Bay Islands

ABOUT BAY ISLANDS, BRISBANE:

Bay Islands, Brisbane are scattered throughout Moreton Bay on the east coast of Australia and boast some of the finest ecological reserves in the world. The rise of the sea level, thousands of years ago, caused the Moreton Bay to form on the floodplains of Brisbane River. Brisbane's Bay Islands were originally home to aboriginal tribes and the first European settlement was developed in the bay by John Oxley in 1824. Of the approximately 300 islands in the bay, the notable ones are:

• Moreton Island,
• North Stradbroke Island
• South Stradbroke Island
• Bribie Island,
• Coochiemudlo Island
• St Helena Island

TO REACH BAY ISLANDS:

Take a bus, train or car to the different points on the Mainland and from there, most of Brisbane's Bay Islands are just ferry rides away. Bribie Island is the only one which has a bridge connecting it to the Mainland so you can access it easily. The other Bay Islands are easily accessible too, with ferry services from the Mainland at frequent intervals.

THINGS TO SEE AND DO ON THE BAY ISLANDS:

Wetlands, mangroves, deserts, sand dunes – the sub-tropical Bay Islands will surprise you by the diversity of their terrain. The range of activities and interests you can pursue on the Bay Islands is mind-boggling too. Here are some ideas:

• Hire a boat from the operator for a day to go deep sea fishing on Bribie Island, Manly Bay, Raby Bay and Scarborough . Or use the boat ramps available.

• Go scuba diving and snorkeling at the reefs on Moreton Bay, like the reef around Point Lookout at North Stradbroke Islands. Take diving lessions from operators at Redcliffe, North Stradbroke Island, Moreton Island and Bribie Island. Sea-kayaking , kite-surfing and exploring coral reefs are other exciting options .

• Try Coochiemudlo Island for a family swim. The other islands are safe for a swim too. Or go wind surfing!

• View the endangered dugong , turtles, humpback whales, manta rays and dolphins at North Stradbroke Island . Handfeed dolphins in the wild only at Tanglalooma Wrecks off Moreton Island !

• Moreton Bay has many protected wetland regions, the Boondall Wetlands being internationally importance, according to the Ramsar convention . Home to birds like Australian kestrels, ospreys, ducks and animals like frogs, possums, flying foxes and lizards, the Wetlands are a treat for nature lovers!

• For more thrills , take quadbiking tours around the island at Tanglalooma. Or sand-toboggan down Mount Tempest on Moreton Island, reputed as the steepest sand dune in the world!