Discover Moreton Bay – safe seniors’ mid-week adventures

Do you have serious dose of cabin fever from self-isolating because you’re a senior? An easing of COVID-19 restrictions means you can finally leave the house and go for a drive, walk or picnic.

We’ve come up with a list of safe options in the Moreton Bay Region that make it easy to maintain a safe social distance, while enjoying the fresh air and sunshine.

And the best way to avoid crowds is to plan your adventure for a weekday, when everyone else is at work, working from home or home learning.

Top destinations for a drive and picnic

Pack a picnic, fill up the thermos, jump in the car and explore the Moreton Bay Region’s hinterland and bayside gems. If you’d prefer someone else to do the hard work, stop at a café or restaurant along the way and grab some takeaway morning tea or lunch.

Top hinterland picnic spots

Bullocky Rest

With picturesque Lake Samsonvale in the foreground, there’s no doubt Bullocky Rest at Petrie is one of the best scenic picnic spots near Brisbane. There’s picnic tables and shelters, ample parking and a toilet block.

Check out these venues for takeaway food:

• Kadison & Lealta café
• Be Bop A Licious
• Mot Mot Coffee & Eats

The Gantry Day Use Area

Not just a significant historical site in the Moreton Bay Region, the Gantry Day Use Area is also a great scenic picnic. It’s set in the D’Aguilar National Park and accessible by two-wheel drives and features picnic shelters, toilets and plenty of parking. When you’ve finished lunch, go for a hike and discover the national park and the wildlife that call it home. Access is via Sellin Rd, Mount Mee

Check out these venues for takeaway food:

• Pitstop on Mt Mee
• Ocean View Estates Winery and Restaurant

Centenary Lakes

Central to Caboolture’s busy town centre, hides one of the region’s best water parklands, Centenary Lakes Park. It’s just off Morayfield Road, on the banks of the Caboolture River. Discover beautiful parklands teeming with wildlife and explore the network of pathways throughout.

Check out these venues for takeaway food:

• Gather and Feast
• The Coffee Club Central Lakes
• The Dugong Café
• Lisa’s Willow Tree Café
• The Coffee Club Morayfield SuperCentre
• The Black Bear Coffee Cupboard

Pine Rivers Park

With huge grassed areas, picnic areas and toilets, this a lovely spot to spend a couple of hours. Access is via Gympie Rd, Strathpine.

Check out these venues for takeaway food:

• The Coffee Emporium Strathpine
• The Coffee Club Strathpine
• Café Two 14
• Uno Caffe and Pizzeria
• Silky Oak Espresso

Norfolk Lakes

Pack a picnic and walking shoes when you visit this spacious parkland, which wraps around Burpengary Creek and is part of a larger network of parks and picnic spaces. There’s a 16km circuit that weaves around Narangba, for those keen to walk off lunch. Access is via MacDonald Drive.

Check out these venues for takeaway food:

• Basil and Vine
• The Hideout
• Stellarossa Narangba
• Valley Coffee Narangba

George Willmore Park

This popular park at Ferny Hills has plenty of wide grassy spaces to put down a rug, enjoy a picnic and soak up the sun. Access is via Ferny Way

Check out these venues for takeaway food:

• D-Sol Café
• Coffee on the Way
• The Hills Bakery Cafe
• Fish Lips Seafood Cafe

Ironbark Gully

This picnic area is a grassy space in the centre of Samford Conservation Park. Here you’ll find plenty of shady trees, wheelchair accessible toilets and undercover picnic tables. Pack your hiking gear and discover the rest of the conservation park for yourself. Access is via Samford Rd, Ferny Hills

Check out these venues for takeaway food:

• D-Sol Café
• Coffee on the Way
• The Hills Bakery Cafe
• Fish Lips Seafood Cafe

Lake Eden

This stunning body of water in North Lakes’ town centre is surrounded by parks, boardwalks and cafes, and is home to wildlife and a thriving ecosystem. After you’ve enjoyed your picnic, lace up your walking shoes and discover the Lake Eden Trail - a walkway that weaves its way around the lake. It’s 1,676m from start to finish and takes about 20 minutes to walk. Access is via Lakefield Drive, North Lakes

Check out these venues for takeaway food:

• North Lakes Hotel
• High Tea at Tiffany’s
• BLVD
• Told You So
• Fort Specialty Coffee
• Discovery Café and Teahouse

Top bayside picnic spots

Bongaree Beach

Here you can enjoy cool breezes, gentle waters and a great view of the bay from the waterfront shelters. Grab some takeaway from a local café or fish and chips shop and watch the world go by.

