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

2011 October 13
by squadron

If the marketing strategy for your law company is based 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 dynamic of legal marketing, without it you might just as well not have a law firm marketing plan. However, producing content is hard work, and you need to make the best of the writing you can produce. Here are several ideas for making sure you use two of the most commonly produced types of legal marketing content as best you can.

Law Firm Marketing – Written material (blogs, email alerts, brochures, guides, information sheets)
If you’ve produced some quality, interesting material in any of the types above, don’t just send it off once or print it and let it stagnate in your office. Distribute that content as much as is possible. For each item of written material you produce, consider:

- Have I distributed it to as many, relevant, clients as I can?
- Is it loaded onto my website?
- Have I sent 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?
- Is everyone in my company aware of it and could they explain it in detail if a client questions them?
- Can I transform it into another type of content and distribute in a different form?

Law Firm Marketing – Presentations
Presentations are generally written with a particular audience in mind, or because of a particular request. Therefore they are often presented only once and then left to stagnate. All of the effort and time required to prepare them results in just one presentation. To get far more benefit from your presentation consider:

- Who else may I show it to?
- How can I let the greatest number of people know about it?
- Have I discussed it on our website, Facebook, Twitter, or offered to present it to others?
- Can I send the presentation in hard copy to those who couldn’t attend the seminar?
- Could I record an audio or video of the presentation and distribute it electronically online or directly?
- Is it viable to write an article or blog to discuss topics that arose during the presentation?
- Have I followed up with additional content to all the people that attended the presentation?

While a lot of these ideas might feel like more work at a time when you’ve possibly created a dent in your monthly billings with the amount of time you spent preparing the first lot of material, it is necessary to consider that it is much easier to use a small amount of time at the end to really maximise on what you’ve already produced than to produce a whole new piece of legal marketing material.

Improve the results of the time and effort you put into law firm marketing and you’ll discover that the next time you create some content you’ll feel more confident about how effective the results 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 help you discover how suitable you are.

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

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

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

Self Preservation Instinct.
People of this Instinctual variant are preoccupied with the basic existential needs as they translate into our contemporary society, for example, money, food, accomodation, health, physical safety and comfort.
Being secure and physically comfortable are priorities, and they will often bring their supplies with them.
When entering a room, they will tend to notice bad lighting, uncomfortable chairs, the room temperature, when the lunch break will be, and whether they will like the food provided. They tend also to be the most practical in the sense of taking care of pressing life necessities.
They are the most introverted of the types.

Sexual/ Intimate Instinct.
People of this kind have a strong desire for severity of experience and affection. The blunt 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 neglecting pressing matters or even basic hygiene if they are infatuated with something that has captured them. This gives a expansive exploratory philosophy to life, but can also give a lack of focus of one’s own goals.

Social Instinct.
People of this variation are focused on their interactions with others and with the sense of value and esteem they receive from their involvement in collective activities. These include occupation, relationships, 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 attuned on other’s reaction to them, particularly about whether they are being accepted or not.
They need to touch base with others to feel safe, alive and energised. They seem to live for interacting with people, but they eschew intimacy.
They are the most extroverted of the types.

Within each person, one of these three Instincts will predominate. In fact these three variants can be ordered like the layers of a cake, with the most dominant one at the top. The weakest one, at the bottom, is termed the blind spot.
These instincts play an important role in our relationships because people of the same type tend to share values and understand each other innately, 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 provides a stylish method adopted by architects to impart a dynamic look to a lifeless structure. This is mostly used for aesthetic purposes and has a long life. The elegance and simplicity of stone veneer provides homeowners, architects, building contractors and developers with a versatility and flexibility to be more to imaginative. Stone veneer is also efficiently used in landscaping and complementing the natural beauty of the open spaces as well.

Stone Veneer acts as a decorative and protecting overlaying on outside as well inside walls and surfaces. The veneer is normally one inch heavy; 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 discipline stone. The stone is then sawn employing 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 building material. It is produced to imitate the appearance of natural stone. There are various titles used for this type of veneer. The stacked stone veneer, artificial stone veneer, manufactured stone veneer and flexible stone veneer are various leaders 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 making use of special quality mortars for highest adhesion and strength. flexible 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 cheaper 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 employing natural stone. due to the fact of the lightweight of the manufactured stone veneer, there is no need for wall ties or any footings. It helps make the construction easier and Thereby lowers the cost. There is a vast variety of designs, patterns and colors available on manufactured options as compared to the natural stone since the natural stone is generally used in the area around where it is extracted due to the huge transportation costs.

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

Stone veneer provides the natural look of the stones at inexpensive charges. Stone veneers are preferred these days for most of ornamental facing in makings 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 marketing which is the process of improving a websites visibility on search engines. Websites that are highly ranked in search results have more guests. SEO targets many choices together with image search, local search, video search and academic search. Today, there are many companies offering low-cost SEO packages~deals} for customers~shoppers~buyers} who want their sites’ rankings to rise. SEO’s (acronym referring to search engine optimizers) use different methods to realize good search engine optimisation on the buyer’s website.

