Red Beach, Bribie Island: Dogs, Walks and Getting There

Red Beach on Bribie Island is a quiet beach at Bongaree, lined with driftwood and bush, and a good pick when Bongaree and Woorim are busy. You reach the sand along a short bush track from Tully Street, and the beach runs east towards Woorim.

It is a place for a long walk, a dog on a lead and a look at the water rather than a day of rides and cafes. If you are comparing Bribie Island beaches, this is the low-key one.

What Red Beach is like

The beach is a strip of pale sand backed by trees, with fallen timber and driftwood washed up along the high tide line. Some sections are narrow, and at high tide the water reaches the trees in places.

Moreton Island is visible on a clear day. Because the beach is tucked away from the main roads, it tends to be quieter than Bongaree or Woorim.

Is Red Beach dog friendly?

Partly. Moreton Bay Regional Council says dogs may be exercised on a lead on the beach for about 700 metres east of the Red Beach access off Tully Street. Signs mark where the on-leash area ends and the off-leash area begins. Dogs are not allowed on the dunes or in vegetated areas, and the foreshore west of the access towards Bongaree is not a designated dog area, so dogs are not allowed there either (council: dogs are prohibited from foreshores unless designated).

Stay on the sand and watch for the signs, because the rules change along the beach. Bring water for your dog, and take care around jellyfish if it swims.

Walking from Red Beach to Woorim

You can walk the beach from Red Beach to Woorim, about 6.3 km one way. Plan around low tide, because at high tide the water reaches the trees in places and the soft sand is slow going. After rain, run-off creeks can need crossing.

Woorim has food and drink, which makes a handy turnaround or lunch stop. Allow time for the walk back to your car, or arrange a pick-up.

Can you swim at Red Beach?

You can paddle and wade, and the water is generally calmer than at Woorim, the island’s surf beach. Seaweed can wash in, and jellyfish can be around, so it suits a quick dip more than a long swim. Red Beach is not one of the beaches patrolled by lifeguards (council lists only Woorim Beach on Bribie Island), so check conditions on the day and keep a close eye on children.

Red Beach or Woorim and Bongaree?

Bongaree and Woorim are the busier beaches on Bribie Island, with more going on around them. Red Beach is the quieter choice, with bush at your back instead of a promenade, so it suits people who would rather walk, take photos or let the dog stretch its legs than settle in for a day of beach amenities.

Pack for that. There are no shops at the beach, and the walk in from the car park is a bush track, so a pram or a trolley full of gear will be slower going than a straight carry.

It is also a good beach for photographs. The driftwood, the bush edge and the view out to Moreton Island give you plenty to work with, and low tide opens up more sand.

Planning your visit

• How long: An hour or two for a beach walk, longer if you walk to Woorim.
• Best time: Around low tide, when the sand is firm and wide.
• Cost: Free.
• What to bring: Water, sun protection, shoes you do not mind getting sandy, a lead and bags for the dog, and food, as there are no shops at the beach.

Getting there and parking

Red Beach is about 75 minutes by car from Brisbane CBD, without traffic. The access to the beach is off Tully Street in Bongaree. Park at the car park along the access track and walk the short track through the bush to the sand. Parking is free.

By public transport, Translink route 640 runs between Bribie Island and Caboolture station. Check the stops and times on the Translink journey planner.

Nearby

• More beaches in South East Queensland – browse the full list.
• Moreton Bay – more places around the bay.
• Lower Moora Park, Shorncliffe – another bayside stop on the southern side of the bay.
• 10 tips for surviving long car trips with kids – for the drive up.
• The Leave No Trace principle – useful on a bush-backed beach.

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