture stone veneer is also a decorative making material. It is produced to imitate the appearance of natural stone. There are many titles used for this type of veneer. The stacked stone veneer, artificial stone veneer, manufactured stone veneer and versatile stone veneer are various names used for stone veneer.

Stone veneer is produced by mixing a lightweight concrete mix to rubber molds of different type. These are painted with a coloring process to make them resemble the real stone. yet another method to make stone veneer is by casting and molding it from chemically modified lightweight concrete. Stone veneer is actually a replica of natural stone. It takes the finest details of the original stone. At a near look, the artificial stone veneers appear just like original stones.

The stone veneer is mostly used as a siding on the walls. It can be fixed on the walls using special top quality mortars for highest adhesion and strength. versatile stone veneer is manufactured by slicing a thin layer of a stone. It is then backed by some composite material. It can be produced in a variety of designs and colors making use of different stones. The manufactured stone veneer is less costly than natural stone veneer and there is the least amount of wastage in its use.

Manufactured stone veneer costs almost 1/3 to 1/2 the cost of utilizing natural stone. mainly because of the lightweight of the manufactured stone veneer, there is no need for wall ties or any footings. It tends to make the construction easier and thereby decreases the cost. There is a vast variety of designs, patterns and colors available on manufactured options as compared to the natural stone because the natural stone is generally used in the area close to where it is extracted due to the huge transportation price ranges.

Manufactured stone veneer is relatively less strong as compared to natural stone rock walls, but many applications do not call for higher strength as visuals is a more important issue in many cases. Stone veneer is also not reusable like natural stones.

Stone veneer provides the natural look of the stones at inexpensive rates. Stone veneers are preferred these days for most of ornamental facing in creatings and open spaces.

Cheap SEO packages- what to look for in these services

2011 October 9
by squadron

The term SEO as we all know is an acronym of search engine optimisation which is the process of improving a websites awareness on search engines. Websites that are highly ranked in search results have more website visitors. SEO targets many possibilitys such as image search, local search, video search and academic search. Today, there are many companies offering inexpensive SEO packages~deals} for clients~shoppers~buyers} who want their sites’ rankings to rise. SEO’s (acronym referring to search engine optimizers) use different methods to accomplish good search engine marketing on the consumer’s website.

Any company offering low-cost SEO package deals~deals} should be able to permit the clients site rise in the search engines fast. When many internet users search for a particular term(also referred to as ‘key phrase’), they perceive the ones at the top as having more relevance to the keyword. Although there are many variables that lead to a website receiving to the top spot (or at least among the top ten), SEO comes in handy to make sure that this is accomplishd in a short interval of time. being professional, SEO’s know what is best for a site and how to go about generating sure that it rises to the top. They use a variety of tactics that are all geared towards achieving the same.

A few of the methods they use include:

-Back links building and,
- LSI (Latent Semantic Index) content writing.

In back link building, inbound hyperlinks are used to improve a site’s awareness. Inbound links are from other sites and they are important mainly because of their significance to search engine optimisation. A site with a big number of back links is one indication that it is popular and of significance to others too. Google and other web search engines determine the Page Rank of a website or webpage due to the number of back hyperlinks it has. It is Thus worth noting that this SEO option is of great importance to any website owner who wants his site to get ranked fast.

LSI content writing is among the most common SEO options. since search engines rely on the content on the website or webpage so that it gets ranked, having a website that is well taken care of in this area is very important to the owner. For instance, Google is very stringent when it comes to content. They require a webpage to have keyword rich content so that it can get good rankings. In many cases, search engine optimizers write content for purchaser}s observing keyword density and also length. content articles of considerable good length are better placed to get ranked much easier than short ones with crappy content. All posts have to be free from plagiarism. This means that they are authentic and written by the site owner and are not copied from other resources.

In most cases, customer}s who consult these low cost SEO package deals~deals} suppliers want services so as to improve rankings to their money creating websites. They either have affiliate hyperlinks on their sites, promote CPA, run Adsense or offer solutions that people pay for. To them, it is an investment and therefore it makes perfect reason for finding good site rankings.

To get the best affordable SEO package deal, a purchaser} desires to look for the following qualities:

- no matter if the company has been offering the companies for a considerable period of time of time,

-whether or not the company charges reasonably,

-regardless of whether the company offers all the providers that he/she needs and also,

-whether or not the company has reviews from previous successful projects.

