South Stradbroke Island consists mainly of sand dunes, remnant livistona rainforest and melaleuca wetlands.

In September 1894, heavy seas drove aground the barque Cambus Wallace at a narrow isthmus roughly halfway down the island's length.

Salvage activity (including the detonation of a cargo of explosives) weakened the sand dunes along the spit such that by the spring of 1896, storms and tides had created a permanent opening from Moreton Bay to the Coral Sea now known as Jumpinpin Channel.

[9] During the 1950 to 1960s sand mining was conducted at the northern ocean beach area but reserves were limited.

[5] A small township called Moondarewa with 156 surveyed lots, was established at the island's southern tip.

[5] Also once located at the southern end was a small area of vine scrub rainforest that attracted significant bird-life.

[10] On 17 April 2023 services to the community of Couran Cove were turned off amid a legal dispute.

The Council has three alternate campgrounds: Tipplers that accommodates up to 100 tents with gas BBQs, a children's play area, and a kiosk that has basic camping supplies including ice and firewood;[19] and North and South Currigee that together accommodates up to 80 tents with access to BBQs, a children's play area, and a mini kiosk for basic camping supplies.

Located approximately forty minutes by boat from Surfers Paradise, Couran Cove Island Resort provides a range of accommodation options, dining and the opportunity to see native Australian animals in the forest.

As at May 2023, there are many reports from remaining South Stradbroke Island residents that the resort closed after Easter 2023, with no defined reopening date, while the associated entities seek to resolve long-running legal disputes.