Escape to Brighton This Summer

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Brisbane's northernmost suburb, Brighton, is a quiet seaside location which is just perfect for cooling off on a hot summer's day.



Brighton is one of the few places in Brisbane that has a seaside village feel, yet is within a half-hour drive from the CBD. It is the perfect location to while away a few hours, enjoying the cooling breezes coming directly off Moreton Bay.

The simplest way to get here from Brisbane is to travel along the Gateway motorway and take the Deagon Deviation exit. Turn right at the first set of lights on the deviation, then immediately turn left into 25th Avenue - and you have arrived.



The best place to start your day at Brighton is at Decker Park, located right beside the Ted Smout Bridge which links Brisbane with the Redcliffe peninsula. Decker park has plenty of facilities to make your stay comfortable. There are free council electric BBQs available, and toilets as well. There is ample parking, although if a hot summer's day is predicted, you might want to arrive early!

The playground is well equipped to keep the younger set occupied all day long, and for those wanting to kick a footy, play some cricket, or throw a frisbee around, there is a large grassy area on the northside of the park. If you have a furry friend of the canine variety, then the off-leash area will keep that member of the family occupied too. There is also a basketball hoop for anyone wanting to shoot some baskets.



Now for the reason I like Brighton – the sand flats. When the tide is low take a stroll along the sand. The feeling of sand between your toes, and water over your feet makes for a pleasant and relaxing walk. Even at mid-tide it is pleasant to walk along in knee deep water just to cool off. When the tide is high, the water all along the beach front is only about one metre deep (unless there is a king tide). This makes the stretches of beach between the rock groins the perfect spot to cool off with a swim. It is just right for the height challenged family members to safely splash around in, and as there is no surf here, there is no chance of dangerous rips. After taking a cooling dip, the sand here is particularly good for building sand castles too.



The sand flats extend right out to the marine park warning sign which is approximately 200m off shore. On the weekend or even after work during the week you will find lots of locals strolling along the sand flats letting all their worries dissipate under the soles of their feet. It is possible to walk under the bridges too, which is not something possible in many other locations around Brisbane - so do it just because you can! The water here is normally crystal clear, and is a great chance for the younger members of the family to find sea critters such as soldier/hermit crabs, snails, and little fish.



If fishing is your thing, then an hour or so each side of high tide is the perfect time to wet a line here. I have caught my biggest fish (a 57cm flathead which was delicious) here from the end of the rock groins close to the bridge. The main species being caught along this stretch of beach are Bream, Whiting and Flathead, although the odd Sole shows up on occasion too.



Another activity at Brighton which the locals enjoy regularly is the walk along the foreshore pathway, or across the Ted Smout Bridge. The foreshore pathway will take you all the way to the Shorncliffe Pier if you are keen. Alternatively walking across the Ted Smout Bridge provides views back to Brighton, Sandgate, and Shorncliffe. Any of these walks can of course be changed to cycling, rollerblading, rip-sticking or skateboarding activities. The concrete path which links the bridge all the way down to Shorncliffe is perfect for all self-propelled wheeled transport.



If you need supplies, there is a small shopping centre in Brighton (one minute South down Beaconsfield Terrace from Decker Park) with an IGA which has a reasonable range, along with basic hot food if you need that. I recommend taking a picnic lunch, but if takeaway is easier then why not? Why we Aussies insist on slaving over a hot BBQ on 35 degree Summer days is one of the true mysteries of the human condition! Give me prawns & crabs for a Summer lunch any day...



So if you are looking for a place to spend a few hours, or an entire day away from the heat of the inner city, Brighton has you covered. With plenty of shady trees, and shelter sheds available you could spend the hottest part of the day with a good book in the shade with the sea breeze keeping the temperatures down. It is not uncommon to see people sleeping under the shade of the trees in the hottest part of the day here.



With enough options to keep almost anyone occupied, Brighton is a great place to keep your cool this Summer.

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