Things To Do With Kids On Bribie Island

Located in the City of Moreton Bay, Bribie Island is the perfect destination for a family day trip. Where else can you enjoy all the fun and attractions of a beautiful Queensland island without having to catch a plane or take a ferry?

In just over an hour of leaving the hustle and bustle of the city, you can be lying on a beach towel, making sandcastles and jumping waves on a beautiful, pristine beach, surrounded by stunning natural scenery and amazing wildlife. This is a Brisbane Kids day trip not to be missed! It will remind you how lucky we are to live in this wonderful location and to have such awesome places right here on our doorstep!

What you need to know about Bribie Island

At 34-kilometres long and 8-kilometres across at its widest point, Bribie Island is the smallest of the three main sand islands of Moreton Bay.

Bribie Island lies off the coast of South East Queensland, stretching from just beyond Sandstone Point in the south to Caloundra in the north. It is separated from the mainland by Pumicestone Passage on the west, and is sheltered by Moreton Island on the east.

Most of the island is devoted to national park, while the remainder is inhabited and features plenty of retail, service and recreational facilities for the local community and visitors.

Visitor Information Centre

A great first stop on reaching Bribie Island is the Bribie Island Visitor Information Centre, located on Benabrow Avenue at Bongaree, close to where you come off the bridge from the mainland. Call in here at the start of your trip to find out what is on, great places to visit and other attractions, and to pick up a map or other leaflets. For more information, call the Visitor Information Centre on 07 3408 9026 or visit moretonbay.qld.gov.au.

For a great map of Bribie Island, check out this link.

Bribie Island Beaches

A highlight of any trip to Bribie Island is exploring the beautiful beaches. 

Surf Side

The east side of the island is known as the ‘surf side’. As you cross the bridge onto Bribie Island, the “surf side” is on the far side (about a 10 minutes drive).

This is the place to visit if you hope to catch some waves. The main beach is located at Woorim, where you will find the surf club, public toilet facilities, a playground, barbecues, picnic areas and cafes. The beach here is patrolled, but as it is the surf side, do be mindful of big waves and possible rough waters.

Head south of here for quieter beach access areas, all looking out over Moreton Bay and across to Moreton Island. At the southernmost access points you can find a beautiful stretch of some of the best dog off-leash area close to Brisbane. Head north of Woorim and you will find access to the 4WD beach and beach camping areas. 

It is important to stay safe and swim between the flags. 

Click here to book a campsite or vehicle access permit (You will only need these if you plan to drive along the beach and/or go camping).

Calm or Passage Side

The west side of Bribie Island is known as the ‘Passage Side’ or “Calm side” depending on who you ask. It runs alongside Pumicestone Passage and you can access it by driving left or right when you drive off Bribie Bridge. This side of the island has lots of great beaches especially for little kids who might prefer smaller waves. Though the beaches tend to be narrower and less picturesque than those on the east of the island, the sand tends to slope more gently into the water and the sheltered waters of the passage make for a much safer sea experience and perfect for relaxing the day away. 

With the options of both surf beaches and sheltered safe swimming beaches, Bribie really does have something for everyone. For a full list of beaches on Bribie Island and their facilities, click here. You might even spot sea life such as dolphins frolicking in the sparking waters as you sit and relax on the beach!

Bribie Island Community Arts Centre

The Bribie Island Community Arts Centre is one of Australia’s largest and busiest arts centres. You can see changing exhibitions of paintings, pottery, craftwork, murals, local and Aboriginal artefacts and more. There is also a lovely gift shop. With FREE entry, this is a great place to visit with kids. 

The Bribie Island Community Arts Centre is located at 191 Sunderland Drive, Banksia Beach. It is open Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 4pm. Visit bribieartscentre.com.au for more information.

Bribie Island Seaside Museum

Bribie Island has a rich and colourful history, and you can find out all about it at the Bribie Island Seaside Museum.

The museum is located in Melsa Park in the suburb of Bongaree, overlooking Pumicestone Passage. It is not a massive museum, but it has plenty to interest and entertain kids while teaching them about the island history through exhibitions, interactive displays and regular activities. Plus with FREE entry, this is definitely a fun stop on a Bribie Island trip. 

The museum is open 10am-4pm, Wednesday to Friday and 10am-3pm at the weekend. You can find out more about the Seaside Museum here.

Bushwalking on Bribie

There are some great bushwalks on Bribie Island, and with wildlife to spot from kangaroos, wallabies and dingoes, to bats and 350 species of birds, this is a great place to get out and about to discover the wonder of nature.

For a great bushwalk to do with kids, head to the Community Arts Centre, 191 Sunderland Drive, Banksia Beach. From just south of the entrance to the centre, you will find access to the Bicentennial Gardens and the Bicentennial bushwalks. The trail is 3.8 kilometres long (so allow around an hour) and features The Banksia, Palm Grove and Melaleuca walks, which take you through eucalypt forests, paperbark wetlands and wallum heathlands.

Click here for a map of the Bicentennial Bushwalk.

If you want to cycle some tracks and beaches at Bribie and then check out this guy who has mapped his course (please where a helmet if you are cycling). https://blog.neilennis.com/index.php/bribie-2/ 

This fealy family account of them 4wding and camping is probably the best resource I have found with the most detail: Fealy Family Blog

If you do plan to 4wd up the beach PLEASE pay attention to any signs around the local turtles and things you need to look out for depending on the time of year. 

Parks and Playgrounds

Bribie Island has a few parks and playgrounds to visit with kids. At Bongaree, you will find various parks along the shoreline with great play areas close to stretches of beach and overlooking Pumicestone Passage and the mainland.

Brennan Park also has play equipment, toilet facilities, barbecues and picnic tables close to the Bongaree Jetty. Apex Park, Chamber of Commerce Park, Pumicestone Lions Park and Vietnam Veterans Memorial Park are also close-by, with a range of facilities and equipment.

With two fenced playgrounds, a range of play equipment, toilet facilities and barbecue and picnic areas, Lions Park at Woorim is probably the best playground on Bribie Island and a popular must-visit for anyone heading to Bribie Island with kids. You can read a full review of Lions Park here.

Bribie Island Butterfly House

One of our favourite modern day additions to Bribie Island is the volunteer run Bribie Island Butterfly House. This charming sanctuary showcases a variety of butterflies, including the Cairns Birdwing. Open Wednesdays and Sundays, visitors can observe butterflies up close, along with stick insects and caterpillars. It’s an accessible, enchanting experience perfect for nature lovers of all ages. The sunnier the weather the better the experience! 

Bribie Island Markets

There are plenty of local markets to be enjoyed on Bribie island, for everything from fruit and vegetables to arts and crafts. Please call the Bribie Island Visitor Information Centre on 07 3408 9026 for up-to-date information.)

Getting to Bribie

Linked to the mainland by a road bridge, Bribie Island is easy and convenient to get to. It’s around a 65-kilometre drive from Brisbane (take exit 152 from the Bruce Highway and follow the signs), or you can take public transport all the way to Bribie’s best beaches. Just visit Translink to find plan your journey. Often visitors will stop off to check out The Abbey Museum and grab a bite to eat at the Sandstone Point Hotel. 

For more information on Bribie Island, call the Bribie Island Visitor Information Centre on 07 3408 9026 or email [email protected], or visit nprsr.qld.gov.au/parks/bribie-island.