Destinations.

Brisbane.

Brisbane began it's early life as an alternative to the Penal Colony set up on Moreton Bay in 1824. The original colony lasted for about a year and it was found that it was totally unsuitable for it's purpose. Lack of fresh water and aggravation from the local Aborigines caused serious problems so it was decided to move close to the Brisbane River. This great meandering River had been discovered by explorer John Oxley in December 1823. The convict population reached it's zenith in 1833, when there were close to 1200 detainees incarcerated. By 1839 the convict population had decreased considerably and with free settlers spreading their wings, it was becoming difficult to maintain the prohibition boundary of the colony. With the discovery of the Darling Downs by Alan Cunningham during this period, a landrush from the south ensued and in February 1842 the Penal Colony was closed and the area was opened up for free settlement.

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Transport.

The City of Brisbane straddles the Brisbane River, which meanders its way out into Moreton Bay.There are numerous river tours available to the various attractions,and ferry services are available to several points within the city. An absolute must for visitors from overseas is a trip to the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary.This is a 20 min. trip from the center of the City by road or you can enjoy a boat trip from North Quay to the Sanctuary by River Cruise. Mirimar Cruises depart daily from the Cultural Center at 10-00am. The hub of the City is Queen St. Mall, located between Edward and George St. A delight for pedestrians as the area is traffic free. Within the Mall are night clubs, restaurants, theatres and over 500 shops.

Dining Out.

Museums.

Cruises.

Tours.

Adventures.

Fishing.

Interest.

Fantasea Cruise Ship Ammari.

Those of us in The Whitsundays who live near Shute Harbour still miss the comings and goings of this beautiful vessel. Brisbane visitors who want the ultimate in luxury and grace can take the opportunity to cruise with Fantasea on their Flagship Ammari.
Based at Skyring Terrace, Newstead, Ammari is available for evening Brisbane River Cruises, overnight stays and Day Trips out into Moreton Bay.With 32 cabins,roof terrace and restaurant she is the ideal vessel for Corporate Events.Weddings and other Functions.

A couple of minutes walk from the Mall is King George Square and the magnificent City Hall. Built of sandstone in the 1920's it is now almost completely surrounded, but not overshadowed by monolithic concrete and glass. Anzac Square close by , is a splendid monument to our past that is photographed prolificly. Sunday is the time to visit Eagle St. Pier, as the Riverside Markets are held there. Plenty of bars, shops and cafes in this area. Visit the City Botanical Gardens and tread The Boardwalk right on the river front. Crossing The Victoria Bridge to the south side of the river you come to South Bank which is Brisbane City's main leisure precinct . Cafes and restaurants are plentiful here, with free entertainment and buskers providing a wonderful holiday atmosphere.

The Story Bridge Adventure Climb operates in all weather conditions except in electrical storms and severe wind conditions. Several climbs are offered each day and prices range from $100-$130 depending on the time of the climb and from $82.50 for concessions. The climb is open to children from 12 years old and over.

North side of the City is Fortitude Valley, with The Brunswick Mall and China Town as popular areas to visit. Travelling west of the city you come to Mount Cootha Forest Park. The Lookout gives fabulous views over the city and out to Moreton Bay. A couple of really nice picnic spots next to waterfalls, grace the area. As do The Tropical Dome and The Japanese Garden.

Brisbane Beaches.

All of Brisbane's Beaches lie to the north of the Capital. The closest is Nudgee Beach which is an integral part of The Boondall Wetlands Park. The mangroves and mudflats in this area are an important source for producing food for wading birds and many other species of wildlife.
Just a few klms further north lies Sandgate which is a favourite for local amateur fishermen.The pier at Sandgate is quite long, and about three quarters of the way up is an undercover area that provides shade in the hot summer months. The village has some interesting historical buildings to see, including the old Post Office, the Railway Station, Baptist Church and the famous Town Hall Clock. Many of the residential addresses are dated back to the very early settlement days. Every 'Full Moon' the locals hold a 'Moon Fest", a celebration complete with Stick Twirlers and Fire Dancers. Brighton Beach lies next to Sandgate and is a favourite for Kitesurfers.
North via The Hornibrook Bridge that traverses over the mouth of the Pine River is Clontarf, the southernmost point of the Redcliffe Peninsular. From here we arrive at Woody Point on the shores of Bramble Bay. A small village by the sea with ample picnic facilities in the parks along The Esplanade. An ideal spot to watch the Sunday Yacht Racing on the Bay.Woody Point is also the final resting place of the old Australian Warship 'Gayundah'
On to the City of Redcliffe that has several nice beaches including Suttons, Margate and Scarborough Beach Park. Settlement Cove Lagoon is also a popular spot for families, as it is adorned with swaying palms,a waterfall and wading pools for the kids. In town the Botanic Gardens have a featured Rain Forest and a large Herb Garden. Redcliffe is the departure point for the vehicular ferry to Moreton Island. From the top of the cliffs you have magnificent views over Moreton Bay and the Islands. The Redcliffe Peninsular has many Outdoor Eateries and several Art and Craft outlets for the shoppers.

Moreton Bay Islands.

Bribie Island.

