The Best Things To Do On Bribie Island 2024 2024

Bribie Island is a small picturesque island located off the coast of Queensland, Australia. The island offers visitors many things to do, including swimming, fishing, kayaking, hiking, and cycling. The island also has several beautiful beaches to explore.

Bribie Island is the only island in Queensland connected by a bridge, making it accessible and popular for day trippers. It has a lovely community feel and beautiful natural attractions.

Before the bridge was built in 1963, you could only access Bribie Island by ferry.

The island is 34 km from end to end, with most residents living in the southern part of the island.

One of my best friends lives on Bribie Island, where we have stayed a couple times.

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Things to do on Bribie Island

1. Beaches

Choose from surf beaches or calm bays, depending on your preference. Red Beach is dog-friendly.

a long stretch of white sand beach and blue ocean with deep blue sky — Woorim Beach Bribie Island

2. Watersports

The Pumicestone Passage, the calm water between Bribie Island and Caboolture on the mainland, is an excellent location for water sports. You can hire kayaks, sups, and paddle boats from Bribie Hire Hut.

3. Surfing

For surfing breaks and waves, head to Woorim Beach on the east side of the island, patrolled by surf life savers. The small rolling waves make it ideal for beginners. The best time to surf at Woorim Beach is at high tide with winds from the west, southwest.

If you can’t surf or want to improve, Bribie Island Surf School offers lessons.

4. Swimming

The protected, family-friendly beaches of Bongaree, Sylvan, and Bellara are perfect for swimming, and the picnic areas and BBQs make it ideal for catch-ups with friends and family.

aerial view of long white sand beach and ocean on bribie island — Beach Drive at Bribie Island courtesy of Tourism and Events Queensland

5. Eco-Cruise

Spot wildlife like dugongs, turtles, dolphins, and dingoes. With more bird species than Kakadu, you might see some of the 360 species, including sea eagles and ospreys.

6. Cycling

Bribie Island has numerous cycle paths, including one starting at the esplanade to Sylvan Beach on the other side of the bridge.

7. Heritage Walk

The Heritage Walk starts at Bongaree Jetty and takes you to 16 sites to explore the history of Bribie Island before finishing at the Pioneer’s Heritage Plaque.

See this map for the route.

8. Golf

Have a round of golf at Pacific Harbour Golf Course, an 18-hole championship course. Navigate through wetlands, water courses, and native vegetation.

9. See the Sunset

Watch the sunset over the Glasshouse Mountains from Sunset Park. Maybe have a picnic too.

10. Sandstone Point Hotel

Enjoy a drink, lunch, or dinner at this trendy pub across the bridge on the mainland with views across the passage to Bribie Island. A beautiful spot to be at sunset.

11. BBQ Boat

Hire a BBQ boat to cruise up and down the Pumicestone Passage. You don’t even need a skippers licence to drive it.

a bbq boat for hire with people on it in the pumicestone passage — Barbeque boat hire

12. 4WD Adventure Tour

Join this 4WD tour which takes you along the beautiful white sand beaches, stopping at lagoons and looking for wildlife as you drive. The tour of Fort Bribie WWII bunkers provides you with the interesting history of these great forts built in the 1940s.

13. Bribie Island Gondola

This tour may appeal to you if you haven’t experienced a gondola in Venice. This cruise is one of the most romantic things to do on Bribie Island, especially at sunset.

14. Bribie Island Seaside Museum

Visit this museum to learn about the history and people of Bribie Island, including Matthew Flinders and Ian Fairweather.

15. Enjoy Breakfast or Lunch by the water

If you’re at Woorim Beach between 6.30 am and 11 am, I highly recommend popping into Pig Face Seafood Cafe for their Breakfast Burger. It was delicious and filling!

close up of a briochew burger bun with egg bacon hash brown — Pig Face Cafe Breakfast Burger

16. Bribie Island National Park & Recreational Area

Only 4WD and 6th vehicles can apply for a permit and access the Bribie Island Recreational Area. You will need high clearance and low range function to navigate the tracks and beaches. Bribie Island National Park has very soft sand, so some experience with beach
driving would be advantageous.

You can let your tyres down at the entrance to the national park, and as with most beach driving, check the times of the tides and time your drive within two hours on each side of low tide.

tropical beach with clear water and sandy beach

Bribie Island Location

Bribie Island is one of three major sand islands off the coast of Moreton Bay, Queensland. Stradbroke Island and Moreton Island are both bigger than Bribie which is 34 km long and 8 km wide.

How to get to Bribie Island

From Bruce Highway (M1), take the turn off for Bribie Island Road (State Route 85) and cross the Pumicestone Passage Bridge onto Bribie Island.

Bribie Island Map

View this Bribie Island National Park & Recreational Area map before you go.

Bribie Island Permit

You need to pay a permit fee to access the recreational area. As of May 2022, the fees are:

Bribie Island Recreation Area
1 week or less = A$52.35
more than 1 week (up to 1 year) = A$163.50

Where to Next?

If you’re heading up the Sunshine Coast, these guides will help you plan your itinerary:

Travel Tips and Information

To help plan your holiday, use this Queensland Travel Guide, which includes helpful information and tips.

FAQ

Are dogs allowed on Bribie Island?

Dogs are allowed on Bribie Island but not in the National Park.