Having located that all the above stages~factors} are well taken care of, he/she can from that point buy their providers. The buyer} should ensure that all instructions and particulars are meticulously tended to before giving them out to the SEO guys. working with low-cost SEO package deals~deals} has confirmed to be the most efficient way that website owners use to make to the top of the web search engine results. due to the fact of the ever growing internet utilizing population globally, these solutions will continue to provide their providers to the ever hungry website owners who also want to get a piece of the large chunk of money made from the internet. To sum up, we can say that this is two way traffic as both the buyer and the service provider need one other.

Looking for a cheap SEO packages? Try this new service from Search Tempo. These cheap SEO packages are just about the best value on the internet.

Things To Consider When Hiring A Spit Roast

2011 October 9
by squadron

If you are an avid party thrower and you want that extra special somepoint to add that element of glam to your party, spit roast hire is a great idea. Spits come in different sizes and relying on the number of folks at your party and the amount of space you have at your disposal, you can roast a few of chickens or even a whole pig or goat. When thinking of spit roast hire there are several easy ways to procure what you need through the yellow pages and the internet. Nonetheless, before you go in for spit roast hire, there are some important points you must take into consideration.

Do It on your own v/s catering.
For a lot of folks, do it on your own options are much better because they can save on lots of money. Setting up a spit and actually cooking on it can be a time consuming and cumbersome task. When it will come to spit roast hire, there are firms which will let you simply hire the spit roast and do everymatter yourself, or give you a totally loaded package deal in which everyissue from setting up, cleaning up and serving is done by a team of professional caterers. So depending on whether you have enough time or not you can decide if you want to do it all your self or pay someone else to do it for you.

Gas Spit v/s Charcoal Spit
When thinking about spit roast hire, you must first decide what kind of a spit you will need. There are spits that work on charcoal and those that work on gas. Weigh the pros and cons of each type and decide which one you want. The good point about charcoal spits is the fact that the meat you cook on it will retain the delicious smoke cigarettesy flavor of the charcoal. Gas spits will not permit for that. Having said that, charcoal spits are messy, they create a lot of burn and can be dangerous if not attended to. Gas spits are scanner, make less of a mess and don’t create as much smoke cigarettes. Another disadvantage of charcoal spits is that you are unable to use them in closed spaces because they create a lot of heat and smoke a cigarette. If you plan to cook insides, a gas spit makes much more sense. however, with gas spits you have to make sure the enclosed area is well ventilated.

Size Does Matter
Another important aspect of spit roast hire you must consider is the size of spit you need. What kind of meat are you planning to cook? A spit roast is a very versatile procedure of cooking and everyfactor from cow, venison, bull, goat and pig can be cooked on it. relying on the type of and amount of meat you want to cook, you have to choose an appropriately sized spit . For instance if you wish to cook a full developed goat, you will need a spit that enables for 25kgs. Of course, the bigger the spit size you choose, the more expensive the affair will be. speaking about spit roast hire, gas spits come in a constrained number of sizes whereas charcoal spits are obtainable in a larger assortment of sizes.

Cost Of Charcoal v/s Gas Spit
One of the most important things that you must keep in mind when heading in for spit roast hire, is the cost. You have to first figure out how much you can afford and how much you are willing to spend to hire a spit roast. A lot of individuals feel that charcoal spits are cheaper which in fact is not the case. Technically if you go to see, charcoal and gas spits cost pretty much the same if you take the total cost of cooking into consideration. The fee to hire a charcoal spit is much less than that of a gas spit but what you must take into consideration is the fact that charcoal spits require additional fuel whereas gas spits don’t.

So depending on whether you are having an indoor or outdoor party or if you want to be extravagant or minimalistic, put some time into research, figure out what you need and then go in for the right spit roast hire. For more information about spit roast hire Brisbane, visit http://spitroasthire.brisbaneoz.com/

The Importance of Proofing Designs

2011 October 7
by squadron

You’ve made your mind up that it’s time for a new site or design. For many, the first step is to choose the right company. However, the first thing you should do is develop at least a vague concept of what you expect from the completed product. Not only is this step commonly ignored in the initial phase of project development, but also during the creative briefing stage after recruiting a design company.

Everyone wants to send off a project to the professionals and let them handle it all. If you’re having your car washed, then nothing is really needed from you. For other projects, you need to be more involved. Website design and graphic design are two areas where getting involved yourself is necessary to the ideal design for you and your organization.

During your first meeting with a website and graphic design firm, you should provide them with your ideas and goals. This provides the company with a starting point. This doesn’t mean you are done. No one can read your mind. In order to be certain you get the best design possible, you must take the creative briefing stage extremely.

