Nudgee Beach: Mangroves, Boardwalk, Dogs and Parking

Nudgee Beach is a quiet bayside beach on Moreton Bay in Brisbane’s north, about 20 km from the CBD, with mangroves, a boardwalk and a lot of birdlife. It is a tidal beach rather than a surf beach, so what you see depends on the tide: wide muddy flats at low tide and water up to the edge at high.

People come for a walk through the mangroves, a picnic by the water, a playground stop for the kids and, with a dog, a swim at nearby Tuckeroo Park. The beach reserve has been a public foreshore since 1907, and it sits on the edge of the Boondall Wetlands.

What to do at Nudgee Beach

Walk the boardwalk and watch the birds

A boardwalk runs through the mangroves near the beach, with picnic facilities close by. It joins the wider Boondall Wetlands, where there are three easy walking trails from 100 metres to 2 kilometres. The wetlands are open from 6 am to 7 pm daily.

The mangroves also shelter young fish, prawns and crabs, and the surrounding wetlands and tidal flats are where birds feed, rest and roost. Take binoculars if you have them.

A bayside picnic with history

Nudgee Beach Reserve, on Fortitude Street, is a grassy foreshore reserve with a playground, a car park and open lawn right beside the water. It also has a heritage-listed timber picnic shelter, the only survivor of the six public facilities the Nudgee Beach Progress Association funded between 1922 and 1926. Before European settlement the area was a hunting and fishing place for the Aboriginal Turrarbul people, and it later became a popular holiday camping ground.

Paddle the Nundah Creek Canoe Trail

The boat ramp on O’Quinn Street is the launch point for the Nundah Creek Canoe Trail. Council says to check tides, currents and wind before you paddle, and to wear a life jacket. Boat ramps at Tuckeroo Park on Nudgee Road and at Shorncliffe also give water access.

Can you swim at Nudgee Beach?

Not really. The beach is a tidal flat with muddy sand that is mostly exposed at low tide and covered at high, so it suits paddling and walking better than swimming. There is no surf, and no patrol is listed.

If you want a proper dip, there is a dog off-leash and swimming area along Kedron Brook, next to Tuckeroo Park off Nudgee Road. Check the tide and local conditions before you get in.

Is Nudgee Beach dog friendly?

Dogs are welcome on the foreshore but must be on a leash. The Nudgee Beach foreshore stopped being an off-leash area after council’s trial found much higher disturbance to shorebirds than at the other trial sites. For off-leash time and a swim, head to the Kedron Brook dog area at Tuckeroo Park, which has a boat ramp with picnic areas. Always take your dog’s waste with you.

Planning your visit

• How long: 1 to 2 hours for a boardwalk walk and a picnic.
• Best time: early morning or late afternoon for birdlife and softer light. Plan around the tide.
• Cost: free.
• What to bring: water, a hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, binoculars and a towel for muddy feet.
• Toilets: at the Tuckeroo Park boat ramp on Nudgee Road, and near the Boondall Wetlands Environment Centre (open Tuesday to Friday 9 am to 4 pm, weekends 9 am to 12 pm, closed Monday).
• Bikes: a shared bikeway runs 13 km return between the Brisbane Entertainment Centre and Nudgee Beach.

Getting there and parking

By car, Nudgee Beach is about 20 km by road from the Brisbane CBD, about 25 minutes without traffic. From the Gateway Motorway take Exit 112 onto Nudgee Road and follow it to the beach.

Parking is available at the Fortitude Street beach reserve, on O’Quinn Street, and at the Tuckeroo Park boat ramp picnic area off Nudgee Road. No parking charges are listed.

For public transport, the Translink Journey Planner (or 13 12 30) will show the nearest stop and times for your day. More on the surrounding reserve is on council’s Boondall Wetlands page. Details can change, so check before you go.

Nearby

• Kalinga Park – a riverside park on Brisbane’s north side.
• Shorncliffe Pier – a long historic pier for fishing and a stroll, a short drive north.
• Lower Moora Park, Shorncliffe – a playground and beach beside the pier.
• Wynnum Wading Pool – a tidal pool and splash park on Brisbane’s bayside if the kids want to swim.
• Wellington Point Recreation Reserve – another Moreton Bay foreshore with a low tide walk.
• Manly Harbour Village – a waterfront walk and markets on the bay.

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