Anyone (big or little) who has a fascination with trains will love the Melsa Train Park on Bribie Island. The Melsa tradition was started 30 years ago by the Model Engineers and Live Steamers Association and is as popular as ever. Ride on miniature steam trains running on 500 metres of 5″ to 7¼” gauge.
This miniature steam train takes passengers on a delightful 500 metre journey around the Melsa Park track on the third Sunday of every month between 10:00am and 2:30pm. The train ride takes you through the picturesque bush surrounds of Melsa Park and it’s sure to delight the senses of train enthusiasts young and old. The Melsa Train Park is a great, inexpensive day out for the whole family. Train rides cost just $2 and the smell of the Lion’s Club sausage sizzle is hard to resist.
If there’s someone in your family with a passion for miniature trains and other relics from yesteryear, there’s every chance they’ll be fascinated by the real tank and artillery just down the road from the Melsa Train Park. The decommissioned Leopard AS1 Tank is located next to the Bribie Island RSL. Back in 2010, the Federal Government offered 30 of these tanks to RSLs around the country and the Bribie Island Branch was one of the lucky recipients. The Australian Defence Force began using the Leopard Tanks in 1977 and they played a major role within the force. The tank is quite a sight at 7 metres long and weighing 42 tonnes. Military history buffs and anyone with an interest in wars (read: little boys!) are sure to be impressed by its scale.
After a morning of trains and tanks, take the tribe to the Bribie Island and District Community Markets. These markets are also held on the third Sunday of each month, making it the perfect place to round out your day following a trip to the Melsa Train Park. There’s a jumping castle for the kids, shopping for the whole family and a great place for a feed after your busy morning. And all right on the beautiful Pumicestone Passage. Perfect!
Bribie Island Seaside Museum near Caboolture makes for a great museum day trip from Brisbane experience for the kids and adults alike. Right near the beach, the Bribie Museum is in the heart of the Moreton Bay Region.
Watch history come alive at the Abbey Museum Caboolture near Brisbane, you’ll step back in time through an anthropological porthole. DISCOVER TODAY!
The Bribie Island Community Arts Centre is one of Australia’s largest and busiest arts centres, with space for display, retail, workshops and studios, and catering for more than twenty kinds of arts and crafts.