Any company offering inexpensive SEO packages~deals} should be able to permit the customers site rise in the search engines fast. When many internet users search for a particular term(also referred to as ‘keyword’), they perceive the ones at the top as having more relevance to the keyword. while there are many components that lead to a website obtaining to the top spot (or at least among the top ten), SEO comes in handy to make sure that this is attaind in a short period of time of time. being professional, SEO’s know what is best for a site and how to go about making 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 hyperlinks building and,
- LSI (Latent Semantic Index) content writing.

In back link building, inbound links are used to improve a site’s visibility. Inbound hyperlinks are from other sites and they are important since of their significance to search engine optimization. A site with a big number of back links is one indication that it is well-known 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 links it has. It is Thus worth noting that this SEO choice is of great importance to any website owner who wants his site to get ranked fast.

LSI content articles writing is amongst the most preferred SEO options. because 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 strict when it comes to content. They demand a webpage to have key phrase rich content so that it can get good rankings. In many cases, search engine optimizers publish content for client}s observing keyword density and also length. posts of considerable good length are better placed to get ranked much 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 cheap SEO package deals~deals} providers want services so as to improve rankings to their money generating websites. They either have affiliate hyperlinks on their sites, promote CPA, run Ad-sense or offer companies that people pay for. To them, it is an investment and Therefore it makes perfect reason for getting good site rankings.

To get the best inexpensive SEO bundle, a consumer} desires to look for the following qualities:

- regardless of whether the company has been offering the services for a considerable period of time,

-whether the company charges reasonably,

-whether or not the company offers all the services that he/she demands and also,

-no matter if the company has reviews from previous successful projects.

Having observed that all the above levels~factors} are well taken care of, he/she can from that point purchase their services. The consumer} should ensure that all instructions and details are meticulously tended to before giving them out to the SEO guys. utilizing affordable SEO packages~deals} has verified to be the most efficient way that website owners use to make to the top of the web search engine results. mainly because of the ever growing internet working with population globally, these providers will continue to provide their providers to the ever hungry website owners who also want to get a item 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 purchaser 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 somematter 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 people at your party and the amount of space you have at your disposal, you can roast a couple 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. however, before you go in for spit roast hire, there are some important issues you must take into consideration.

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

Gas Spit v/s Charcoal Spit
When considering 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 matter about charcoal spits is the fact that the meat you cook on it will keep the delightful substancey flavor of the charcoal. Gas spits will not permit for that. Even so, charcoal spits are messy, they create a lot of substance and can be dangerous if not attended to. Gas spits are cleaner, make less of a mess and don’t create as much substance. Another disadvantage of charcoal spits is that you can not use them in closed spaces because they create a lot of heat and smoke a cigarette. If you plan to cook interiors, 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 approach 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 lets for 25kgs. Of course, the bigger the spit size you choose, the more expensive the affair will be. talking about spit roast hire, gas spits come in a constrained number of sizes while charcoal spits are accessible in a bigger assortment of sizes.

Cost Of Charcoal v/s Gas Spit
One of the most important factors that you must keep in mind when going 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 men and women feel that charcoal spits are cheaper which in fact is not the case. Technically if you go to see, charcoal and gas spits cost practically 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 decided it’s time for a new site or image. For most, 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 overlooked in the starting phase of project formulation, but also during the creative briefing phase after recruiting a design company.

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

When you first meet with a website and graphic design firm, you should provide them with your ideas and goals. This gives the company something of a starting point. This doesn’t mean you are done. No one is a mind reader. In order to be certain you get the most optimal design possible, you must take the creative briefing stage seriously.

This is the part of the assignment where you work one on one with the designers to ensure they completely understand what you want. The more they understand, the quicker they 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

As a growing area, there are many new families and people in the Mackay region who need to choose a Mackay solicitor* or law firm for the first time. Finding a solicitor to complete the conveyancing to help you buy a house or building, to advise you about starting a business or to prepare legal documents such as wills or enduring powers-of-attorney, can be a daunting and worrying time.

If you are looking for a Mackay solicitor, lawyer or law firm you ought to seek the following attributes:

Satisfied Customers
For most people it is almost impossible to compare the quality of legal services provided by one Mackay solicitor/lawyer or another. Unless you regularly use the same sort of legal service you can’t really compare various law firms. But you can look for a Mackay lawyer that is proud of their past performance provides several references from previous clients. If they provide numerous testimonials it lets you know two things. First, that they have a lot of happy clients and secondly, that they take the time and go to the trouble to find out what clients think of their service. They understand that theirs is a service-oriented business.

Local Knowledge
A Mackay solicitor or lawyer should have a good local knowledge and demonstrated experience in helping other people in the city. Look for firms that have worked on major local developments or firms with established conveyancing sections that will have garnered a valuable amount of “inside knowledge” about the property market, local agents and banks that will make all the difference to the way your transaction will be dealt with.

