From Caloundra in the north, the bay stretches some 100 miles (160 km) to Southport, encompassing some 360 islands of varying size within its boundaries. Emptying into Moreton Bay is the
Brisbane River upon which is situated Brisbane, Capital city of the State of Queensland.
Moreton Bay is Brisbane’s shorefront – a vast expanse of water sheltered by the major
sand islands of Bribie, Moreton and North Stradbroke and
sprinkled with scores of smaller islands that create a labyrinth of
waterways and form stepping stones to the
Gold Coast.
The Bay offers visitors a host of attractions and activities – the charm of
established seaside bayside resorts; National Parks that preserve the
tracts of wilderness on the islands; holiday resorts that attract not just
humans but dolphins and birds; a rich history of Aboriginal culture; heritage precincts that evoke the images of yesteryear; and waters that
are a joy to sail, fish, swim, dive or just relax by. It’s little wonder that
Moreton Bay has a special place in the hearts of Brisbane locals.
Moreton Bay’s wetlands are a vital habitat for resident and migratory birds, some coming from as far afield as Siberia. Boondall Wetlands reserve
covers 665 hectares, providing a permanent sanctuary for birds and
wildlife. On land, wallabies are still a feature of many of the islands, while
Redland Shire is an important habitat of Australia’s koalas.
Moreton Bay is home to schools of playful bottle-nose dolphins, often
seen riding the waves ahead of boats or coming in to socialise with
visitors at Tangalooma. Their larger cousins, the humpback whales, sometimes venture into the bay during their annual winter migration
between June and November. Dugongs – the fabled “mermaids of the sea”
– plus green and loggerhead turtles feed on the rich seagrass beds of the
Bay.
ISLANDS OF MORETON BAY
Bribie Island - Just
a 45 minutes drive from Brisbane, Bribie Island is the most accessible of Moreton Bay’s islands, divided from the mainland by scenic Pumicestone Passage but linked by bridge. Bribie’s calm water beaches are ideal for family fun.
Seaside villages, boating and fishing in Pumicestone Passage, frolicking
dolphins, good diving reefs and a rare rock fish trap (a legacy of the
island’s Aboriginal inhabitants) are some of the attractions.
Moreton Island - Untouched
areas of natural wilderness just 35 kilometres from Brisbane. Click
HERE for more information on Moreton Island.
North Stradbroke Island - North Stradbroke or “Straddie” to the locals,
shields much of the southern part of Moreton Bay from the ocean swells.
Straddie attracts anglers and holiday-makers to its expansive beaches
and the island offers a good range of accommodation and holiday
facilities. The island’s National Park includes the “window” Blue Lake,
formed from a depression below the water table and the “perched”
Tortoise Lagoon.
Cylinder beach - North Stradbroke Island
South Stradbroke Island - At
the southern end of the bay is South Stradbroke Island. Like North
Stradbroke, this is also sand island with long ocean beaches and calm
bay-side areas, including Couran Cove Resort with its marina village
and range of cabin and hotel style accommodation.
Peel Island - located in
central Moreton Bay. Only a few kilometres from Dunwich on the north
western shore of North Stradbroke Island, it is often seen from the
water as merely a 'darker green band' on the water line.
The waters of Peel Island hold the highest diversity of coral species
in Moreton Bay and have always been a habitat for turtles, a large
variety of fish and other marine species. To protect this beautiful
and fragile environment, the northern and eastern waters of Peel
Island have been classified as a National Park Zone within the Moreton
Bay Marine Park. All other waters surrounding the island are zoned as
a Conservation Park.