This is the part of the assignment where you work one on one with the designers to ensure they completely comprehend what you want. The more they understand, the quicker that can deliver the finished project. It also reduces the number of initial design changes.

The next step before the designer can work on your project is proofing your design. You should never just quickly glimpse the design and give your approval. Look over the design plans as thoroughly as you would any important document. If the design isn’t exactly as you envisioned it and doesn’t provide the features you discussed, now is the time to make changes.

Waiting until the final project is delivered means time consuming revisions for both you and the designer. By involving yourself in both the creative briefing and design proofing stages, you save both time and money. You also get the perfect website or graphic design the first time around. The sooner your project is in place, the sooner your customers and visitors will see it.

You should never take this responsibility lightly. It’s your design, your website. Take the time to ensure the design company you choose fully understands your vision. By communicating your needs, the company is able to provide suggestions. With thorough communication between both parties, the best designs and sites are created.

For graphic design Brisbane or logo design Brisbane visit The Creative Noise. The Creative Noise is also a website designer. Brisbane is where their head office is located.

Choosing a Mackay Lawyer, Solicitor or Law Firm

2011 October 6
by squadron

Because it is a popular and growing region, there are many new residents now living in the Mackay region that are choosing a Mackay lawyer or law firm for the first time. Choosing a lawyer to do the legal work to help you purchase a home, to give advice about starting a business or to prepare important documents such as wills or enduring powers-of-attorney, can be a intimidating and stressful time.

When you are needing a Mackay lawyer, solicitor or law firm you should seek these attributes:

Happy Customers
For most people it’s impossible to compare the quality of legal services that is provided by one Mackay solicitor/lawyer or another. Unless you regularly use a similar type of legal service you are unlikely to be able to compare different law firms. But you can look for a Mackay lawyer that is proud of their past performance with generous use of references from previous clients. If they provide plenty of testimonials it tells you two things. First, that they have plenty of happy clients and secondly, that they are willing to take time and go to the trouble to find out what clients think of their service. They are aware that theirs is a service-oriented business.

Local knowledge
Your Mackay lawyer or solicitor ought to have a good local knowledge and demonstrated experience in assisting other people in the town. Look for firms that have worked on local developments or firms with established conveyancing sections that will have developed a valuable source of “inside knowledge” about the property market, local agents and banks which will make a huge difference to the way your transaction will be dealt with.

Breadth of services
Because most people only need a lawyer occasionally, it is wise to choose a Mackay solicitor, lawyer or law firm which can provide you with the full range of services without you having to find alternate law firms. Finding a firm that can assist with your conveyancing, estate planning, disputes, business services and even workplace or employment issues, means you can rely on one firm which will meet all your legal requirements. Law firms value clients that use several services, and will often provide services more cheaply if they have provided other services for you in the past.

*In Queensland a person with legal qualifications was traditionally referred to as a solicitor while a person who “had standing” to represent you in court was called a barrister. More recently the general term lawyer has become more widespread and can be used to describe either of these types of legal practitioner. In some other states of Australia the conveyancing process (the legal process required to transfer ownership of house) can be undertaken by licenced conveyancers. This is not the case in Queensland where conveyancing must be undertaken by a solicitor/lawyer.

John Gray is a practising solicitor and marketing consultant who has worked with leading Mackay law firms. If you need a Mackay solicitor or Mackay lawyer contact John Gray for a recommendation.

Relationship Counselling can help you discover more about yourself.

2011 October 2
by squadron

If you really want to examine in depth at why the two of you have the unique relationship and problems that you have, look no further than the Enneagram.

One of the most helpful ways to examine yourself and just as importantly, how you may add to your relationship issues, is to look at your Enneagram profile.

The modern Enneagram is based on ancient Eastern wisdom combined with modern Psychological thought. There are 9 personality types each with different patterns of thinking, feeling and acting. Each style has its own natural strengths, limitations, and blind spots.

When you know your Enneagram number, you can then be aware of the unconscious assumptions that drive the way you see yourself, do your work, and relate in your relationships.

And you can also understand why your partner seems to act in the bizarre, selfish, intrusive, self-interested, seductive or charming ways that he or she does.

Once you know how he or she see things from within, you can see why they do the things they do which makes perfect sense to them.

There are no types that are better than any other. Each is effective in their own way, but from a very different point of view.

• Ones want to make things right.
• Twos need to be of help.
• Threes are driven to succeed.
• Fours have a deep desire to be special.
• Fives want to be left alone to think.
• Sixes seek safety and support.
• Sevens are connoisseurs of life’s pleasures.
• Eights are driven to dominate others.
• Nines don’t want to make waves.

