Redland Bay: Water, Islands and Nature

Redland Bay brings together a clearly defined water focus and ferry connections to four islands. Between Redland Bay and Mount Cotton, the Bayview Conservation Area also has around 60 km of walking and mountain biking trails. You can shape your trip around the experiences that interest you most: swimming, a ferry crossing or time on trails in nature. These highlights also provide a helpful guide when you are looking for a holiday rental for your stay.

Swimming Area and Ferry Connections

There is a swimming area at Ruster's Reserve, on the Esplanade at the corner of Moores Road. It is a clearly identified place for anyone who wants to include swimming in their trip plans. This provides a distinct water focus alongside the island theme.

SeaLink's ferry service connects Redland Bay with Macleay, Lamb, Karragarra and Russell in the Southern Moreton Bay. The Redland Bay Ferry Terminal (Weinam Creek) is on Banana Street, with ferries departing from there approximately every half hour. If you would like to include one of these islands, you can treat the crossing as a separate part of your plans. Check current departure times with the operator before travelling: the approximate frequency is a guide, but it does not replace the current timetable.

Trails and Wildlife in the Bayview Conservation Area

Between Redland Bay and Mount Cotton, the Bayview Conservation Area offers around 60 km of walking and mountain biking trails. Walking and mountain biking are two different ways to explore the landscape actively; which one suits your plans depends on how you would like to spend your time outdoors.

The area provides habitat for species including Powerful Owls, koalas, goannas, Glossy Black-Cockatoos and wallabies. Together with the trails, this creates a nature focus that differs from the swimming area and ferry connections. For families, comparing these options can help you identify shared interests before deciding which activities will shape your stay.

Cemeteries and Local History

Redland Bay Cemetery is on Gordon Road and was formerly known as North Redland Cemetery. The first burial there took place in 1908. Generations of families from the Redlands Coast have chosen this peaceful, rural cemetery for burials or cremation memorials. Its long history of use tells a different story about the area than the opportunities for activity and time by the water.

Further afield, the original Redland Bay Cemetery was located at 398 Serpentine Creek Road (Route 47). It was in operation from the 1890s until the late 1940s and is currently inactive. The two cemetery sites bring different periods into the area's history: the first burial at the Gordon Road cemetery took place in 1908, while the original cemetery on Serpentine Creek Road represents an earlier period of use.

Choose the Right Focus for Your Stay

When planning your stay, you can choose between different focuses: Would you like to include a swimming area, use a ferry connection to one of the islands mentioned, or explore the walking and mountain biking trails in the Bayview Conservation Area? Your answers can guide your search for a holiday rental by clarifying the kind of holiday rhythm you want. If you have several interests, it is worth checking ferry departures in advance and considering the trails in the conservation area as a separate activity option. This lets you compare different experiences without combining them into a single destination.

Discover more destinations: Margate, Mt Samson, Kangaroo Point, Darra, Beaudesert, Manly, North Lakes, Macgregor

For the main travel overview: Brisbane.