Coochiemudlo Island Walk or Cycle

Moreton Bay

Coochiemudlo Island is one of Moreton Bay's most secluded and compact sand-fringed islands, relatively untouched by time or tourists, its enduring exclusivity helped by the fact that there is only one cafe, (near the ferry stop), a beachside bar and no shops. As such it is a fantastic easily reached destination for day trippers, swimmers, walkers and cyclists.

With its proximity to the mainland (a 10-minute ferry ride from Victoria Point jetty), affordable access ($10 return for adults, $5 for children 5yrs +) it makes an unbeatable getaway for a couple of hours or a day and a top place for a walk with a difference.

Both passenger and car ferries arrive consecutively at jetties about 100m apart at a beachfront car park where its all at. Here you'll find a playground, map of the island, amenities block kiosk, patrolled white sandy beach, sign saying the first land sale happened here in 1888 and the start of the scenic track that circumnavigates the island.

The path around the island is approximately 5km and takes about an hour by bike or an hour and a half to two hours by foot. More than half of it is paved, the rest on dirt or sand and, except for one short jaunt up a steep hill, it is for the most part relatively flat.

Upon leaving the jetty, turn right and ride/walk through the car park to where the track disappears into some bush.

From here the adventure begins, with the well sign-posted path emerging at sandy beaches with glassy blue calm waters, through a wild patch of melaleuca wetland, past fibro fisherman's cottages and surf shacks and, around the far side opposite beach, a smattering of upmarket, new, architect-designed weekenders. Then, it's through some pine groves and more melaleuca glades, and at the western end, a golf course.

Tucked away in Victoria Parade a couple of blocks from the kiosk is the Coochiemudlo Island Beach Bar, the perfect spot for a cool beer and bite to eat after the walk.

Back at the jetties again, the kiosk also does an all-day breakfast, a range of pizzas, the signature old-fashioned hamburger with handmade herbed patties or fish'n'chips.