A Day on Moreton Bay

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[SECTION]A Day on the Water[/SECTION]

A peaceful day out in the cooling breezes of Moreton Bay was the perfect antidote to the crowds, pavement pounding and heat of Brisbane.



For the tiny cost of $10.00 return, you can hop on the ferry departing Redland Bay and visit any of the Islands of Southern Moreton Bay. The ferry travels between Russell, Lamb, Macleay and Karragarra Islands. Ferries travel between the islands in this order and also in reverse order.

The ferry offers air conditioned inside comfort or natural cooling outdoor seating with the opportunity to watch for other water craft and Bay bird and water life (turtles, dolphins and dugongs).

[SECTION]Russell Island[/SECTION]


Russell Island is the largest of the Southern Moreton Bay Islands, at 8 kilometres long and nearly 3 kilometres wide.







Russell Island has a range of cafés and shops and holiday accommodation. It would be a peaceful place to spend a week, leisurely exploring by bicycle or foot. It features swimming beaches, fishing spots, picnic areas, barbeque facilities and wetlands.

We enjoyed drinking in the view from Aunty Alice's Café .



A Future Change of Identity?
Russell Island residents still feel the stigma of the land scams of the 1970s, when blocks of land were sold that were found to be underwater at high tide. Until the 1940s the Island was known as Canaipa Island, a traditional name of the Quandamooka People. Residents would like to revert to this traditional name and put forward a request to use dual names eventually changing to the Aboriginal Island name. For now, the Queensland Department for Natural Resources and Mines decided (in December 2015), that 'Canaipa will be recorded and published as the alternative name for Russell Island in the Queensland Place Names database'.
[SECTION]Lamb Island[/SECTION]

On Lamb Island, we set off to find the wetlands, and on the way found Lamb Island is home to lots of interesting residences.







At the wetlands we saw birdlife, frogs and a green carpet of algae surrounded by paperbark trees. These gave the Island its original name of Nguderoo, meaning paperbark trees.





Lamb Island Convenience Store is a kiosk and general store. Meals and snacks are served to outdoor tables in a bush setting.



[SECTION]Macleay Island[/SECTION]



Macleay Island has a large residential population and is self-sufficient with two shopping centres, a medical centre, school, church, library, golf club, community centre and arts complex. Holiday houses and Bed and Breakfast accommodation are available for extending your stay. The best way to see Macleay Island, the second largest of the Southern Moreton Bay Islands would be to hire a bicycle or bring a vehicle.



There are several choices for lunch on Macleay Island. Just don't over extend your exploring time too far into the early afternoon. The kitchens in The Blue Parrot Café and Pub Paradise close at 2.00pm. Luckily a handy supermarket provided us with everything we needed for an impromptu picnic.



There are a number of art works that are perfect for sitting and taking in the view on Macleay Island. Thanks to the community partnership, Cheeks on Seats , between Macleay Island and Redlands City Council, beautiful pieces of mahogany, bloodwood and paperbark have been turned into sculpted seating with calligraphy.



Macleay Island was called Jencoomercha until the 1840s.

[SECTION]Karragarra Island[/SECTION]

Karragarra Island has retained its indigenous name. Of the four islands, it has the most striking white sand beach. Walking around Karragarra Island you have a sense of escape from civilisation, as there are no shops at all.



Karragarra has a safe swimming enclosure.





It is possible to walk around Karragarra, the smallest of the four islands, in an hour. On your stroll you can see views of the other three islands, Mt Cotton and the Gold Coast hinterland.



Look out for old mango trees planted in 1896. Island produce was sent to Brisbane up until 1999. Large timber trolleys were used to transport Island goods to the ferry. The last goods trolley used on Karragarra Island sits near the ferry as a reminder of earlier farming times.



All too soon it is time to head back to the mainland.

Bay Island Transit operates eco-friendly fast ferry services to Russell, Lamb, Macleay and Karragarra Islands. Ferries depart the Weinam Creek Marina on Banana Street at Redland Bay 7 days a week and run approximately every half hour. Tickets and a helpful Visitor Guide to the islands are available from the ticket office at the Redland Bay Marina. Timetables can be viewed at www.transitsystems.com.au/bayislands.

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#child_friendly
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#lamb_island
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