TOURIST TUESDAY: BRIBIE ISLAND

How do I talk about a place that holds so many memories for me? My Grandparents moved there in 1972 and my family stayed there for every single school holiday. I remember the outcry, the outrage as the bridge had a 50 cent fee to cross.

Among the facts of Bribie Island…

The only Morten Bay Island that you can drive to.

Bribie Island is connected to the mainland by bridge and is only 45 minutes from Brisbane airport.

The island is 34 kilometres long and 8 kilometres at its widest.

A bridge from Sandstone Point on the mainland was completed in 1963.

The ocean side of the island is somewhat sheltered from prevailing winds by Moreton Island and associated sand banks and has only a small surf break. What we called the Surf Side.

The lee side is calm, with white sandy beaches in the south. Known as the calm side.

Most of the island is uninhabited national park (55.8 square kilometres) and forestry plantations.

The artist Ian Fairweather lived on Bribie Island for many years in self-inflicted poverty

However to me Bribie Island is a place so intertwined and connected to my childhood, I cannot separate the two. My childhood is Bribie. Then, when I left home, I got my first job on the island and lived with my Grandmother; so Bribie is also the place I started to grow up on.

For other people Bribie is a beautiful beach escape, close enough to Brisbane doing a day trip is easy. A gorgeous island escape that is popular with nature lovers, water sport enthusiasts and families.

This was a visit for Mum's birthday, so Jarvis and I only went to the calm side, however there is so much more to the island,

Crossing the bridge always makes me feel like a child again.

Dale Marsh Painting on a billboard.

The Jetty

Red Beach