Breadth of Services
Because most people only need a lawyer rarely, it is wise to choose a Mackay lawyer, solicitor or law firm which can provide a full range of services without you needing to find other law firms. Finding a firm that can help with conveyancing, estate planning, disputes, business services and even workplace or employment issues, means you can rely on the one firm which will meet all your legal needs. Law firms value clients who use a range of services, and are often able to provide services more cheaply and efficiently if they have done other work 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 deeply 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 discover yourself and just as importantly, how you may add to your relationship challenges, 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 modes 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

Situated on Brisbane’s eastern doorstep, North Stradbroke Island (’Straddie’ to those familiar) is another of Australia’s east coast natural treasures and a perfect escape destination. Somehow, the secret has been well kept and it is only in recent years that Straddie has started to shine on the tourism and property radar.

To travel to Straddie by way of the bayside village of Cleveland takes approximately 50 minutes on the vehicle ferry. Cleveland is a thirty minute drive from Brisbane International Airport or the centre of Brisbane, and one hour’s 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 fantastic destination.

Stradbroke Island covers 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 accessible by four-wheel drive, bicycle or tramping, with a number of good camp sites dotted down Main Beach, and fabulous views appear visible from almost everywhere on the island.

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 buildings of the Gold Coast can be clearly visible, being a constant reminder of the contrast to the slower pace of Straddie.

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

The calm 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 provides unpolluted water which sea-life, and particularly Stradbroke Rock Oysters thrive in.

North Stradbroke attracts four-wheel drivers, anglers, surfies and beach-lovers to the wide stretches of beach and rugged granite headlands, and the Island offers a wide range of accommodation, restaurants, cafes and holiday attractions. With a wonderful diversity of experiences to offer and spectacular places to explore, North Stradbroke is a fabulous holiday destination 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, and 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 watching site during between May and November, and world-class surfing and fishing throughout the year.

Point Lookout’s unspoilt beaches and headlands are safe 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 tip of the island. The island is listed as one of the world’s most ecologically important wetlands with several freshwater lakes, waterways and lagoons that are accessible by four-wheel drive or on a guided tour with one of Straddie’s friendly tour operators.

One of the great experiences on the island is the fresh seafood directly from local fishermen. Look for the signs at Amity Point and Point Lookout to direct you to their homes and the freshest 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 wonderful resource in their menus.

“The Point” offers a number of alfresco style cafes, a bakery, chemist, post office, newsagent, corner store and supermarket. The island also has its own bus service linking the 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 you can drop in for a quick beer on your way back around -you may even bump into world ranked surfer and local Bede Durbidge! Straddie also boasts what is perhaps the last truly old-school surf shop in the country, that focusses on 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 various 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 coast, North Stradbroke Island (’Straddie’ to the initiated) is another of Australia’s east coast natural treasures and a perfect escape destination. Somehow, the secret has been well kept and it is only recently that Stradbroke Island has begun to shine on the tourist and real-estate radar.

To travel to Stradbroke Island via the Brisbane suburb of Cleveland will take approximately fifty minutes on the vehicle ferry. Cleveland is only a 30 minute drive from Brisbane International Airport and Brisbane central, and an drive from the Gold Coast. The boat ride across Moreton Bay is the first step that makes Stradbroke Island such a worthwhile destination.

Stradbroke Island covers 27,530 hectares, making it 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. The beaches are able to be accessed by four-wheel drive, bicycle or tramping, with a number of good camp sites located all the way down Main Beach, and views appear visible from almost everywhere on Straddie.

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 buildings of the Gold Coast is often clearly visible, and is a reminder of the contrast to the slower pace of Straddie.

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

The waters of Moreton Bay ripple against the shores of the island’s western fishing towns. The lack of agriculture and the filtering effects of the sand provides pure water that sea-life, and particularly Stradbroke Rock Oysters thrive upon.

North Stradbroke attracts 4WDers, fishers, surfies and beach-lovers to the wide lengths of beach and rugged granite headlands, and the Island also has a range of accommodation, restaurants, cafes and holiday attractions. With a wonderful diversity of attractions to offer and beautiful places to discover, 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 the main destination, and 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 in between May and November, and world-class surfing and fishing throughout the year.

Point Lookout’s beautiful beaches and headlands are safe for swimming, surfing and fishing all year round. Whales, dolphins, turtles and manta rays are regularly viewed from the spectacular North Gorge at the northern tip of the island. The island is listed as one of the world’s most ecologically important wetlands and has 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 features on the island is being able to purchase fresh seafood directly from local fishermen. Just look for the signs at Amity Point and Point Lookout which will direct you to their homes and the freshest 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 perfect island resource in their menu.

“The Point” offers a number of alfresco style cafes, a bakery, chemist, post office, newsagent, corner store and supermarket. The island also has its own bus service linking the 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 you can drop in for a quick beer on your way back around -you may even bump into world ranked surfer and local Bede Durbidge! Straddie 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 various 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/