These notes are designed to help you tour Bribie Island in your 4WD in an anti-clockwise direction, starting and finishing at the Bribie Island Visitor Information Centre.
Initially travel north along the Ocean Side and return by travelling south along the Inland Track. A 4WD Permit is required and no dogs are allowed in the National Park. High clearance 4WD is recommended. This trek may not be suitable for low clearance 4WD vehicles, as some sand patches are very deep. Drive in Low Drive. Vehicle owners should be totally self-sufficient and if possible, travel in company with at least one other 4WD Vehicle. Recovery, if available, is very expensive.
NP&WS recommend that driving on the ocean beach be avoided for two (2) hours either side of high tide. Tidal information is available free from the Bribie Island Visitor Information Centre. The lagoons and creeks on the eastern side can overflow across the beach after heavy rain. Please take care as such overflows can create deep and dangerous gullets across the beach.
0.0 km Bribie Island Visitor Information Centre. Leave the car park heading east. Turn right at first roundabout and then left at First Avenue. Travel 6.0 km to the end of First Avenue at Woorim. Turn left along North Street for 1.9 kms and turn into the Beach Access Car Park. Deflate tyres for sand driving to approx 20 to 25 psi or as recommended by your vehicle manufacturer and engage low drive or fix hubs. Take this opportunity to visit the WWII Bunker used as a signals post for Fort Bribie.
9.1 km Ocean Beach Access. Drive along the access track for 2.1 km to the beach. The access to the beach can be quite rough with deep sand and deep ridges. Drive with care. Speed Limit is 30 kilometres per hour.
9.3 km Freshwater Creek. Named after the Freshwater Family. The name does not mean the lagoons are fresh water as they often breach and become very brackish and salty. Still they are ideal for swimming.
11.9 km Norfolk Creek is perhaps, the most dramatic feature on the eastern side of Bribie Island. A very popular swimming spot for families.
12.8 km Dingo Creek. Proceed north and after 0.7 km you will see the Maritime Navigation Tower used by vessels sailing along the main channel to Brisbane.
15.2 km Mermaid (Third) Lagoon. Another popular swimming spot. Be careful when the lagoons have breached to the sea, as the driving conditions could be dangerous. Always proceed with care when driving through water.
19.3km. Welsby (Fourth) Lagoon. Proceed north for 8.9 km to the Ocean Beach Camping Area. There are 64 campsites in this area, most without toilet facilities.Campfires are permitted in the fire rings provided.
29.5km. Fort Bribie Day Use Area. The Fort Bribie Day Use Area is a great spot for a picnic. The deep sand in the parking area could be a problem to some vehicles. From the information shelter two surfaced tracks lead up the dune towards Fort Bribie, which is a 5km, return walk from the day use area. The walking track stops once you reach the top of the dune and is not surfaced all the way to the Fort. The toilet facilities are wheelchair accessible, but the walking track to Fort Bribie is not. Drive out onto the ocean beach and travel north to Fort Bribie.
30.7 km Southern Searchlight. The two 36” searchlights were built to assist the guns of Fort Bribie
31.3 km No 1 Gun. Each gun was equipped with a 6” Mk X1 cannon weighing 36 tonnes taken from a WW1 battleship. The guns fired a 102 lb shell but were never fired in anger. Fort Bribie was completed in early 1942 as an integral part of the “Brisbane Line” defence of Australia. It was disbanded in 1944.
31.5 km No 2 Gun. Both guns are in a state of disrepair and should not be entered or climbed upon.
31.8 km Mine Control Bunker. Be very careful around this area as the building is teetering on the edge of the sand dune. Stay a safe distance from the building.
32.2km. Northern Searchlight. Vehicles are prohibited past this point. Turn around and drive south along the beach for 2.8 km to the Northern Track Access. Remember to keep left of oncoming vehicles and signal your intentions as you would on the road.
You can return to Woorim by driving south along the beach for 24 km or travel on to White Patch along the Inland Track. Warning this track is very difficult and should only be attempted by experienced sand drivers.
34.9 km Northern Track Access. Proceed west past the Fort Bribie Day Use Area. This section of the track is considerably better and scenic. The paperbark forest appears to be very dense. After this the track travels through forest with significant old eucalypts of different varieties.
36.7 km Lighthouse Reach Day Use Area A further 5km along the Northern Track brings you to a short path to the right which leads to the site of the lighthouse that gave this area of Pumicestone Passage its name. All that remains is the concrete base of the lighthouse. The day use area has all the basics except toilets. Soon after leaving the area proceed along the Northern Track past the large eucalypt trees for 7.1 km towards Top Swamp Crossing.
42.7 km Top Swamp Crossing. This is a very boring section with old plantation activity on both sides of the track for a quite considerable distance leaving a rather desolate appearance
43.0 km Westaway Lagoon. The track from Westaway Lagoon to the Poverty Creek turn-off is heavily used, may be deeply rutted and has deep sand in many places. Be careful not to get bogged in this section.
53.1 km Poverty Creek Camping Area. In this Campground, campfires are permitted in the fire rings provided.
62.8 km Gallagher Creek Camping and Day Use Area. A small camping area just north of White Patch.
66.6 km NPWS Area Car Park Turn right and drive along Endeavour Drive for 1km. Turn left at Banksia Harbour Shopping Centre and proceed along Sunderland Drive for 3.8km back to the Information Centre.
Total drive distance is 74 kms and can also be attempted in the clockwise direction dependant on tides.
DO NOT FORGET TO REINFLATE YOUR TYRES TO ROAD PRESSURES
Woody Point Jetty | Redcliffe
Stony Creek Swimming Hole | Woodford
Lake Kurwongbah | Kallangur
Forgan Cove | Lake Samsonvale
Looking for more things to do and see? Pop into one of the region's Accredited Visitor Information Centres, the volunteers have a wealth of local knowledge.
Learn about the history of Moreton Bay region on a FREE tour through Woodford, Redcliffe and Samford guided by our local knowledgeable volunteers from Visitor Information Centres.
Whether you're a seasoned pro or a weekend hacker, Moreton Bay swings with opportunity for golfers of all stripes with championship golf courses, indoor golf simulators, driving ranges and mini golf courses.
While the Moreton Bay region is famous for its stunning marine park and hinterland activities, there’s also a thriving retail scene waiting to be explored.
Channel 7's Weekender Crew visit Moreton Bay's newest attraction Mathema Gallery and the stunning Ocean View Estate Winery and Accommodation that surround it. Watch SUNDAY MARCH 10 from 5.30pm.
Channel 7's Weekender Crew and Lee Carseldine embark on a brewery hop, exploring some of the region's finest breweries in Brendale. Watch SUNDAY MARCH 31 from 5.30pm.