Brisbanites looking to escape the big city for a laid back jaunt would be hard pressed to pass up Bribie Island and its beautiful beaches. Quicker to drive to than the Gold or Sunshine Coast beaches, around 45 minutes after you leave home you’ll find yourself “crossing over” from one life to another. The Bribie Island Bridge and Pumicestone Passage separate Bribie from the mainland and you’ll find yourself relaxing as soon as you reach the other side. So grab the family, togs, bucket and spade, and let’s explore the beaches of Bribie Island.
Sylvan Beach is one of the most popular Bribie Island beaches due to its safe swimming and family friendly features such as picnic and barbeque areas, playgrounds and toilets.
There’s a boat ramp if you want to bring your own or hire a boat and explore the island by sea. Pop into the bait and tackle shop before you head out for a fish and if you don’t catch anything for lunch, you’ll find a number of cafes nearby.
The Volunteer Marine Rescue is on Sylvan Beach and just beside that you’ll find the Talking Monument which spouts history of the Island. Dogs are welcome, too, but only if they’re on the leash.
Bongaree Beach is a bit of a mixed bag. While safe in some spots for swimming with calm conditions, strong tidal currents are prevalent parallel to the beach in the Pumicestone channel.
The Bongaree Jetty is one of the biggest drawcards to this beach. Kids love swimming around it and jumping off it, while keen fishers can be seen casting a line or 20. Beach fishing is also a popular pastime. A seawall has been built along most of the beach in order to control erosion. As far as surfing goes, Bongaree Beach is the closest surf beach to Brisbane on the northern side but not the greatest quality as it usually features a low shore break, which tends to close out in larger surf.
Bring a packed lunch or bring a few snags to the many sheltered picnic and barbeque areas. You can also learn about the history of area with historical plaques dotted around this stretch of beach.
Here’s another great beach for swimming, as Banksia Beach is on the passage side of Bribie. Boating and fishing is also a no-brainer, with a sand boat ramp, which is also suitable for 4WDs. It's family-friendly, with picnic areas, toilets and a playground, and dogs are allowed on-leash along the walking track. Continue your history lesson at the talking monument and learn about the landing of Matthew Flinders.
Grab your four legged friends and hit Red Beach, one of the few off-leash beaches in the area. Red Beach is best enjoyed from the shore and probably not ideal for young families as there are no amenities. High tide can present a problem but if you don’t mind getting your feet (and sometimes calves and knees!) wet, enjoy the view of Moreton Island from Red Beach and let your dogs run amok!
Skirmish Point is a top spot for fishing. The natural landscape of the area also makes this a good place to walk and just relax while you take in the view.
If you’re looking for Brisbane’s closest patrolled surf beach, welcome to Woorim Beach. This is the perfect place to start with the family with its barbeque and picnic areas as well as a new playground and skate park nearby. There are also some shops and cafes for Mum and Dad.
Learn about the history of Moreton Bay region on a FREE tour through Woodford, Redcliffe and Samford guided by our local knowledgeable volunteers from Visitor Information Centres.
Whether you're a seasoned pro or a weekend hacker, Moreton Bay swings with opportunity for golfers of all stripes with championship golf courses, indoor golf simulators, driving ranges and mini golf courses.
While the Moreton Bay region is famous for its stunning marine park and hinterland activities, there’s also a thriving retail scene waiting to be explored.
Channel 7's Weekender Crew and Lee Carseldine embark on a brewery hop, exploring some of the region's finest breweries in Brendale. Watch SUNDAY MARCH 31 from 5.30pm.