HISTORY AND CULTURE Moreton Bay Region Event Calendar Enter a magical world of daring swordplay, fast-flying falconry and enchanting market stalls as the Middle Ages spring to life in Australia Day Festival of Sails Moreton Bay. Celebrations Redcliffe Travel back in Time Various Locations APRIL JANUARY Modern attractions abound in Moreton Bay, but for some good D’Aguilar National Park old-fashioned fun, transport yourself back a couple of centuries with the Abbey Medieval Festival. Greeted with calls of “good morrow” by brown-garbed monks and the sight of sword-toting Urban Country Abbey Medieval Kitefest men in chainmail, you’ll begin to suspect you truly have stumbled Music Festival Festival Clontarf EXPLORE THE GREAT OUTDOORS back to the Middle Ages. Alongside the British medieval groups are Caboolture Caboolture Fishing at Pumicestone Passage MAY those re-enacting the traditions of the Vikings, Turkish and German JULY Farm Fantastic Travellers could spend weeks exploring Moreton Bay Region’s AUGUST Caboolture hinterland trails and seaside spots, but day trippers can still fit groups. As leather-wrapped falconers send their birds of prey to do in plenty. their bidding and armoured knights on horseback gallop at each other brandishing pointed sticks, find yourself just as enthralled as a 15th-century courtier would have been. For provisions, make your EXPERIENCE THE BAYSIDE LIFESTYLE Redcliffe Festival Decades Festival Enjoy an Active Adventure choice from tender spit-roasted pork or charcoal-grilled German Redcliffe Strathpine The glistening water is one of Moreton Bay’s biggest drawcards, sausages. At festival’s end, re-enactors and visitors may return Stock your picnic basket with locally produced treats and head to so to truly immerse yourself in the region’s beauty, get out onto Mount Nebo’s walking trails in the D’Aguilar National Park. The to their modern lives, but the Abbey Museum is still worth a visit. the bay. OCTOBER mountain air will invigorate your skin as you navigate the bush Fancy yourself as Elizabeth Bennett or Mr Darcy at the museum’s SEPTEMBER tracks through the 36,000ha park. Take the track at your own pace Picnic at Pemberley that takes place each year, a Regency-era – you’ll want to stop and admire each moss-covered log, towering event based on Pride and Prejudice, or bring the kids to do as the Satisfy Your Sense of Adventure rock formation and bank of native ferns you encounter along the Romans did on family fun days. Jousting Woodford way. Reaching the Camp Mountain lookout, enjoy your picnic in the Spectacular Folk Festival The perfect way to begin your day is with a stand-up paddle board Woodford dappled sunshine and spot the Glasshouse Mountains, Moreton Bay Celebrate Pop Culture Caboolture ride. With the early morning sun warming your skin, the calm waters and even Brisbane City from the lookouts. If your love for history tends to sway more towards the late 1970s, of the Pumicestone Passage are the perfect place to find your DECEMBER NOVEMBER balance. If stand-up paddle boarding seems a little too challenging, Have a Whale of a Time head to Bee Gees Way along Redcliffe Parade. You’ll find yourself unconsciously humming Staying Alive as you learn of Redcliffe’s you may prefer to paddle a kayak instead, relishing the spray that coats your skin with each stroke. Whatever vessel you choose, if you Once you’ve had a taste of what the mountains have to offer, head to most famous exports through a series of images and stories artfully ______________ can tear your eyes away from the stunning scenery surrounding you at Moreton Bay and meet the ocean’s largest inhabitants on their north arranged along the walkway. A bronze statue of the three brothers eye level, peer into the water below – you may just spot a dugong also and south migration from June to November with Brisbane Whale as they were in their childhood completes the installation. Even those Moreton Bay Markets who aren’t die-hard fans of the disco trio will enjoy a wander past enjoying the sunshine below the surface. Watching. No number of nature documentaries can prepare you for Woodford Country Markets l Third Sunday of the month the moment you see the leviathan creatures breach, dwarfing your the tribute to the Gibb boys while cafe-hopping in Redcliffe Parade’s Archer St, Woodford vessel, sending sea spray flying and returning to the ocean with a dining precinct. crash. Humpback whales aren’t the only marine life you’re likely to Sit Back and Take in the View Arts & Crafts Market l Last Sunday of month spot – keep an eye out for dugongs, dolphins and turtles on your Sunderland Drive, Bribie Island cruise too. When you’ve had enough sea for one day, it’s time to head to the shore. Sitting on