Easter Camping: Plenty of Options in the Moreton Bay Region

Camping can be as rough, comfortable or luxurious as you wish and there are plenty of options in the Moreton Bay region, regardless of your preference.

You can head to the beach, out bush or set up camp at a caravan park, national park or even a scout camping ground.

Tracey and Simon Gavin had such a love for their regular camping spot, they bought it.

The Neurum Creek Bush Retreat owners made their tree-change more than 13 years ago and their son, Bailey, who is now 17, has grown up on the 126 hectare property.

“We bought the place we liked to go on holidays at. We were looking for a lifestyle change,” Tracey recalls.

“It’s a lot of hard work but it’s gratifying; it’s such a family park,” she says. Tracey loves seeing children outside enjoying themselves rather than inside looking at mobile phones and other devices. “We’re one hour from the northside of Brisbane. People can pick their kids up from school and set up before dark,” she says. “You can bring your dog, have a camp fire and swim in a waterhole.”

Guests can enjoy bushwalking and bike tracks and bring a canoe to explore Delaneys Creek. The dog-friendly setting is suitable for camping, caravanning, camper trailers, motorhomes or swags, and it has hot showers and environmentally friendly amenities. Wildlife is abundant including platypus, wallabies, goannas and possums.

Campers even able to rent a tent to be ready for them when they arrive, with mattresses, a table and chairs.

To book, visit ncbr.com.au

BEACH CAMPING

For those campers who want to feel the sensation of sand between their toes, Bribie Island National Park has five great options for beach camping — but you will need a 4WD or boat to get there.

Bookings, camping permits and vehicle access permits are essential. Everything you need to know is online at npsr.qld.gov.au/parks/bribie-island/camping or you can phone 13 74 68.

FIVE BEACH CAMPING OPTIONS IN BRIBIE ISLAND NATIONAL PARK

1. Ocean Beach

This 63-capacity camping ground is only accessible via 4WD and offers beachside camping behind the dunes on Bribie Island's ocean side. It is ideal for tent or walk-in camping, camper trailers and large groups.

2. Gallagher Point

This is a small , low-key camping area on the island's west side, overlooking Pumicestone Passage, the Glass House Mountains and Toorbul. Occasionally the camp sites are closed due to flooding at very high tides. It is located 2 km north of White Patch, with six numbered sites, and is only 4WD accessible.

3. Poverty Creek

This is a large camping area on Bribie Island's western side, with open grassy sites and shady trees on land that once was a cattle property. It can only be reached by boat and 4WD but there are no facilities for boat launching or recovery.

The camping area has 14 sites plus a large group and/or trailer area, and is suitable for camping in the tent next to a 4WD campsite. There is also a designated area for camper trailers or big groups. Open fires are allowed in the provided fire rings, except when there are fire bans in place. Fuel stoves are recommended.

4. Mission Point

On the western side of Bribie Island, overlooking Pumicestone Passage, there are 12 sites in this camping ground with views over the Glass House Mountains. The camping sites are only suitable for tent camping and are accessible by boat with relatively protected boat anchorage nearby. The camping ground has micro flush toilets, screened cold showers, a water tap (treat before drinking), picnic tables and fireplaces. Open fires are allowed in fire rings only when fire bans are not in place. Fuel stoves recommended.

5. Lime Pocket

There are six sites in this camping area on Bribie Island's western side overlooking Pumicestone Passage, with views over the Glass House Mountains. It is only accessible by boat and sometimes the camp sites are closed due to flooding on very high tides. The sites do not have facilities, which are only suitable for camping tent. Open fires are allowed in fire rings only except when fire bans are in place. Fuel stoves are recommended.

CAMPING IN STYLE

At Ocean View's Worldsaway Retreat, which has more than 16ha of rolling hills overlooking the Glass House Mountains and Moreton Bay, glampers can enjoy wide open spaces in luxury!

It has two self-contained lodges, a first class lounge and plenty of open space for those who prefer to bring their tent or camper trailer with them.

Manager Fiona MacLean says she first visited the retreat more than four years ago as a guest after seeing a stall at Dayboro.

She and her business partner were looking for a retreat to visit and unwind — it was the perfect location. “I became friends with (owner) Dean Sullivan after that,” Fiona says. He happened to be looking for a manager and she jumped at the opportunity to live and work on-site. Fiona says it is the perfect place for guests to “recharge, relax and get back in touch with themselves with low technology”. There are no TVs, microwaves or “anything that beeps at you”. But there is still mobile phone coverage and internet access. Attractions include mountain and creek walks, hikes to waterfalls, open campfire dining, hammocks to relax on the deck, a camp kitchen and barbecue area.

Fiona says Dean bought the former cow paddock about 16 years ago and was looking for a place he could bring together “different elements and learnings” he picked up on his extensive travels overseas.

“The place is designed for families and couples to get away from the hectic pace of life,” she says.

“It’s an awesome retreat for a mini retreat for a couple of friends, or families for a reunion. It’s a space that works really well for that.”

The eco-friendly lodges are made from plantation cypress pine and which were brought onto the property on the back of trucks. She calls the large windows in each of the lodges “bush TVs” due to the uninterrupted view out to the Glasshouse Mountains and beyond. There are three campsites with access to power, water and the same incredible views. Caravans are not permitted but tents and camper trailers are allowed. She says it is important vehicles are rated for the camper trailers to ensure easy access to the property. Worldsaway Bush Retreat is open all year round.

Visit worldsawayretreat.com