Peel Island - Goat Island - King Island
It's a Bet You Will Enjoy This Trifecta
Whilst many people are aware of the Redland’s stunning and easily accessible islands such as Coochiemudlo, North Stradbroke, and the Southern Moreton Bay Islands, few tend to know about the secret treasure that is our natural islands. Moreton Bay is dotted with smaller, uninhabited islands. Three of these have become well known due to their great natural beauty and they are known as Peel Island, King Island and Goat Island.
Popular Peel Island
This island has large popularity with the local boating community, and because of its visibility on the ferry crossing to North Stradbroke Island. Peel Island was known as Teerk Roo Ra in the Quandamooka language, which means the place of many shells. Having cast off its darker history as a quarantine station and a leper colony, the island is now exclusively national parkland.
The island is also heritage-listed and has several marine exclusion zones surrounding it to protect important historic remains.
Credit: Meg Forbes Photography
Peel Island’s Horseshoe Bay and Platypus Bay are popular stopping points for boating and fishing enthusiasts. The clear water, and pristine sandy beaches, coupled with the opportunity to snorkel around the shipwrecks make Peel an ideal day trip. The island’s Teerk Roo Ra National Park also offers a few limited Bush Camping areas, however, these fill quickly and booking in advance is required.
King Island (also Yerubin or Erobin)
Those who live in The Redlands area are very familiar with the island you can walk to – King Island. This tiny sand and rock formation sits just off the coast of the Wellington Point Recreation Reserve.
This tiny sand and rock formation sits just off the coast of the Wellington Point Recreation Reserve. Once the sandbar emerges at low tide, you can walk out to the island using this natural causeway. It’s only about a 1km walk each way but it’s important to keep your eye on the tides – once the tide returns to full, the causeway is cut, and you’ll be stuck out there!
There’s nothing on the island but vegetation, but it’s still a lot of fun to wander around and explore, especially if you have kids.
Families love a quick swim on the way to or from their walk. At low tide there are crabs to find, birds to watch and shells to collect. And adjacent to the Wellington Point parking area is a patrolled safe beach for the kids to enjoy. There is also a playground sheltered by a large Moreton Bay fig, picnic tables and toilet facilities.
Goat Island (Guwawenewa) in Southern Moreton Bay
Last, but not least, is tiny Goat Island. Sitting just off the coast of North Stradbroke Island and visible from the township of Dunwich.
This tiny coral cay is known for its impressive diversity of native vegetation and its important roosting areas for migratory shorebirds. The island has also made a name for itself as somewhat of a fishing hotspot, with the rocks on the southwest corner of the island being renowned as a feeding zone for fish that come in on the high tide.
Heading Further Down into Southern Moreton Bay
The passage between the mainland and North and South Stradbroke Island is scattered with uninhabited islands of varying sizes. If you’re lucky enough to own a boat or a canoe, you could most certainly spend many weekends exploring the natural beauty of Moreton Bay.
As with all natural areas, make sure you check in with Queensland National Parks for park conditions and requirements, and be sure to take everything you need with you and leave no trace behind so that these islands are preserved for all to enjoy.