For more information on how your and your partner’s Enneagram types interact, call us at the Hart Centre. We are a group of Psychologists around Australia who are passionate about relationships and specialise in relationship counselling.

With 15 relationship counselling centres in Sydney, and 12 relationship counselling centres in Melbourne, you will more than likely find one near you. Phone 1300830552 for more details.

Remember, for relationship counselling Sydney or relationship counselling Melbourne contact the Hart Centre.

Stradbroke Island Queensland – Travel Guide

2011 September 28

Right on Brisbane’s eastern coast, North Stradbroke Island (”Straddie” to those familiar) is one of Australia’s natrual treasures -a perfect escape destination. Something of a secret, it is only in recent years that Stradbroke Island has started to show up on the tourism and property radar.

To travel to Straddie through the Brisbane suburb of Cleveland will take about fifty minutes on the vehicle ferry. Cleveland is a thirty minute drive from Brisbane International Airport and the centre of Brisbane, and one hour’s drive from the Gold Coast. The boat ride across Moreton Bay is the first of a series of experiences that make Stradbroke Island such a fantastic experience.

Stradbroke Island is 27,530 hectares, which means it is the world’s second largest sand island. The elongated sand island shields much of the southern part of Moreton Bay and the smaller islands from the ocean swells. It’s beaches are able to be accessed by four-wheel drive, bicycle or tramping, with many great camping sites dotted down Main Beach, and beautiful views are visible from almost everywhere on the island.

The 35 kilometres of white sandy beaches fringing the island’s eastern side runs from Point Lookout in the north to Jumpin Pin in the south. From the Point lookout headland, the towering jungle of the Gold Coast is often clearly visible, being a constant reminder of the stark contrast to the more relaxed lifestyle of Straddie.

North Stradbroke (or Minjerriba to the indigenous Noonuccal tribe) was the home of renowned Aboriginal poet Kath Walker, or Oodgeroo Noonuccal. There is much Aboriginal and European history surrounding Dunwich where water taxis and vehicular barges land.

The calm waters of Moreton Bay swish against the shores of the island’s western fishing towns. The lack of agriculture and the filtering effects of the sand results in unpolluted water which sea-life, and particularly Stradbroke Rock Oysters thrive upon.

North Stradbroke attracts 4WDers, fishermen, surfers and beach-lovers to its free lengths of beach and rugged granite headlands, and the Island also offers a wide range of accommodation, restaurants, cafes and holiday infrastructure. With an incredible diversity of experiences to offer and spectacular spots to explore, North Stradbroke is a great holiday place for families, couples and adventure-seekers alike. The ideal way to see the Island is by Four Wheel Drive, but there are many stunning coastal walks and a mountain bike and whale watching map are an easier and more environmentally sound alternative.

Point Lookout is a popular tourist hub, only a thirty kilometre drive on a sealed road from Dunwich. The North Gorge Headland is 40 metres above sea level and recognised as a leading land-based whale-watch site throughout the colder months, and world-class surfing and fishing throughout the year.

Point Lookout’s unspoilt beaches and headlands are perfect for swimming, surfing and fishing all year round. Whales, dolphins, turtles and manta rays can often be seen from the spectacular North Gorge at the northern part of the island. The island has been listed as one of the world’s most ecologically important wetlands with several freshwater lakes, waterways and lagoons that are accessible by 4WD or on a tour with one of Straddie’s tour operators.

One of the greatest experiences of the island is being able to purchase fresh seafood directly from local fishermen. Just look for signs at Amity Point and Point Lookout to direct you to their homes and the freshest, most delicious catch-of-the-day around. For those who prefer the work be done for them, Straddie’s restaurants and cafes all make use of this fabulous resource in the menu.

“The Point” offers a number of alfresco style cafes, a bakery, chemist, post office, newsagent, corner store and supermarket. The island also has a bus service which links all 3 towns to ferries and water taxis.

North Stradbroke Island is the ultimate paradise for the many enthusiasts who visit each year. On a good day it’s possible to surf right past the pub, along the evocatively named Cylinders Beach, on waves that peel dreamily for hundreds of metres. Stick ten bucks in the back pocket of your boardies and you can drop in for a beer on your way back around -you may even bump into world ranked surfer and local Bede Durbidge! Stradbroke boasts what is perhaps the last truly old-school surf shop in the country, that makes it’s business selling surf gear rather than fashion.

