26/07/2024
Our perfect weekend on Bribie Island…
Friday afternoon: We leave work early to pick up the kids from school, pack the car and beat the traffic for an easy ~1hr drive from Brisbane to Woorim. Check in to our accommodation at Bribie Beach House, Woorim, then have a quiet stroll on Woorim beach as the sun sets, followed by late afternoon drinks/dinner Blue Pacific Hotel. They've got a great indoor playground for the little ones if they are still too energetic from the drive over. Drop by the IGA Woorim Beach (Igawoorimbeach) after dinner to pick up some ice creams for the kids as well as a few snacks for the weekend. Both are literally across the road from where we stay so its nice to be able to walk home after dinner and a few drinks.
Saturday morning: We swing by Woorim Hot Bread for some pies and a coffee for breakfast. Unpack the bags, then grab the body boards and walk 100m to the patrolled Woorim Surf Beach for an hour or so of body boarding and playing on the sand with the kids. Woorim surf beach is relatively sheltered so the swell is usually forgiving and suitable for swims with small children. Always check the weather forecast and follow the notices and instructions of the lifeguards on the beach. Moreton Bay Regional Council have installed beach matting to allow wheelchair access to the water’s edge and beach wheelchairs are available for free hire on weekends and public holidays.
After getting back and having a hot shower, take short drive to Busy Fingers Fundraisers op shop at Bongaree to browse their goodies for any hidden treasures before they close at midday on Saturday. We have always had great finds at Busy Fingers with their toys and trinkets, and they have a huge collection of kids and adult books at bargain prices. There is something special about op shopping on Bribie Island and there are many options including Animal Welfare Thrift Shop Bongaree, Lifeline Shop Bellara, Hospice Op Shop Bongaree, and Vinnies Woorim.
Saturday afternoon: Lots of great lunch choices at Bongaree, including Bribie Island Bowls Club with views of the passage, the Bribie RSL where the kids will love to take a photo with the real army tank parked up the front, or for something more casual Scoopy's Family Cafe Bribie Island near the Bongaree Jetty is an easy family friendly choice. Our favourite lunch at Bongaree is simply picking up some takeaway from Golden Prawn Seafood and Takeaway, Bongaree then finding a shady spot near the Bongaree Jetty and watch the boats go by and wave to the families taking the Bribie Train Ride.
We check out the Bongaree Jetty and see if the fishermen are having any success. The jetty is a great spot for beginners to try some fishing and Bribie Bait Tackle & Bikes is where we go on the island to get some gear and bait. Compared to fishing in Brisbane the passage can hold some great fishing and we have caught amazing flathead, bream and whiting.
The nearby Bribie Island Seaside Museum is worth a visit for first timers to Bribie after a lunch at Bongaree. Entry is free and it is air-conditioned with kid friendly exhibits and good parking. Its not a huge museum so it is a low stress spot to pop in quickly and learn about the history of the island.
If time permits in the afternoon, we head over to Sylvan Beach and hire a dingy from Bribie Island Boat and Water Hire for a cruise (and perhaps some fishing) down the passage. We’ve spotted turtles, dolphins and even a dugong during a cruise in the passage, and its so easy to hire a boat rather than bring our own. The motors are under 6hp so no boat licence required.
Its been a big day so we head back to our accommodation for a quiet late afternoon. The kids can scooter around the driveway or play in the playground and sandpit, whilst the adults relax on the back deck.
Saturday evening: If we are feeling lazy, we order a delivered pizza from Domino's Pizza Bribie Island, otherwise, we make a booking at Bribie Island Surf Club which is only a short walk from our accommodation and have dinner with a view of Woorim beach. When we get home we unwind by watching a movie on Amazon Prime or NetFlix, or set up the Xbox 360 and play some video games with the kids until its time for bed.
Sunday: Our favourite coffee (and arguably the best) on the island is Little Mike's on Jacana Avenue, Woorim, so we start our Sunday morning with a coffee and toastie from Mikes. Tintooki Park opposite Mikes has a lovely playground for the kids to play while we sip down our flat whites. There is also a skate/scooter park and barbeque facilities.
If the tide is right, we get the 4WD ready for a trip down the beach from the Beach Access Track on North Street for Sunday afternoon. We pack the car, check out of our accommodation, then order some fish and chips takeaway from Pigface Seafood to take with us for our drive down the beach in the 4WD. We set up our awning and camp chairs at either the Mermaid lagoon or Welsby lagoon (whichever is less busy), and have lunch, a swim, dig for pipis and maybe some fishing on the beach. If you do take your 4WD on the beach, make sure not to drive 2 hours either side of high tide, let down your tyres (18 psi works for us), stay off the dunes, take your rubbish with you, and keep to the speed limits on the beach. Don’t forget to get a beach permit online first from the Qld Parks and Forests website before driving on the beach.
After our beach drive we pump up our tyres at the car park at the Beach Access Track on North Street, stop by Bribie Car Wash and Dog Wash on First Avenue to clean the salt and sand off the car, before heading back to Brisbane. Because it is only a 1 hour drive, we get back home before dark, unpack the car and reflect on another awesome weekend to Bribie Island. We have barely scratched the surface of the things we like to do a Bribie with a short stay, so as soon as we get home we plan our next trip back!
Of course, the place to stay on Bribie Island is Bribie Beach House, Woorim a modern air-conditioned 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom house with its own kids playground, BBQ and outdoor dining area, and lockup double garage with Tesla car charger. The house is fully fenced with an automatic gate. Toddler cot, kids high chair, body boards, camp chairs, Xbox 360, balance bikes, scooters, and kids toys are all available complimentary for guests to use.
Current promotion is 20% off all new stays until 1 November 2024, which is only available by direct bookings through Holiday Hub Bribie Island:
Discover the Ultimate Family-Friendly Beachside Retreat
