South Stradbroke Island SUP Expedition

Are you ready for an EPIC SUP Camp adventure? This is one for the bucket list!

Join She SUPs in sunny Queensland as we embark on an epic SUP expedition to South Stradbroke Island. If you’ve been paddling regularly for a while now, and you’re ready for your next paddling challenging - this is for you!

Logistically this adventure is quite complex, so you will be supported by 3 SUP instructors and have boat support throughout the whole weekend. The boat will carry all of our gear, so all you need is a day bag with you on your SUP.

STYLE/VIBE OF THE TRIP:

“I’m up for a true adventure”
”I want to get into expedition paddling/ touring”
”I seek wild experiences”
“I’m ready to take on an amazing SUP challenge with new friends”

SUP ABILITY LEVEL
(She SUPs trips range from Level 0-4 in SUP ability):

Level 3: Intermediate Paddlers - You should understand how to utilise hinging to increase the power in your stroke (if you’re not sure what this means, get in touch!) and have the stamina to paddle over 10km. Upon booking into these trips we will include a trip training plan in your pre-trip pack so that you can ensure you feel comfortable attending the trip. As always, you’re welcome to switch between standing, kneeling and sitting on these trips, however due to the distances we need to cover on this trip, we recommend standing for the majority of the paddle to get maximum power and glide from each stroke (we will have water/rest breaks every hour). Prior to this trip you should have experienced paddling 3.5 hours in one go.

FITNESS LEVEL
(She SUPs trips range from Level 0-4 in Fitness Level):

Level 2: A moderate level of fitness is required to enjoy this highly active trip. We will have two very long paddle days, we’ll explore the island by foot and by SUP and as this is an expedition style trip, there will be plenty to do around camp!

TRIP DATES

Trip 1: Friday 17th - Sunday 19th November 2023
Trip 2: Friday 10th - Sunday 12th May 2024
For those flying in for this trip, we recommend that you arrive on the Thursday evening.

Itinerary

Friday:

We will set off on the Friday between 8.30-9am ready for a big paddle adventure along the Gold Coast shoreline, to South Stradbroke Island. Launch location will be determined nearer the time based on the conditions, it is likely to be around Hollywell. If you don’t live in the Gold Coast, we recommend arriving the night before to ensure we can set off promptly at 9am.
Friday is our first big paddle day. We expect to cover just over 12km throughout the whole day (at a relaxed pace you probably paddle around 3km an hour, so expect 2.5 hours before lunch, then 2.5 hours after). We will be tide assisted and have boat support if we fancy a little rest (he can throw out the rope to tow us!)
Upon arrival we will set up camp, and celebrate our adventure successes with a glass of prosecco and nibbles as we watch the sunset. A hearty BBQ dinner will be provided this evening!

Saturday:

We will awake with the wallabies and enjoy a good group stretch on the beach followed by a nutritious breakfast.
Saturday’s itinerary is up to you and up to the weather! If you fancy more paddling we can explore to the Northern end of Stradbroke Island or enjoy a simple relaxing sunset paddle in the evening. If you’d prefer we can simply explore by foot, heading north or west and exploring the mangroves.
Nature will be at our doorstep at camp so we’ll make sure to keep an eye out for dolphins, wallabies, stingrays, eagle rays, turtles and lots of fish!
If you fancy some down time after a big paddle day, you can opt to enjoy the beach, swim, read your book or go for a solo stroll.
On Saturday evening we will take a walk to the Licensed Cafe on the Island for a team dinner and drinks.

Sunday:

Sunday morning we will fuel ourselves with a hearty breakfast and then head back on the water to start our journey South and away from the Island. Once again we will be supported by the boat, and enjoy a full-day cruise back to Southport/Hollywell aiming to arrive around 2-3pm.
If you are departing the gold coast that evening, we recommend flying out around 7pm to ensure you have a stress-free travel experience in case of disruptions or delays to our paddle plans or any traffic on the Gold Coast.

REVIEW:
Vikki is an amazing host. I highly recommend attending one of the SheSups experiences if you can, it is so great that women can have this safe space to grow their SUP skills.”
- Hui, from Melbourne

SUP + CAMP GEAR HIRE

SUP hire can be arranged for those who need it. The provided boards will be hard boards with no tie-down straps. If you are flying to the Gold Coast and have an inflatable board, we recommend bringing your own SUP as checked in luggage (we can advise further on this upon booking).

To ensure an enjoyable SUP adventure, we do not recommend bringing inflatable boards that are smaller than 10ft and are from Anaconda, Aqua Marina, Aldi or other lower priced generalist retailers. If you’re unsure, please get in touch.

All paddlers will need their own sleeping bag, small roll-mat, inflatable camp pillow, and camp plate, cup and knife and fork. If you do not have an item, please let us know upon booking and we can try to help source it for you (it may be that someone in our community has an item that you can borrow, or you can hire from a local camping hire company).

Tents can be hired or you can BYO. In hired tents you may be sharing with one other person but we use large 3-4 person tents so you’ll have plenty of space.

Where we are staying

We are staying at a beautiful boat-access only campsite. Completely surrounded by native bushland, we’ve secured a great corner of the campsite which will allow us to have direct beach access at all times. While we are camping in a remote spot, we can confirm that amenities include toilets and hot showers, and we are within a short walk to the Licensed Café and Kiosk, which have basic groceries and camping supplies including ice and firewood… and cocktails!

Investment & Inclusions

3 days, 2 nights She SUPs South Stradbroke Island SUP Expedition - $889 per person

Inclusions:

3 full days of hosted activities including daily paddles, walks, sunrise stretches, mud crab grab and more!
2 Nights stay at our boat access only Campsite on South Stradbroke Island
3 full days of motorised boat support including transportation of our camping gear to/from Stradbroke Island, boat support alongside us as we paddle and options to explore other parts of the island
Shuttles/taxis if the start/end location of the paddle expedition needs to change due to wind/weather/emergency scenarios
Celebratory sunset drinks (bubbly!) on arrival on Day 1 - woo!
2 x Breakfasts
3 x Picnic Lunches
1 x BBQ Dinner
Tea and light snacks during our adventures
Opportunities to relax on the beach with a good book, or enjoy some alone time in nature
Photos and videos of your trip sent to you on the last day of the trip
3 x Qualified SUP Instructors to support your adventure
All water and land based logistics taken care of for you

Add ons:

3 Day SUP Hire +$250
3 Day Tent Hire +$100

What happens in case of bad weather?

Hopefully the weather gods will be on our side of this adventure, but in the worst case scenario, we will arrange paddles in more sheltered locations within the Gold Coast, or alternative activities which will enable us to explore the local area and have a fab weekend on the Gold Coast. We will still be camping at South Stradbroke Island, but if we cannot get there by SUP, we will catch the ferry (additional ferry fees may apply, $25 per person each way) and provide additional shelter options.

How To Book

Book into the trip via the form below. You will be required to pay a $350 non-refundable deposit to secure your spot. The remaining amount will be due a minimum of 45 days prior to the trip.

For full details on the She SUPs trip cancellation and refund policy, please see ensure you read our FULL TERMS AND CONDITIONS HERE.

If you missed out on this trip, please click HERE to join the waitlist.