Bribie is the most northerly of the Moreton Bay Islands and is just a 40 minute drive from Brisbane's Northern Suburbs. This is the only island connected to the mainland by a bridge crossing the Pumicestone Passage in Moreton Bay and this is one of the great advantages to the motorist.Safe beaches abound on Bribie Island calm waters, picnic areas, playgrounds, and public restrooms. Ferry cruises can be taken and visitors can enjoy game fishing and reef diving tours. Surfers also enjoy Woorim on the eastern shore of Bribie Island.
Sealed roads provide Coach Tours that take you round the Island and The National Park has several bush picnic and camping areas that are all accessible by 4WD Vehicles.Woorim Beach is the main access to 4WD beach driving into the National Park Recreation Area and bush camping locations.This soft white sandy beach has a Life Savers patrolled section and close by are eateries, coffee shops and a hotel. This soft white sandy beach is a popular safe swimming beach with a Life Savers patrolled section. Close to the patrolled area you will find eateries, coffee shops and a hotel. Bellara is the main shopping area on the Island and Bongaree Beach is a popular family beach with calm water lapping the white sandy foreshore. With parklands lining the sandy foreshore, Bongaree is a wonderful shady area to enjoy a family BBQ and have a swim. There are also many play areas for children in the parklands all close to accommodation, restaurants and shopping.The visitor can also relax and take a cruise, play a round of golf or If you are a keen fisherman there is no better spot to throw out a line. Liz and I would like to thank Karl & June Teller,resident managers of
On The Beach Resort for the photos.

Moreton Island.

Moreton Island in the Moreton Bay Marine Park is accessible from Scarborough Harbour by ferry. Moreton is a large sand island with several freshwater lakes and the famous Blue Lagoon swimming spot. The small village of Bullwer has a licensed General Store and a Garage. The Cape Moreton Lighthouse, built in 1857 was the first light house in Queensland.Built of sandstone quarried on the island, it is the oldest remaining operational lighthouse in Queensland.
Moreton Bay is home to several hundred bottlenose dolphins and Tangalooma is very lucky to be visited on a nightly basis by a small pod. Visitors to the resort recommend The jetty at Tangalooma is the perfect platform for viewing and observing these wild dolphins as they continuously entertain us with their inquisitive antics.

St Helena Island.

The undulating and verdant landscape with its inquisitive Droughtmaster cows, its peacocks and crumbling buildings, provides a peaceful respite from the rush of city life. It's hard to believe that a place this beautiful hides such a harrowing and brutal history. Overcrowding in Brisbane's gaols resulted in St Helena being used as a penal colony. The first criminals there constructed the prison buildings themselves from beach rock quarried on the island. Prison labour was used for all activities such as agriculture, tailoring, book-binding, and carpentry, making the island virtually self-sufficient. The St Helena Penal Establishment was, at one stage of its operation, considered to be the best prison of its kind in the world. The high perimeter walls, the armed guards, barred windows, and leg irons weren't the only reason the prison was high security. Being an island surrounded by shark-infested waters certainly helped. Fresh blood and offal from the island's cattle was regularly dumped into the ocean to tantalise the taste buds of hungry tiger sharks waiting to sink their teeth into any escapee foolish enough to attempt the 8km swim to the mainland.

North Stradbroke Island.

The ferry departures for North Stradbroke are from Brisbane's Cleveland Suburb. A hive of activity abounds here as there are 3 seperate island communities. Amity Point, Point Lookout, and the arrival destination from the mainland,Dunwich. There are several resorts on the island and a number of apartments and guest houses. The Historical Museum has information on the local Aboriginal History of the island and interesting features of the shipwrecks that litter the areas around the islands in Moreton Bay.The North Gorge Walk that transforms from a dirt track to an inviting modern boardwalk is a pleasurable half an hours sojourn if you like to take in the scenery. Another attraction is The Fig Tree Art Gallery under the fig tree at Dunwich. A great stay or a great day.

Island Sites.

Coochiemudlo Island.

The first white man to visit Coochiemudlo Island was the explorer Matthew Flinders in 1799.The Island maintains it's Aboriginal past with the original name of Kutschi-Mudlo, being only slightly altered to it's present form. The word in the local Aboriginal Tongue translated to Red Rock, the features of which can be seen from The Mainland.The 1930's saw a farming community develop and in the following years,a banana plantation was cultivated.
Today there are over 300 permanent residents living on the island and every year they celebrate Matthew Flinders landing with all the costumes of yesteryear on display. The increase in the number of residents has seen a more reliable Ferry Service and an increase in visitors has been a desirable result for the community.
If you are interested in a leisurely trip on the calm waters that surround this island you may like to pop in and see Adam who owns The Coochiemudlo Boat Hire and Hire a boat, grab some Fishing Tackle, and take off for a few hours. If you are in a larger party you could hire the new BBQ Launch and have a party on the water.

Karragarra Island.

Karragarra is a small community of less than 100 residents and there are no commercial businesses on the island. There is however a childrens play area, a park with picnic area, BBQ, and a swimming pool. A pleasant getaway from the hustle and bustle of every day life. If you need anything for the day, take it with you, as you can't buy it on the island.

Macleay Island.

Macleay Island has a little more in the way of amenities than Karragarra or Lamb Islands, as the population of 3000 constitutes a greater need. There are several restaurants on the island, a bowls club and a golf course with it's own clubhouse. As with it's neighbours, it relies on the Ferry and Barge services for survival.

Lamb Island.

Lamb Island is ideal for a short visit, as you will be lucky to book the one B&B or the solitary holiday home on the island. There is one shop on the island and it also boasts it's own bowls club with a bar, but unfortunately no bowling greens? There are proposals for a new shop to replace the old one and a Tavern in the pipeline. Lets hope the Tavern doesn't close at 8-30pm like a similar watering hole I visited in Charters Towers, but thats another story.

Russell Island.

With a population of 3,000, Russell Island is the largest of the southern Moreton Bay Islands. Plenty of shops and businesses for every day needs , from builders, computer services, chemist and supermarket etc. The Bowls Club incorporates Frangipani's Disco and you can always pop into the local R.S.L. for a beer and a yarn. If current proposals go ahead for the new Bay Island Resort, this will give a huge boost to the islands business economy.

We have a large listing of places to stay and things to do when visiting Byron Bay.