With now quiet a few fishing trips completed for this year I can say I am happy with the boats performance and with my conferdence on the water growing each day I feel the bug coming on stronger and stronger with each trip. I would like to take a break now to let my body rest up before work tomorrow, so for now these fishing stories will have too wait.
From the Bay to two amazing beaches Brisbane and the greater Queensland has it all. What an amazing place too think an hour from your home you are at some of the best beaches in the world. For a change of scenery and a different type of adventure over the holidays I managed to get a little group together to head to Bribie Island. A day out four wheel driving and exploring a new destination was just what the doctor ordered and being able to share it with some friends made the journey complete.
Bribie Island is a easy hour drive drive North on the Bruce Highway but until your adventure can really start allow an hour an twenty minutes until you hit sand. I have been to beach side of bribie before with friends that have had four wheel drives so this trip i wanted to do something different. With minimal 4×4 experience to my name I thought it would be a good idea to warm up on the inland track to test the nerves and vehicles and boy was that a great decision.
The inland track also know as Northern Access Track is found by driving to the end of White Patch Esplanade. Coming off the Bribie Bridge, turn left at the first big round-about will find you onto Sunderland drive. Follow this till until it turns to White Patch Espl once past Banksia Beach you are almost there. MAKE SURE! as I found out, when four wheel driving your tire pressure must be lowered to make traction through the sand easier.
Turning the first few corners and getting through some soft parts in the sand all conformed my great decision in purchasing my four wheel drive. Along The Northern Access Track there are two camping sites, If you are thinking of staying the night make sure you check park rules and always make sure you have a camping and 4×4 permit. Once past Poverty Creek camp grounds, this will be your last opportunity for any toilet and rest stops so if your feeling like stretching the legs after the first bit of track I would highly recommend stopping in here. Following the Access Track allow another 40-50 min to get to The Fort Bribie day-use area, with a lot of bumpy tracks too follow through the centre of the island it make it a fun, slow trip that will get everyone in the car going. Once at Fort Bribie day-use are, get out and check the entry onto the beach just to make sure there are no hidden surprises waiting. Heading left and further up the beach you can only take you so far but with old remittences of buildings from World War ll scattered along the way it is a great way to see a little bit of history.
Our trip to Bribie island was purely for a drive and just to get out in the sun. We headed right as we got onto the beach and with high tide happening as we got on the beach it was a slow trip down the beach dogging in between waves as they rushed onto the sand. No need to fear, there are places you can pull into along the beach to get a way from the surf if it does get too high just always be sure that you can make it too the next spot JUST IN CASE! Managing to do our best too dodge the surf a stop in at one of the fresh water lagoons along the beach is the best place for a final stop before the trip home. These lagoons are great places for young and old a cool down if the surf is too ruff just be aware, with the murky water created by the tea tree it is hard too see the bottom. When walking through the water tread slowly, while we were there a girl had cut her foot on something sharp and left her with stopping the day early. I know it may seam funny to say, but if you want to be extra cautious take a old pair of shoes in with you, you might not be the most stylish on the beach but they can save you if you are worried.
Always remember once coming off the beach if you do not have a compressor on board, make the slow trip to the service station to add pressure back to your tires. With tires right too go and maybe a fresh drink or ice cream from the servo you can start your trip home or if your lucky enough you have camp spot on the island you don’t need to come back and face reality just yet. We had fun on our little trip around Bribie and i hope you do too. I hope to see you on the beach next time I’m at Bribie, till then…
Travelling Pigeon 