Peel Island, known to the Quandamooka people as Teerk Roo Ra, is a 519 hectare national park island in Moreton Bay, about 4 km off Cleveland. You can only reach it by boat or watercraft, and only two bays, Horseshoe Bay and Platypus Bay, are open to visitors.
People go for calm swimming, snorkelling over a shipwreck, an overnight camp or anchorage, and a look at one of Queensland’s most unusual heritage sites: a quarantine station turned leprosy colony.
How to get to Peel Island
There is no ferry and no road. The island is reached by boat or watercraft, and sea kayakers and sailors use it as an overnight stop.
- Join a tour: Aria Cruises, based in Cleveland, runs a half-day tour with swimming, stand-up paddleboarding, boom netting and beach cricket. Brisbane Yacht Charters also offers charter voyages.
- Hire a powerboat: Boating Planet hires powerboats from Newport Marina, and boats can be collected along the Redcliffe Peninsula.
- Bring your own boat or kayak: the island is a popular anchorage and is considered Moreton Bay’s best shelter from northerly winds.
Tour passengers can expect to spot dolphins and marine life on the way across. Moreton Bay weather changes quickly, so check the marine forecast before you set out.
Horseshoe Bay and Platypus Bay
These are the only two places visitors can go. Horseshoe Bay has a sandy beach with sandstone outcrops to explore. Both bays are calm and suit swimming.
The rest of the island, including the lazaret, is closed to protect its historic remains. It is a restricted access area, so stay in the two open bays.
Snorkelling at Peel Island
A historic shipwreck in Platypus Bay attracts fish and other marine life, which makes it the main snorkelling spot. Make sure you have a dive flag visible when you snorkel. The wreck area is also used for boat mooring, so keep a lookout for boats.
The Harry Atkinson Artificial Reef lies north of the island. Dugongs, turtles and dolphins are seen in the surrounding waters, and thousands of jellyfish sometimes drift past on the currents. Sharks are known to live in the area.
Camping on Peel Island
Bush camping is available for a small fee. Book through the Queensland National Parks Booking Service before you go. The only facility is a composting toilet at Horseshoe Bay, so you need to be self-sufficient.
Fishing and Marine Park rules
Peel Island sits in Moreton Bay Marine Park, and fishing and other recreational activities are restricted by the park’s zoning. Check the Marine Park zoning map before you go.
The history of Peel Island
The Quandamooka people knew the island as Teerk Roo Ra, the place of many shells, and used it mainly for ceremonies. In the mid 19th century it became Brisbane’s quarantine station, where arriving passengers were fumigated and cleaned. Early in the 20th century it was an asylum for vagrants, then a sisal farm where inmates made rope.
From 1907 to 1959 it was a leprosy colony, described as the only intact multiracial lazaret in Australia. It is now a protected heritage site. In 2007 the island was declared Teerk Roo Ra National Park and Conservation Park, and since 2011 it has been jointly managed by the Quandamooka people and the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service.
Planning your visit
- Cost: getting there costs whatever your boat, hire or tour costs. Camping has a small fee.
- What to bring: hat, sunscreen, first-aid supplies, drinking water, insect repellent, food and a dive flag if you will snorkel.
- Accessibility: the park does not cater for people with access needs.
Getting there from Brisbane
Cleveland is the closest point on the mainland. It is about 40 minutes by car from the Brisbane CBD, then the island is about 4 km offshore. Check the Visit Brisbane guide to Peel Island for tour and hire options, and plan any train or bus leg with the Translink Journey Planner.
Nearby
- Cleveland Point Lighthouse – a mainland waterfront stop in Cleveland.
- Wellington Point Jetty – a jetty walk on the same stretch of coast.
- Lamb Island – another Bay island reached by water.
- Coochiemudlo Island – a Redlands island with beaches and a ferry.
- Cleveland Markets – a mainland stop before or after your trip.
Browse more islands and Redlands day trips.
You might also like
- Russell Island – a Southern Moreton Bay island with a ferry from Redland Bay.
- St Helena Island – another Moreton Bay island with convict-era history.
- Macleay Island (Redlands)
Quick answers
How do you get to Peel Island?
By boat or watercraft only. You can join a tour, hire a powerboat, charter a vessel or bring your own boat or kayak.
Can you camp on Peel Island?
Yes. Bush camping costs a small fee and is booked through the Queensland National Parks Booking Service. The only facility is a composting toilet at Horseshoe Bay.
What parts of Peel Island can you visit?
Only Horseshoe Bay and Platypus Bay. The rest of the island is a restricted access area to protect its historic remains.
Can you swim and snorkel at Peel Island?
Yes. Horseshoe Bay and Platypus Bay are calm and suit swimming, and there is a shipwreck to snorkel in Platypus Bay. Show a dive flag when snorkelling.
What was Peel Island used for?
It was a quarantine station in the mid 19th century and a leprosy colony from 1907 to 1959. It is now a heritage-listed national park.
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