Islands near Brisbane: How to go island-hopping around Moreton Bay

Brisbane's Moreton Bay has such a large diversity of islands, it’s like the Whitsundays of the south. Some islands you can drive to, others you can drive on after a short passenger and car ferry ride. There are islands you can walk to and some that are reserved totally as a national park that you can only walk around them. A few of the islands are even home to residents and are covered in suburbs. You can experience a bit of everything, including adventures, a quiet family weekend away, camping, a stay in a resort, enjoy artworks, discover indigenous experiences or even stop for a spot of fine dining. There’s something for everyone.

Home to the Aboriginal Australians Quandamooka people, Moreton Bay extends some 125 kilometres from Caloundra in the north to almost as far south as Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast. It is separated from the Coral Sea by a chain of the three large sand islands, Mulgumpin (Moreton Island), Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island) and South Stradbroke Island. The bay contains around 360 islands in total, including Moreton Island, Bribie Island, Stradbroke Islands and the Southern Moreton Bay Islands of Coochiemudlo, Garden Island, Russell, Macleay, Lamb and Karragarra Islands. Peel Island and St Helena Island both have a unique history, once being used as a sisal plantation, quarantine station, asylum and a leper colony.

Moreton Bay is generally shallow and sandy, making it the perfect home to abundant wildlife, including whales, dolphins, dugong, sharks, turtles, fish and birds. In whale season, between June and October each year, the bay turns into the humpback superhighway as the whales migrate north to have their calves before returning south to feeding grounds.

Bribie Island: Moreton Bay's most accessible Island

Bribie Island is the only island in Queensland connected to the mainland by bridge, making it a good weekend drive destination. Just under an hour drive from Brisbane, this suburban island offers some 30 kms of white sandy beaches that back onto bushland. You will be spoilt for choice when it comes time to eat, with many bars, restaurants, cafes, takeaway shops and grocery stores scattered across the island. Drive to Red Beach and the southern end of Woorim Beach for a swim. You can also walk the Southern end of the Island from Pumicestone Passage to the Seaward side along the 8 km beach that stretches back to bushland.

Mulgumpin (Moreton Island): Home to whales, wrecks and resident dolphins

Located north-east of Brisbane, Moreton Island is the third-largest sand island in the world. Dive into adventure snorkelling at the famous Tangalooma Wrecks or sand surf your way down massive sand dunes. Alternatively, join a camping tour where you’ll go bush hiking, kayaking, exploring freshwater lakes and bond with new friends over a campfire.

There's Tangalooma Island Resort on the western side of the island where a stay will make you feel like you're in the South Pacific. If resort life is your thing, you'll love the activities on offer here and it's also where you can feed the wild dolphins that come into the bay. During whale-watching season, head out on the whale watching tour to see magnificent humpback whales play in the calm waters. There are even some incredible diving sites around the island to explore under the surface. Interested? Here's how to have the ultimate adventure weekend there.

Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island): A favourite for day-trippers and campers

Affectionately known as ‘Straddie’ to the locals, Minjerribah or North Stradbroke Island is close enough for a day trip and large enough to stay for a week or so and not run out of things to do. This island is just a short car or passenger ferry trip across the bay from Cleveland, or via River to Bay's new service departing from Brisbane Botanic Gardens or Northshore Harbour. If you don’t take your car, there's plenty of public transport options to access some great parts of the island. The popular Point Lookout is a little resort town that has accommodation that runs from cheap seaside camping grounds to very comfortable resorts.

Some of the most popular attractions on North Stradbroke Island are the beaches, gorges and lakes. The east side of the island is a surfing mecca and you can often spot marine life like whales, sea turtles and dolphins here. Serious campers and hikers will find the island a playground with 4wd tracks, hiking trails and plenty of places to camp throughout the island. There is a secret little dive spot where you can swim with manta rays and see some seriously cool marine life.

South Stradbroke Island: Surf and seclusion

Not as busy as its northern counterpart, South Stradbroke is just a hop across from the northern end of the Gold Coast, just 200m in fact from the northern end of the Spit. This makes it a great day trip for those who travel by private boat, charter boat, ferry or water taxi from several departure points along the Gold Coast. You'll even see a few brave surfers paddle across from the Spit in search of the empty, pristine waves the island offers.

There's a resort on the island, Couran Cove Resort, and three council campsites, as well as a café for day-trippers to grab a bite to eat. The island’s 1800-hectare conservation park is the perfect spot for superb surfing, swimming, bushwalking, rock climbing, fishing and wildlife spotting.

Peel Island: Paradise for boaties

Peel Island, also known as Teerk Roo Ra National Park, is a small heritage-listed island about 4km offshore. The island has two spots open to the public – Horseshoe Bay and Platypus Bay. It's a favourite amongst boaties and can get busy on the weekends. There are corals to snorkel in crystal clear water, good fishing spots, spectacular sandstone outcrops to explore or you can simply pull up a blanket and have a picnic on the island.

Most of the island has restricted access to help preserve interesting historic remains including the lazaret. Opened in 1907, it housed leprosy patients for the next 52 years and is the only intact example of a multiracial lazaret in Australia. You may recognise this island from the big screen, as it was used as filming locations for Unbroken and one of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies.

St Helena Island: A historic island

Often forgotten in the list to visit, St Helena Island is a heritage site where the ruins of the buildings that made up Brisbane's most notorious penal colony are preserved. Take a day trip to the island and just wander around looking at the remains of a time in the past. There is a lovely picnic area for people who visit by boat, but if you wish to visit the ruins, you need to join a tour. Not for the faint-hearted, there are night ghost tours that run to St Helena also.

Coochiemudlo Island: An island for family fun

Located in the Redland Bay area of Moreton Bay, Coochiemudlo is known as simply Coochie. Swimming here is safe for children as nearly half the coastline is beach with gentle lapping waves. It makes for an aquatic playground for fishing, kayaking or other water activities. You can take your own boat to the island or catch a ferry for the 1km cross from Victoria Point.

King Island: An island you can walk to

King Island off Wellington Point is easily reached by walking there during low tide along the 1km sandbar. Take a picnic with you and go for a swim off the shallow waters. As you walk out to the island, you can often spot marine life along the shores. Just be careful to time your return right as you don’t want to get caught out there when the high tide arrives.

Southern Moreton Bay Islands: Island life for locals

There are four suburban islands in the Southern Moreton Bay Island group; Russell, Macleay, Lamb and Karragarra Islands. These islands are connected by the same passenger and car ferries and are almost exclusively suburban with some small nature reserves.

Macleay Island is most interesting and even has an ARTS Complex that features artwork from local artists. Pop into the Bowls Club here for a bite to eat or visit the small beaches scattered around the island. There is no public transport or taxis so you will need to take your car across to get around. The other islands are less touristy and more a suburban destination, however each has its own hidden beaches and places to explore.

Inspired by Moreton bay? Check out this foodie guide to the region.

Feature image via @visitmoretonbayregion