Amity Point Jetty is the most popular landmark in the village of Amity Point (Pulan) on North Stradbroke Island, a place to watch the sun set over the mainland and, with luck, dolphins in the bay. It is also a fishing spot, with rock walls on either side of the jetty.
Amity Point is a small fishing village at the north-western tip of the island, on the calm Moreton Bay side. Visitors come here for the late afternoon: bring a picnic, find a spot on the jetty and see what turns up.
Dolphins at Amity Point Jetty
The jetty is a favoured spot for dolphin watching, and the tourism pages for the island also mention dugongs in the bay. Sightings are never guaranteed, and the tourism pages do not publish a set time, so plan to arrive in the afternoon and be patient.
These are wild animals, not a show. Please do not feed the dolphins or any other wildlife, keep your line clear of them and let them come to you.
Sunset and picnics
The jetty looks west across Moreton Bay, so it is a favoured spot to watch the sun go down. Pack your own food and water, and take everything home with you.
The island’s tourism site mentions fresh seafood for a sunset picnic from a local trawler. It gives no hours or prices, so treat that as a bonus if you find it rather than a plan.
Fishing from the jetty and rock walls
Amity Point has a relaxed fishing atmosphere, and you can cast a line from the jetty or from the rock walls on either side of it, which hold many fish species. The rock walls are a coastal erosion defence: the village lost about 200 m of shoreline over several decades before rock seawalls were completed in 1993. Watch your footing on the rocks and give the walls respect in rough weather.
Queensland recreational fishing rules apply, including size and bag limits, so check them before you fish. Take all line, hooks and rubbish home, and keep your line clear of dolphins and birds.
Swimming at Amity Point
The nearest place to swim is the Amity Point swimming enclosure at Cabarita Park on Claytons Road. The calm bay water inside the enclosure is popular for gentle swimming. Council lists the enclosure among its swimming enclosures, but it does not publish patrol hours, so do not expect a lifeguard.
Camping and staying
A large camping ground overlooks Moreton Bay at Amity Point. Camping across North Stradbroke Island is managed by Minjerribah Camping, so book and read the rules on the island camping page before you go. The village also has waterfront cabins, cottages and houses for a longer stay.
A little history
In 1824 John Oxley and Robert Hoddle named the headland after the brig Amity, on which they sailed while surveying the area. To the Quandamooka people the place is Pulan. A maritime pilot station was set up here in 1825, the first British settlement on Stradbroke Island, and it guided ships through the South Passage into Moreton Bay until it moved to Moreton Island in 1848. The township reserve was declared in 1884.
Planning your visit
- How long: plan on a few hours, arriving mid afternoon to wait for the dolphins and stay for the sunset.
- Best time: late afternoon. Dolphin sightings vary by day, so go in with no expectations.
- What to bring: food and drinking water, a hat, a light jacket for the evening and insect repellent.
- Cost: free to visit the jetty and foreshore.
- Visitor information: the Redlands Coast Visitor Information Centre, 50 Middle Street, Cleveland, on 1300 667 386.
Getting to Amity Point Jetty
You need to cross the bay by ferry first. All ferries and water taxis leave from Toondah Harbour at Cleveland and land at Dunwich. Toondah Harbour is about 30 km from the Brisbane CBD, about 40 minutes by car without traffic. A water taxi takes about 25 minutes and the vehicle ferry about 45 to 50 minutes. See the North Stradbroke Island guide for ferry operators, booking advice and fares.
From Dunwich a sealed road runs to Amity Point. Translink bus route 881 runs between Dunwich and Amity Point, calling at the One Mile and Junner Street ferry terminals and the Quandamooka Arts and Culture Centre, so you can visit without a car. Check the Translink journey planner for times, because they change.
No official source I could find says where visitors park at the jetty, how many spaces there are or whether parking costs anything, so check signs on arrival.
Nearby
- Dunwich – the ferry town, with a museum, brewery and waterfront food.
- Frenchmans Beach – a small beach at Point Lookout, with a safety warning for swimmers.
- Point Lookout – the Gorge Walk, whale watching and surf beaches.
- Brown Lake (Bummiera) – a freshwater lake with a swim area and facilities.
- More jetties on the piers and jetties page and more to see on the North Stradbroke Island page.
You might also like
- Bongaree, Bribie Island – another bayside jetty and foreshore day out.
- Scarborough Marina (Redcliffe Peninsula)
- Shorncliffe Pier (Brisbane)
Quick answers
What time do the dolphins come to Amity Point Jetty?
There is no set time. Dolphins are often seen near the jetty in the afternoon, but sightings are never guaranteed.
Can you feed the dolphins at Amity Point?
Please do not. They are wild animals, and feeding them harms them.
Can you fish at Amity Point Jetty?
Yes. You can fish from the jetty and the rock walls either side of it. Queensland recreational fishing rules apply.
Can you swim at Amity Point?
The nearest swimming spot is the swimming enclosure at Cabarita Park on Claytons Road, where the bay water is calm. Council does not publish patrol hours.
How do you get to Amity Point from Brisbane?
Drive or take public transport to Cleveland, catch a ferry from Toondah Harbour to Dunwich, then drive or take Translink bus 881 to Amity Point.
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