Don’t let the name fool you: The City of Moreton Bay isn’t a city at all. Located in South East Queensland, Moreton Bay comprises several coastal villages, national parks, and urban centers, offering visitors the chance to see Australia’s natural beauty and chill out by the Coral Sea. Things to do in the Moreton Bay region include dining on fresh Moreton Bay bugs (a lobster-like local delicacy), trekking through the eucalyptus forest on Bribie Island, and learning about the ancestral inhabitants of the land on tours offered by Indigenous guides.
Enjoying at least 300 days of sun a year, Moreton Bay can heat up. Skip the busy summer months from November to January, which see high temperatures and frequent rainstorms, and instead visit during the mild fall months of March, April, and May. The weather should be much drier, and you’ll still enjoy plenty of tropical warmth. The whole region is popular for local holidaymakers, so try to avoid visiting in mid-April, during the Easter holidays.
Moreton Bay is large and best explored via car. While there is public transport connecting the towns in the area, you’ll end up spending a lot of time on the bus or train—which can be inconvenient if you’re planning to visit the hinterlands. If you’d rather avoid driving on the left side of the road, the resort town of Redcliffe is a good home base; there are plenty of day tours that depart from here, and Redcliffe itself is charming.
A must-try while in the Moreton Bay region is a Moreton Bay bug, a slipper lobster that tastes even sweeter than a true lobster. It can be found on menus across the region, and it’s the perfect dish to enjoy after a long day on the beach. Try it at Tempest Restaurant in Scarborough, where you can try it in multiple forms: tempura-battered in tacos or served in a white wine sauce with linguini.