sand, basking in the warming rays of the sun, you Mt Mee Markets and Country Kitchen l First Sunday of the Make a Splash may catch a glimpse of colour out of the corner of your eye. Looking month up, you’ll soon realise that colour is actually a parachute, gliding Mt Mee Hall, Mt Mee Rd, Mt Mee The pleasures of Moreton Bay can be enjoyed from the shore as well. through the air with skydivers in tow. Lean back as you watch them For a family day out, visit Settlement Cove Lagoon, a swimming area sail with the wind, expertly manoeuvring the chute over the ocean and Redcliffe Jetty Market l Every Sunday and park on Redcliffe’s foreshore. As the kids splash beneath the surrounding hinterland, appearing bigger and bigger before you, until Redcliffe Jetty, Redcliffe Pde waterfalls and slip down the slides in the children’s area, let your eyes finally they land with ease on the soft white sand. drift to the open waters that hug the protected swimming lagoon. Caboolture Country Markets l Every Sunday Later you can sizzle some sausages on the built-in barbecues or grab Caboolture Showgrounds, Beerburrum Rd, Caboolture an ice-cream from the on-site food van, but first, just draw in a deep breath and let the sea breeze sweep over you. Dayboro Markets l First Sunday of the month Abbey Medieval Festival ____________ ______________Cnr Williams and Heathwood Sts, Dayboro ____________ Welcome to Moreton Bay Region Getting to Moreton Bay Region Incorporating both mountains and the sea, Moreton Bay is a welcome escape from frenetic city life. The 30-minute journey Redcliffe holds the distinction The Moreton Bay Region is located just north of Brisbane from Brisbane is part of the experience as you cruise through of being the first European and immediately south of the Sunshine Coast. Explore the Did you settlement in Queensland, first serene farming country to the hinterland vistas of Mount Mee, visited by Matthew Flinders on Mount Glorious and Mount Nebo. 17 July 1799. know? TRAIN Brisbane Region The Queensland Rail network services the Moreton Bay Give me Moreton Bay Any Day Region, with stations in the heart of the Caboolture and Strathpine CBDs. Pumicestone Passage is an internationally recognised TAKE marine park with century-old ROAD mangroves and protected ME A TASTE OF MORETON BAY natural native bush growing to Just 40 minutes’ drive from Brisbane’s city centre, the Region I’M FREE the water’s edge. is served by the six-lane Bruce Highway, part of the east coast national highway network. From the west, road access is from D’Aguilar Highway. For a beachside escape, head across to Bribie Island, Moreton Bay’s northernmost island, just a bridge’s drive from the mainland. Spot dolphins playing in the waters BUSES of Pumicestone Passage as you stroll the tree-fringed Bribie Island is the only island foreshore, stopping along the way to refuel with a coffee Local bus services in the Moreton Bay Region are Brisbane on the eastern seaboard to and uncover vintage tomes at Brewed Books in Bongaree. Bus Lines, Hornibrook Bus Lines, Kangaroo Bus Lines and be connected by bridge to Still not relaxed enough? Nearby Mizpah Spa will get those Thompson Bus service. final kinks out. Surrender yourself to a traditional Thai the mainland. For more information on public transport in the Moreton Bay massage, aromatherapy oils calming your mind as expert Region area, visit the TransLink website at translink.com.au or hands soothe your weary muscles. phone 13 12 30. Occupying one of the most enviable positions on the stunning Redcliffe peninsula, “My Dream Place” or Oaks Mon Komo sets For more information on any of the towns BEACHSIDE GETAWAY GETAWAY BEACHSIDE the standard for stylish self-contained accommodation with or experiences in the Moreton Bay Region, unmasked bay and island views. You have the opportunity to contact the friendly staff at one of the visitor cafe-hop along the boardwalk, and the iconic Scarborough The region is known for its information centres: Marina is also just a stone’s throw away. Woodford Folk Festival – an internationally known festival Bribie Island Visitor Information Pine Rivers Visitor Information held at Woodfordia every Centre Centre December. Benabrow Avenue, Bongaree Cnr South Pine Road & Gympie For the wine-inclined, experience every aspect of 07 3408 9026 Road, Strathpine viticulture at Ocean View Estates Winery, including a tour [email protected]. 07 3205 4793 of the vineyard with Thomas, the winemaker. Taste the crisp gov.au [email protected]. gov.au viognier, buttery chardonnay and smooth merlot or if your Caboolture Visitor Information palate is looking for a different drop, don’t despair – Ocean Centre Redcliffe Visitor Information View Estates also brews its own beer.