Check out these venues for takeaway food:

• Scoopy’s Family Cafe
• Village Deli Bongaree
• Bongaree Hot Bread
• The Golden Prawn

Sandstone Point

Take in views of Pumicestone Passage and go for a walk along the foreshore from Turner’s Camp Rest Area. There are toilets and grassed areas ideal to lay out your picnic rug. Access is via Turner’s Camp Rd.

Check out these venues for takeaway food:

• Sandstone Point Hotel’s The Oyster Shed
• Dock n Dine

Margate Beach

This is one of the longest-stretching beaches on the Redcliffe Peninsula and has picnic shelters dotted along the 2km timber boardwalk. It’s close to cafes and fish and chip shops along the esplanade, and offers stunning views of Moreton Island.

Check out these venues for takeaway food:

• The Golden Ox
• Seafood Lovers Café
• Industry and Co
• Margate Beach House
• Soul Harvest Wholefoods Café
• Red Dolphin Seafoods

Suttons Beach

With great views of Moreton Bay out to Moreton Island, this park is filled with large lawned areas and shady trees. There are picnic facilities, including shelters. Access is via Marine Pde, Redcliffe

Check out these venues for takeaway food:

• Suttons Beach Pavilion
• Yabbey Road
• Flock Eatery
• Café Diversity
• Preece’s at the Jetty
• The Rustic Olive
• Bikini Beach Cafe

***These are just a few of the options, go for a wander along Marine and Redcliffe Parades for more ***

Scarborough Beach Park

This popular destination has big grassed areas perfect for a picnic with views of Moreton Island and easy access to the beach. Access is via Landsborough Ave, Scarborough

Check out these venues for takeaway food:

• The Boat Shed
• Morgans Seafood Market and Takeaway
• Danny’s
• Sea Salt and Vine
• Café 3 eight nine
• Moreton Bay Boat Club
• Valori Espresso and Gallery

***These are just a few of the options, go for a wander along Landsborough Ave for more ***

Crockatt Park

This is a green oasis in busy Woody Point, with large grassed areas perfect for a picnic and handy to cafes and restaurants offering takeaway meals. Access is via Hornibrook Esp, Woody Point

Check out these venues for takeaway food:

• Seafood Town
• Maple Café and Restaurant
• Butcher Baker Coffeemaker
• Café 3 eight nine
• The Golden Ox

Pelican Park

Enjoy a picnic or fly a kite at this green space with a view at Clontarf. It’s also close to cafes and restaurants offering takeaway. Access is via Hornibrook Esp, Clontarf

Check out these venues for takeaway food:

• The Drowned Rat Espresso Bar
• Zorba’s Pizza
• Charlie’s Raw Squeeze
• Fish N at Bells Beach

***These are just a few of the options, go for a wander along Hornibrook Esplanade and Elizabeth Avenue for more ***

Apex Park

Enjoy views of the Deception Bay foreshore, walk out when the tide is low, and devour a picnic on the large grassed section of this park, at Captain Cook Parade

Check out these venues for takeaway food:

• Zesty Lemon Café
• Mermaids by the Bay
• Tan’s Seafood

Attractions to discover

Bee Gees Way, Redcliffe

Relive the magic of the Bee Gees and learn about their special connection to Redcliffe as you wander through this one-of-a-kind tribute to the super group. There’s photos from Barry Gibb’s personal collection, life-sized bronze statues of the Gibb brothers as children and adults, and personal accounts from Barry on a big screen. The walkway connects Redcliffe Parade and Suttons Street.

Redcliffe Jetty

Go for a leisurely stroll along the jetty, which is one of the most-recognisable landmarks in the Moreton Bay Region. Information panels have been installed along Redcliffe Jetty, so visitors can learn more about it and Redcliffe's fascinating history. Access is via Redcliffe Parade.

Lookouts – Mount Glorious and Dundas

Enjoy stunning views of Lake Wivenhoe Dam, particularly at sunrise and sunset. The Mount Glorious lookout is wheelchair accessible, but you may still need some assistance. You can access the lookout via Mount Nebo Road. Getting to the Dundas lookout is far more challenging, an uphill hike from D’Aguilar National Park’s Northbrook Gorges, and is suited to experienced and fit hikers. Access is via Mount Glorious Road.

Kumbartcho Sanctuary

This 6ha nature hub is located on the outer fringes of Brisbane’s northern suburbs at Eatons Hill and is home to a diverse population of native fauna and flora. There’s a network of walking tracks to explore and while the environmental centre is closed, the nursery remains open (with conditions). Access is via Bunya Pine Court. See the website for details.

Want more inspiration? Discover the best places to enjoy fish and chips in the Moreton Bay Region and places to go hiking or riding