Southern Moreton Bay Islands

The Southern Moreton Bay Islands are so beautiful. I have just returned from the Whitsundays and I was stunned to see that they were similar to the magnificent scenery here on our Southern Moreton Bay Islands.

The Southern Moreton Bay Islands, also known as the Bay Islands, the RKLM, and abbreviated as the SMBI, are the four inhabited southern Moreton Bay islands located in South East Queensland, Australia. The group is part of the Redland City

I left Russell Island on the free Inter-Island Ferry  if you only travel between the Islands. You pay a fare if you go to and from the Mainland, but inter-island has no fare so Islanders can travel to the different Islands free of cost. There is a shopping centre at Russell Island and Macleay Island.

Lamb Island has a Community Store at the Jetty.  Karragarra Island has a sandy Beach.

Islanders enjoy the beautiful ride on the ferry as it travels inter-island or to the Mainland for shopping or other business. Buses meet the ferry and take you to Brisbane, Logan City and Mount Gravatt. The Bus system links to all travel modes and places, and is convenient, if slow during peak hours. A vehicle ferry takes all vehicles to the islands

Originally subdivided in the early 1970s, a bridge was promised by the then government. This never eventuated and residents are now feeling the pressure of transport to the mainland for some shopping trips, as mainland parking has become very scarce.

The Bay Islands enjoy a quiet, relaxed lifestyle with many retirees, pensioners and more recently, an influx of younger families looking for some safety and security, away from the hustle and bustle of the mainland.

Each Island has its own unique jetty. Only Russell and Macleay have a taxi service, the others rely on own vehicles or simply walking. I lived at the far end of Lamb Island, which was 2 kms from the Jetty, and had to walk when my car was not available. Karragarra is even smaller.

The Islands are trying to develop a tourist trade but this is still developing. There is a motel on Russell Island, and Brb’s on all the Islands where you can either rent a whole house, or simply a room in a private home. One day Redland Bay will realise the jewel they have in their own nest, and develop the Islands more. Until then, the Islands are home to those who have discovered them in some way and fallen in love with the joys of ‘living on an Island’ and calling the Islands, “Home”