Moreton Bay Region’s accessible tourism options in the spotlight

Word is spreading about what the Moreton Bay Region can offer the accessible travel market, with a prominent travel website (queensland.com) showcasing a range of local providers, destinations, galleries, museums, experiences and natural attractions.

It is no surprise to Spinal Life Australia Access, Advocacy and Grants Senior Advisor Dane Cross.

Dane says the Moreton Bay Region has traditionally been home to a large seniors community and “naturally gravitated towards catering to those with mobility issues and other physical factors that affect people as they age”.

“I guess in response to that, Moreton Bay Regional Council also has also developed a strong Disability Access and Inclusion Plan for the Region,” Dane says.

He says the region has also worked hard to ensure information about its accessible features is readily available on the Visit Moreton Bay Region Access for All website and a Spinal Life Australia accessible tourism review of the Moreton Bay Region last year placed a greater emphasis on how operators could tap into the market’s potential.

“One of the key messages that we, as advocates in the space, try and portray to operators is that, rather than labelling something as ‘accessible’ or ‘inaccessible’, provide clear, easy to access information about your facility, about what’s there, and allow the end-user (the customer) to decide whether it meets their level of ability,” Dane says.

“Obviously, the more accessible and/or inclusive you can be, the more people are going to be able to participate in your offering, so there’s still that impetus to want to work towards achieving better access.

“But providing information in the interim is one way of reducing the risk of complaint and/or disappointment from a customer’s point of view.”

Attitude is key

Dane says while the region has plenty of accessible options for travellers with disabilities, operators with an ‘inclusive’ and ‘can-do’ attitude could also cater to the market.

“Some of the ‘stars’ of the region therefore aren’t going to be those that are currently completely accessible by Australian Standards but are ‘stars’ because of their attitude and awareness to say, ‘if you’re willing to try, we’re willing to accommodate or to assist, to the best of our ability, in making that happen’,” he said.

When asked to identify some of the stars, he came up with the following:

• The Redcliffe foreshore from Suttons Beach (which has a new beach access matting), through to Settlement Cove and further along to the Redcliffe Jetty and surrounding attractions. You could very easily spend at least a day, probably more, enjoying the beach, wading in the lagoon, having a picnic, visiting Bee Gees Way, fishing from the Jetty. It is a great location, all of which is connected by accessible walkways and features.

• D’Aguilar National Park and its accessible trails and lookouts. From Jolly’s Lookout and Westridge Outlook in the southern section, up to the Piccabeen Walk near The Gantry Day Use Area near Mt Mee.
• Caboolture Historical Village was very inclusive and has an action plan to improve physical access to some of historical buildings it has not yet provided access to. There are plenty with access already and it makes for a great day out.
• G’Day Adventure Tours has an ‘inclusive attitude’ and runs 4x4 day trips at Bribie Island. While its vehicle is not an ‘accessible vehicle’, the team helps people get in and of it to the best of their ability.
• Accommodation: Eatons Hill Hotel has contemporary accessible rooms, as does The Sebel at Margate Beach, and the Big4 Holiday Park at Sandstone Point has great accessible cabins.

To find more accessible tourism options in the Moreton Bay Region, head to the website