Body washes up on Gold Coast island

The body of a man has washed up on the shores of Queensland's South Stradbroke Island.

The body was discovered on the beach on Sunday morning, about 5km north of the Gold Coast's Southport Seaway, police say.

The cause of death is yet to be determined and police have not established the identity.

However, media reports say he is heavily tattooed, in his thirties and was wearing long pants.

The Nine Network says the body may have been in the water for about a week.

The discovery was made about 7.30am.