Brisbane Islands

From picturesque coastlines to adrenaline-pumping activities, here's our guide to Brisbane's terrific islands!

With so many Islands to explore, we've narrowed it down to our personal top 5, where you'll experience incredible wildlife encounters, pristine swimming spots, exhilarating activities, family fun and so much more.

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Moreton Island

A must-do excursion in Brisbane if you have the time. Experience the third largest sand island in the world, with a range of exciting activities and incredible sights to see! Snorkelling the Tangalooma wrecks is the most iconic experience on Moreton Island. Made up of 15 old ships originally placed to form a harbour, now creating an artificial reef bustling with marine life in crystal blue waters. You can BYO or hire your own gear and swim out yourself, or book into one of the many tours, which will drop you out at the wrecks. If you aren't a strong swimmer or have younger children a tour may be the best option as the currents can be quite hard to swim against.

Still have energy left in the tank? Here are some more exciting activities you can do on the island:

• Sandboarding on the dunes
• Check out the crystal-clear champagne pools
• Go offroad with a four-wheel driving experience
• Visit the Cape Moreton Lighthouse

To get to Moreton Island, you'll need to drive (30 minutes) or take public transport to Moreton Island Ferries. You can catch the Micat Ferry, with options to transport your car over or go as a passenger. Please note, if you are planning on taking your car, it is strongly advised to bring a 4WD as all-wheel drives will struggle on the soft sand.

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Peel Island

Peel Island is home to the beautiful Horseshoe Bay, one of the best island beaches to go swimming in Brisbane! You'll enjoy calm blue waters and soft sand, with plenty of amazing wildlife on show. Dolphins, turtles and dugongs are known to frequent this area, so keep your eyes 'peel'ed.

Peel Island is only accessible via boat or via Aria Cruises, who do an awesome half-day cruise along Moreton Bay with a stop at Horseshoe Bay.

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North Stradbroke Island 

If you don't have a 4WD or you want to tick off all the islands in Brisbane, North Stradbroke is a great day out. With incredible wildlife on the island, you'll have the opportunity to see kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, dolphins and so much more! There's no shortage of beautiful beaches and exciting activities from sandboarding to kayaking above old shipwrecks, here are a few unmissable activities on the island:

• From Kayaking to sandboarding, get the adrenaline pumping with Straddie Adventures.
• Go scuba diving for magical experiences with manta rays, leopard sharks, turtles and more!
• Learn to surf at Cylinder Beach.
• Experience North Stradbroke Island in all its glory with the North Gorge Walk.

Getting to North Stradbroke Island is pretty straightforward. Drive to Toondah Harbour to catch the passenger ferry or take your car over. Unlike Moreton Island, you'll be able to take a 2WD.

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Bribie Island

If you have access to a car during your stay in Brisbane, Bribie Island is the perfect place to visit. It's the only Island connected to the mainland by a bridge, so getting there is much more straightforward if you're driving. The drive will take you around 1 hour and 30 minutes from Pacific Hotel Brisbane, so it's best to set aside a full day for this one! When you're on the island, there are plenty of things to see and do:

• Relax at Bongaree Beach or Woorim Beach
• Tee off at Pacific Harbour Golf Course
• Get out on the water in a BBQ Boat
• Check out the Bribie Island Butterfly House
• Visit the Bribie Island Seaside Museum (Open Wednesday - Sunday)

You'll be able to drive onto the island and explore all of the above attractions with a 2wd, however, if you want to head onto Ocean Beach and visit Mermaid Lagoon, you'll need to purchase a permit first for your 4WD.

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King Island

This Island is all about the journey you take to get to it. Whilst King Island is very small, it's the walk across the raised sandbank that makes this experience a must-do in Brisbane! On low tides a 1 km-long sandy pathway appears, allowing you to walk all the way out to Island itself. This one is perfect for families, with plenty of shallow spots for kids to splash around in along with shells, marine life and rockpools scattered along the walk!

Make sure you check the tides before you go (unless you're planning on getting your feet wet!)

King Island is accessible via Wellington Point (a 45-minute drive from Pacific Hotel Brisbane), where the sand bridge connects the mainland to the island.

Want more information before setting off on your island expedition? Come see our friendly staff at the front desk!

All images provided by Tourism and Events Queensland.

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Pacific Hotel Brisbane

The perfect hotel to relax after a busy day exploring Brisbane's incredible islands. Offering terrific rooms and suites, a delicious alfresco Italian restaurant, a relaxing outdoor swimming pool and a perfect location opposite the beautiful Roma Street Parklands!

Book direct using code 'TERRIFIC' and save on our best available rate, PLUS enjoy stress-free travel with flexible cancellations.

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