Bongaree, on Bribie Island, is a bayside suburb with a timber jetty, a sandy beach on Pumicestone Passage and a shady foreshore park, about 70 minutes by car from Brisbane. It is the easiest place to start a day on the island, because the jetty, the beach, the playground and the toilets are all within a short walk of each other.
Bring a picnic, wander out along the jetty and let the kids play in the park. A free museum is a few minutes away on foot for when it gets too hot.
Bongaree Jetty
The jetty runs out over Pumicestone Passage from the beach, with a covered shelter part of the way along and a ramp down to a floating platform at the end. It is a good place to look back across the water to the mainland.
The first jetty here was built in 1912 for the steamers that brought day trippers from Brisbane, and cyclones in the 1950s badly damaged the old structure. The jetty you walk on today dates from the Bongaree Jetty and Foreshore Improvement Project, opened in December 2004.
Anglers use it too, so watch for rods and lines as you walk out. If you plan to fish, Queensland fishing rules apply, and our beginner’s guide to fishing covers the basics.
Bongaree Beach
The beach is a strip of pale sand beside the jetty, with trees and the park right behind it. There is a beach access from Brennan Park.
It is not a surf beach. The water is a sheltered channel with tides and boat traffic, and council does not list Bongaree as a patrolled beach (its patrolled beaches on Bribie Island are at Woorim). Stay within reach of small children and check the tide before you let them wade.
Brennan Park: playground, BBQs and picnics
Brennan Park, at 1 South Esplanade, sits next to the jetty and looks out over Pumicestone Passage. Council lists toilets, electric barbecues, sheltered picnic tables, a playground, a water fountain, bins and a car park.
Large fig trees shade much of the foreshore, which makes it a comfortable spot even in summer. A kiosk and cafes sit along the edge of the park.
Bribie Island Markets
The Bribie Island Markets are held in the park’s event area, on the first, second and third Sundays of each month. Council describes the area as a grassed space about 80 m by 40 m with views of the beach and the passage.
Bribie Island Seaside Museum
The museum is a few minutes’ walk from the jetty, also at 1 South Esplanade. Entry is free. It is open Wednesday to Friday from 10 am to 4 pm and Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 3 pm, and closed on Monday, Tuesday and public holidays.
Displays cover First Nations stories, the steamship Koopa, Bribie Island in World War II and the artist Ian Fairweather. It is air-conditioned, has accessible toilets and a baby change facility, and there is accessible parking a few metres from the entrance.
Is Bongaree dog friendly?
Council’s list of dog beaches names Woorim, including an off-leash stretch at Woorim Beach (south), but it does not list the Bongaree foreshore. Keep your dog on a lead around the park and the jetty and follow the signs on site.
Planning your visit
- How long: two to three hours for the jetty, beach and park; add an hour for the museum.
- Best time: mornings and late afternoon are cooler, and the fig trees give shade in the middle of the day.
- What to bring: hat, sunscreen, water, towels and a picnic.
- Cost: free to visit the park, beach, jetty and museum.
- Accessibility: council has a virtual tour and an accessibility page for Brennan Park.
Getting there and parking
From the Brisbane CBD it is about 70 minutes by car, crossing the Bribie Island Bridge from Sandstone Point. Brennan Park has a car park, and the museum has accessible parking near its entrance.
By public transport, Translink buses serve Bongaree from Caboolture and other stops on the island (routes including the 640 and 643). Plan the trip on the Translink website or call 13 12 30.
Nearby
- More on Bribie Island – other places on the island.
- Beaches around South East Queensland – compare other family beaches.
- Lower Moora Park, Shorncliffe – another bayside park with a pier.
- Wynnum Wading Pool Park – a shallow wading pool on the bay for little kids.
- 10 tips for long car trips with kids – for the drive up.
Quick answers
Where is Bongaree?
Bongaree is a suburb on the western side of Bribie Island, on Pumicestone Passage, in the City of Moreton Bay. It is about 70 minutes by car from the Brisbane CBD.
Is there a jetty at Bongaree?
Yes. Bongaree Jetty is beside the beach and Brennan Park, and people walk, look out over the passage and fish from it.
Is Bongaree Beach patrolled?
Council does not list it as patrolled. Its patrolled beaches on Bribie Island are at Woorim. Bongaree is a calm channel beach, but keep an eye on children, tides and boats.
Are there toilets and a playground at Bongaree?
Yes. Brennan Park, next to the jetty, has toilets, a playground, electric barbecues and sheltered picnic tables.
Can I get to Bongaree by public transport?
Yes, by bus. Translink routes link Caboolture with Bongaree and other Bribie Island stops. Check the journey planner for times.
What is there to do in Bongaree on a rainy day?
The free Bribie Island Seaside Museum is open Wednesday to Sunday (closed Monday, Tuesday and public holidays), and is air-conditioned.
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