Brisbane is often skipped on the Queensland coast circuit. This guide makes the case for treating it as a launchpad — three days on Moreton Bay's two big sand islands bookended by the city itself.
Day 1
Touch down in Brisbane and spend the first day on foot. Brisbane is built around its river — the South Bank, the Story Bridge, the Botanic Gardens loop. Wander Fortitude Valley in the evening for dinner and music. This is your base for tonight and your final night of the trip.
Brisbane
Day 2
A peninsula day north of the city. Redcliffe is where Brisbane's bay culture lives — the jetty, the strand, and the markets on Sunday. Scarborough sits 5 minutes north and is where boats leave for Moreton Bay; it's also the prettier of the two for sunset photography. This is a day to slow down before the islands. Drive back to Brisbane tonight or pick up a ferry to Moreton tomorrow morning.
Redcliffe
Scarborough
Day 3
Catch the morning ferry from Scarborough or Brisbane CBD to Moreton Island. The crossing is part of the experience — a 75-minute trip across bay water that often turns up dolphins. On arrival, head straight to Tangalooma Wrecks, fifteen rusted hulls deliberately sunk to create one of Australia's most accessible snorkel sites. Spend the afternoon on the beach at Tangalooma proper. Tonight you're staying on the island — the resort or the campgrounds at Bulwer.
Moreton Island
Tangalooma Wrecks
Day 4
A full day driving the length of Moreton's eastern beach. Cape Moreton Lighthouse at the northern tip is the photo of the trip — sandstone cliffs, whales between June and October, and the oldest lighthouse in Queensland. From there, return south slowly along the eastern surf beach, stopping for sandboarding at the Desert and a swim at Champagne Pools (Moreton's, not K'gari's). Late afternoon ferry back to Brisbane or directly across to Stradbroke for tomorrow.
Cape Moreton Lighthouse
Day 5
Cross from Cleveland to North Stradbroke Island. The ferry passes Peel Island on the way — a sandy ring with one of the most photographed turquoise bays on the bay. Once on Straddie, drive to Amity Point first for breakfast and a calm-water swim. Then push east to Point Lookout, the headland village where the Gorge Walk delivers whales, dolphins, and turtles in a 1.5km loop. Spend the afternoon at Main Beach or Cylinder Beach. Last ferry back to the mainland in the evening.
Peel Island
Amity
Point Lookout
North Stradbroke Island
