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Bribie Island, Queensland - Beaches, Art & Easy Island Living
- Dec 15, 2023
- 4 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
Bribie Island, Queensland - Beaches, Art & Easy Island Living
Just 65 kilometres north of Brisbane, in Queensland, Bribie Island is where relaxed coastal living meets island adventure. The smallest of the three sand islands in Moreton Bay, Bribie is also the only one connected to the mainland by bridge—making it wonderfully easy to explore. With calm swimming beaches, a surf coast, creative public art, wildlife experiences, and thoughtful museums, Bribie Island offers an easygoing escape that feels far away without being far at all.
An Island That’s Easy to Love
Bribie Island stretches around 34 kilometres long and 8 kilometres wide, with one-third of the island protected as national park. That mix of accessible towns, natural areas, and coastlines makes it perfect for a relaxed day trip or a longer, slow-paced stay.
When we visited Bribie Island, we started the day with coffee at Annie Lane and wandered along Bongaree Beach. We then explored Woorim Beach, saw the water tower art, and visited the Butterfly House. We also checked out the Bribie Seaside Museum and the Community Arts Centre.
A Morning by the Water at Bongaree
We started our day with coffee at Annie Lane Café, a boutique café on Toorbul Street overlooking the water. With an all-day brunch menu focused on local produce and views across the bay, it’s an ideal place to ease into island time.
Just steps away is Bongaree Beach, located on the western side of the island. The calm, shallow waters make it perfect for swimming and paddling, while the foreshore is lined with shady parklands, BBQs, picnic areas, and playgrounds. The nearby streets are dotted with cafés, restaurants, and specialty shops, making Bongaree a great base for exploring.
Woorim Beach & the Surf Coast
On the eastern side of the island, Woorim Beach delivers a completely different feel. This is the closest surf beach north of Brisbane, with a long stretch of golden sand and rolling blue waves. Woorim is popular with surfers and swimmers alike, and the beach is patrolled by the Bribie Island Surf Life Saving Club. Adjacent parklands, picnic shelters, cafés, and restaurants make it easy to spend a full day here.
Water Tower Art
Near Woorim, we stopped to admire the Woorim Water Tower, which has been transformed into a striking public artwork. Painted by artists Scott Nagy and Mike Shankster, the mural reflects Bribie Island’s beach culture and coastal lifestyle—an easy photo stop that adds colour to the landscape.
A Walk Among Butterflies
One of Bribie’s most enchanting attractions is the Bribie Island Butterfly House. This flower-filled sanctuary allows you to walk among hundreds of butterflies as they flutter freely around you.
Open Wednesdays and Sundays from 10 am to 4 pm, the experience is both peaceful and mesmerising. On a sunny day, you can expect 50,000 to 100,000 take-offs and landings, with around 500 to 1,000 butterflies sharing the space—plus a refuelling station to keep them energised.
Stories of the Island: Museums & Galleries
For a deeper understanding of Bribie’s past, we visited the Bribie Island Seaside Museum. Open daily from 10 am to 4 pm and free to enter, the museum features immersive, interactive displays that explore the island’s history, people, and coastal culture.
Nearby, the Bribie Island Community Arts Centre showcases a wonderful range of work by local and visiting artists. Galleries display paintings, pottery, sculpture, woodwork, fabric, glassware, metalwork, and jewellery. There’s also a café, gift shop, and several short walks along the Bicentennial Trail, making it a relaxed place to linger.
Where to Stay on Bribie Island
Staying at the Bribie Island Caravan Park is a relaxed coastal escape just metres from beautiful Woorim Surf Beach. The park offers powered sites with easy access to handy facilities including a dump point, camp kitchen, BBQ areas, laundry, amenities and Wi-Fi, along with plenty of extras like a swimming pool, mini-golf, playground and games room. Its laid-back location means you can easily walk to the beach, cafés and local shops, making it a perfect base for enjoying Bribie Island’s gentle surf, coastal walks and nature experience.
Why Bribie Island Is Worth the Trip
Bribie Island strikes the perfect balance between ease and escape. With calm bay beaches, a surf coast, creative public art, wildlife encounters, and thoughtful cultural spaces, it offers something for every kind of traveller.
Whether you’re sipping coffee by the water, wandering a butterfly sanctuary, or watching waves roll in at Woorim, Bribie Island delivers a relaxed coastal experience that’s simple to reach and hard to leave.
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