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FOLLOW THIS LINK TO WATCH A VIDEO OF THE REDLANDS BY ALLAN MACKENZIE
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The tranquil and friendly Southern Moreton Bay Islands are only 8km and a 20 minute ferry ride from Redland Bay but are a lifetime away from the mainland.
The islands are given still-water protection by North Stradbroke Island and make for total relaxation and a carefree holiday or picnic daytrip. They are a
boating, fishing and crabbing paradise and offer peaceful and firm anchorages in any weather.
Services on the islands include supermarkets, bakeries, butchers, nurseries, boating and fishing stores, hardware stores, fuel and LP gas stations,
restaurants and cafes, video rentals, computer services, taxis, post offices, libraries, doctors, chemists and fire and emergency services.
There are two bottle shops, three bowls clubs, two RSL clubs, a golf club, a hotel, two yacht clubs, parks with BBQ facilities and picnic tables, bikeways,
nature reserves and swimming enclosures with showers and dressing facilities.
Accommodation includes a motel, holiday rental houses and cabins and Bed and Breakfast homes.
The islands have a rich history of Aboriginal heritage from the Quandamooka people, traditional owners of Moreton Bay, and of European settlement
began in the 1860s.
Places of Aboriginal heritage with evidence of ancient Aboriginal occupation are found on all four islands and include shell middens and burial and quarry
sites.
European settlement brought oyster growing, timber felling, salt mining and farming including fruit trees, sugar cane and cotton.
The ferry service to the four Southern Bay Islands (including Karragarra, Lamb, Macleay & Russell) is run by the Bay Islands Transit System (BITS) & starts operation at 4.20am in the morning and operates regularly until after midnight with an estimated 24,000 passengers coming and going each week.
MACLEAY ISLAND is one of the few southern islands that have sandy beaches and is the most populated with an estimated 4500 permanent residents.
It is the most northern of the islands and boasts panoramic views over the bay to the mainland, Coochiemudlo Island, Peel Island and
North Stradbroke Island including Dunwich.
There is a sign-posted heritage trail which can be walked or ridden.
Macleay has a bowls club/restaurant with some of the best views and sunsets on the bay and a nine-hole golf club/restaurant.
There are two supermarkets, a bakery and a butcher, a native plant nursery (Back To Natives) and the island has its own state primary school and
a police station.
FACTS FOR THE VISITOR:
GETTING TO MACLEAY - BAY ISLAND TRANSIT SYSTEMS 34091145 DEPARTS WEINAM CK MARINA JETTY, BANANA STREET, REDLAND BAY
BAY ISLANDER FERRY SERVICE 38290999 DEPARTS WEINAM STREET, REDLAND BAY
WHERE TO STAY - B&B ACCOMMODATION THE ISLAND SANCTUARY
THE BOATHOUSE
THE DECKS
YARRANDABBI DREAMING
HOUSES MACMAHON'S
COONDOOROOPA COVE
PADDLES
RUSSELL
ISLAND is the largest of the islands being 8km in length and 3km wide and has an estimated 3000 residents.
The island also has its own primary school and police station and a public Olympic-size swimming pool.
The Russell Island Motel is only a short walk from the ferry terminal and is the only motel on the islands, near the island’s nursery
(Canaipa Nursery) and the IGA Super supermarket which offers mainland prices.
Russell has two major nature reserves, the Whistling Kite Wetland and Turtle Swamp Heathland reknowed for its wildflowers.
The island is separated from North Stradbroke Island by the Canaipa Passage, and extends down almost as far as Jumpinpin bar
between North and South Stradbroke islands and has views south to the Gold Coast.
GETTING TO RUSSELL - BAY ISLAND TRANSIT SYSTEMS 34091145 DEPARTS WEINAM CK MARINA JETTY, BANANA STREET, REDLAND BAY
BAY ISLANDER FERRY SERVICE 38290999 DEPARTS WEINAM STREET, REDLAND BAY
WHERE TO STAY - B&B ACCOMMODATION RUSSELL ISLAND B&B
OTHER RUSSELL ISLAND MOTOR INN
DUGONG COVE HOLIDAY CABINS
HARRISON'S HUT
TRU BLU
DUNCOPPIN COTTAGE
LAMB ISLAND is the second smallest island at 2km by 1km and has an estimated 280 residents.
The island has only one small store and takeaway and a ‘part-time’ bowls club that opens only on weekends.
The island has panoramic views over the bay and North Stradbroke Island.
KARRAGARRA ISLAND is the smallest and quietest island with the smallest population of about 150 residents, who are friendly but prefer to keep the island to themselves.
The island has no stores but does has its own ‘yacht club’.
The picnic park and swimming enclosure near the ferry terminal at the northern end has one of the best sandy beaches on the island.
The rest of the island is surrounded by mangroves.