EASTER whale watchers will be in for a treat after construction of a second viewing platform on the 1.2km cliff-top Gorge walk at Point Lookout started on Wednesday.
Redland City Council will spend $733,000 on the platform and upgrading wooden sections, which will be done in three stages.
There will be limited access during construction.
The boardwalk starts at Whale Rock Outlook and follows the coast to Norm's Seat Lookout.
It then passes North Gorge, Frenchman's Beach stairs, out to Snapper Street Lookout platform, Beachies Lookout, Deadman's Beach, Cylinder Beach and ends up at the Straddie pub.
Construction will start in the Gorge area, followed by the section north to Norm's Seat. The final section will be the southern end of the Headland Park entrance.
Mayor Karen Williams said the extension showed a commitment to sustainable tourism.
"There are few places anywhere with such amazing views and opportunities for marine wildlife encounters, particularly one so accessible and free. This latest work will make it even safer and easier to enjoy."
Straddie tourists can grab a map and hire binoculars from Fishes restaurant, where one-hour tours are held during whale season.
Turtles, dolphins, grey nurse sharks, manta rays and coastal eagles can be seen while walking around the gorge and along the 1.2km Whale Trail.
There is more than 10km of paved boardwalk on Straddie, which cost more than $2.3million to build.
The first stage was completed in 2009 and stage two, which meanders around the Point Lookout Gorge, opened in October 2012.
The third stage followed an unsuccessful Redland City Council application to the Department of Local Government in 2012.
