Russell Island is the largest of the Southern Moreton Bay Islands, about 8 km long and nearly 3 km wide, lying between the Redlands mainland and North Stradbroke Island. You get there by passenger ferry or vehicle ferry from Weinam Creek at Redland Bay.
About 3,700 people live on the island. It has a small shopping village with a supermarket, a library on High Street, a public pool and a jetty with a swimming enclosure beside it. A day on Russell Island is made of simple things: a swim, a wander round the heritage trail and the ferry ride over and back.
Getting to Russell Island by ferry or barge
SeaLink runs passenger and vehicle ferries to Russell Island from Weinam Creek at Redland Bay. The passenger ferries are part of the Translink network, and the Southern Moreton Bay Island ferry timetable lists Redland Bay Marina and the Russell Island ferry terminal. Redlands Coast describes the passenger ferry trip from Redland Bay as about 20 minutes.
The same ferries serve Karragarra, Macleay and Lamb islands, and not every trip stops at every island. The timetable runs in two directions, “towards Karragarra then islands” and “towards Russell then islands”, and some stops are drop-off only on certain trips. Pick a trip that lists Russell Island.
The vehicle ferry (barge) leaves from the barge terminal at Weinam Creek. On the island, the combined barge and boat ramp is at High Street Harbour on High Street. SeaLink has a Bay Islands visitor information page for barge times and fares.
Swimming on Russell Island
Bay Islands Aquatic Centre
The public pool is at 2-4 Borrows Street, on the corner of High Street. It is a solar-heated, saltwater chlorinated 25 m pool with six lanes, plus shaded wading and play pools for children, change rooms and a shaded BBQ area.
The pool season runs from September to April. In school terms it is open Monday to Thursday 6 am to 5 pm, Friday 6 am to 9 am, and Saturday and Sunday 8 am to 4 pm. In school holidays Friday is 6 am to 5 pm. Hours change with school use and term dates, so check before you go.
Adults pay about $5 and children (2 to 16) about $4, and under 2s are free. Children under 13 need an active supervisor aged 18 or over. EFTPOS is available, you do not need to book for general entry, and you should bring your own goggles and drinking water.
The swimming enclosure by the jetty
For a swim in the bay there is a council swimming enclosure at Lions Boulevard Park on High Street, next to the jetty. Council describes these enclosures as enclosed areas of bay water for safer swimming and play. Read the signs on the day for conditions.
The Russell Island heritage trail
Council’s Russell Island heritage trail covers 12 historic places, including the jetty, St Peter’s Parish Hall, Jock Kennedy Park, Russell Island State School, Jacksonville, Canaipa Point, Mrs Fischer’s grave, Rocky Point and Lions Park. No trail map is linked from council’s heritage page, so use a map app to find the stops.
The island was surveyed in 1839 by Robert Dixon, who named it after Lord John Russell. The Jackson family arrived in 1906 and gave their name to the village of Jacksonville. Quandamooka people have lived around Redlands Coast for tens of thousands of years, long before either date, and the island’s traditional Aboriginal name, Canaipa, is also an official alternative name for it.
High Street: shops, library and the jetty
The island’s small shopping village has a supermarket, a post office, a medical practice and a petrol station, and there is an RSL and a bowls club too. The library is at 22 High Street and is open Wednesday to Friday from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm and 1:30 pm to 5 pm, and Saturday from 9 am to 1 pm. It is closed Monday, Tuesday, Sunday and public holidays.
High Street Harbour has a jetty, a fixed platform and a pontoon.
Paddling and boating
Council lists canoe and kayak launch points across Redlands Coast and says most are informal, easy to reach and open for use. They are best used for an hour either side of high tide, and council advises checking weather and tide forecasts and assessing your abilities before heading out on the bay. Addresses and tide details are in council’s canoe and kayak launch points list.
Planning your visit
- How long: set by the ferry timetable. Work out the first trip over and the last trip back, then fit the pool, the enclosure and the trail between them.
- Best time: September to April if you want the pool, which runs only in that season.
- Cost: a ferry fare, plus about $5 for adult pool entry. Parking at Redland Bay is unpaid.
- What to bring: water, a hat, sunscreen, goggles for the pool and a way to pay by card.
- Accessibility: no wheelchair or pram access details are published for the ferries, jetty or enclosure. Ring Redland City Council on (07) 3829 8999 if you need to be sure.
- Staying over: Redlands Coast lists a hosted stay, The Big Mango Russell Island, booked through Hipcamp.
- Questions: the Redlands Coast Visitor Information Centre at 50 Middle Street, Cleveland, is open 9 am to 4 pm daily, except a few public holidays, on 1300 667 386.
Getting to Weinam Creek and parking
By car, Redland Bay Marina is about 40 km from the Brisbane CBD, about 45 minutes without traffic. Weinam Creek is the gateway to the Southern Moreton Bay Islands, with the ferry terminal at Redland Bay Marina and a separate barge terminal for vehicles.
Public parking at the ferry terminal, the Moores Road car park and the barge terminal is unpaid, with signed limits that run from a few hours to seven days at Moores Road. A sign marked “12P” means up to 12 hours, so read the signs to avoid a fine. More on parking at Weinam Creek is on council’s site.
By public transport, Translink buses run to the ferry terminal, and the nearest train line ends at Cleveland. Plan the connection with the Translink Journey Planner or check the Southern Moreton Bay Island ferry timetable. For more on the island group, see the Redlands Coast Bay Islands page. Details can change, so check before you go.
Nearby
- Wellington Point Recreation Reserve – a bayside reserve on the Redlands mainland with a calm beach, a fishing jetty and a low-tide walk to King Island.
- Bongaree, Bribie Island – another Moreton Bay island stop, with a jetty, a sandy beach and a free museum.
- Manly Harbour Village – a bayside village beside a boat harbour, with weekend markets and a breakwater walk.
Browse more islands, Redlands days out, boat cruises and ferries and swimming spots.
Quick answers
How do you get to Russell Island?
By passenger ferry or vehicle ferry from Weinam Creek at Redland Bay. SeaLink runs the ferries, and the passenger timetable is on the Translink website. Redlands Coast describes the passenger trip as about 20 minutes.
Can you take a car to Russell Island?
Yes. SeaLink runs vehicle ferries from Weinam Creek, and the island’s barge ramp is at High Street Harbour. Check SeaLink for barge times and fares.
Is there a public pool on Russell Island?
Yes, the Bay Islands Aquatic Centre at 2-4 Borrows Street. It is a 25 m solar-heated pool open September to April, with adult entry about $5.
Can you swim at Russell Island?
There is a council swimming enclosure at Lions Boulevard Park on High Street, next to the jetty, as well as the public pool.
Is parking free at Redland Bay for the Russell Island ferry?
Public parking at the ferry and barge terminals is unpaid, but it has signed time limits of up to seven days at Moores Road. Read the signs.
How far is Russell Island from Brisbane?
It is about 45 minutes by car from the Brisbane CBD to the Redland Bay ferry terminal, then a ferry crossing to the island.
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