The jewels in Stradbroke’s crown is Point Lookout and the natural wonder of the North Gorge Walk, along with the surf, the choice of beaches, all sheltered in differing winds, the whale watching, and the spectacular coastal walk around the gorges. If you are looking for Stradbroke Island Accommodation, make sure you visit: http://www.discoverstradbroke.com.au/

The Attractions of Stradbroke Island

2011 September 24

Located on Brisbane’s eastern doorstep, North Stradbroke Island (”Straddie” to the initiated) is another of Australia’s east coast natural treasures -a perfect escape destination. Something of a secret, it is only recently that Stradbroke Island has begun to shine on the tourist and property radar.

Travel to Stradbroke Island through the Brisbane suburb of Cleveland will take about 50 minutes on the vehicle ferry. Cleveland is a half-hour drive from Brisbane International Airport and the centre of Brisbane, and an drive from the Gold Coast. The ferry ride across Moreton Bay is the first of a series of experiences that make visiting Stradbroke Island such a wonderful destination.

Stradbroke Island covers 27,530 hectares, and therefore is the world’s second largest sand island. The elongated sand island shields much of the southern part of Moreton Bay and the smaller islands from the ocean swells. It’s beaches are accessible by four-wheel drive, bicycle or on foot, with a number of great camp sites placed down Main Beach, and wonderful views appear visible from almost everywhere on Straddie.

Thirty-five kilometres of white sandy beaches fringe the island’s eastern side, from Point Lookout in the north to Jumpin Pin in the south. From the Point lookout headland, the towering jungle of the Gold Coast is often clearly visible, and is a reminder of the contrast to the slower pace of Straddie.

North Stradbroke (or Minjerriba to the indigenous Noonuccal people) was the home of celebrated Aboriginal poet Kath Walker, or Oodgeroo Noonuccal. There is a lot of Aboriginal and European history in the area of Dunwich where the water taxis and vehicular barges berth.

The waters of Moreton Bay lap against the shores of the island’s western fishing towns. With a lack of agriculture and the filtering effects of the sand results in unpolluted water that fish, and particularly Stradbroke Rock Oysters thrive upon.

North Stradbroke attracts four-wheel drivers, fishermen, surfers and beach-lovers to its wide stretches of accessible coast and rugged granite headlands, and the Island also offers a good range of accommodation, restaurants, cafes and holiday infrastructure. With a diversity of experiences on offer and stunningly beautiful places to discover, North Stradbroke is a fabulous holiday location for families, couples and adventure-seekers alike. The ideal way to see the Island is by Four Wheel Drive, but there are many stunning coastal walks and a mountain bike and whale watching map are an easier and more environmentally sound alternative.

Point Lookout is a popular tourist hub, only a thirty kilometre drive on a sealed road from Dunwich. The North Gorge Headland is forty metres above sea level and recognised as a leading land-based whale-watch area throughout the colder months, and world-class surfing and fishing throughout the year.

Point Lookout’s unspoilt beaches and headlands are perfect for swimming, surfing and fishing year round. Whales, dolphins, turtles and manta rays can often be viewed from the spectacular North Gorge at the northern tip of the island. The island has been listed as one of the world’s most ecologically important wetlands with several freshwater lakes, waterways and lagoons that are accessible by 4WD or on a guided tour with one of Straddie’s tour operators.

One of the best experiences on the island is the fresh seafood directly from local fishermen. Just look for signs at Amity Point and Point Lookout which direct you to their homes and the freshest, most delicious catch-of-the-day around. For those who would rather the work be done for them, Straddie’s restaurants and cafes all make use of this delicious resource on the menus.

“The Point” offers a number of alfresco style cafes, a bakery, chemist, post office, newsagent, corner store and supermarket. The island also has a bus service which links all three towns to ferries and water taxis.

North Stradbroke Island is the ultimate paradise for the many enthusiasts who visit each year. On a good day it’s possible to surf right past the pub, along the evocatively named Cylinders Beach, on waves that peel dreamily for hundreds of metres. Stick ten bucks in the back pocket of your boardies and drop in for a quick beer on your way back around -you may even bump into world ranked surfer and local Bede Durbidge! Stradbroke also boasts what is perhaps the last truly old-school surf shop in the country, that focusses on selling surfing equipment rather than fashion.

The jewels in the Straddie’s crown is Point Lookout and the natural wonder of the North Gorge Walk, along with the surf, the choice of beaches, all sheltered in different winds, the whale watching, and the spectacular coastal walk around the gorges. If you are looking for Stradbroke Island Accommodation, make sure you visit: http://www.discoverstradbroke.com.au/