Moreton Bay is a stunningly beautiful area located on the east coast of Australia, just 14 kilometers (8.7 miles) from the center of Brisbane, Queensland. It is a bay divided between the cities of Brisbane and Redland, and is one of Queensland's most important coastal resources. The waters of Moreton Bay are a popular destination for recreational anglers and are used by commercial operators who supply seafood to the market. The bay itself contains about 360 islands in total, including the populated Russell, Macleay, Lamb and Karragarra Islands, known collectively as the Southern Moreton Bay Islands.
Residential development has also occurred on Coochiemudlo and Bribie Islands. In the past, Peel Island was used as a sisal plantation, quarantine station, asylum and leprosy. Just across the Pumicestone Passage, in the north of Moreton Bay, lies beautiful Bribie Island, just an hour's drive away and a bridge away from Brisbane. The body of water between North Stradbroke Island and Moreton Island (Mulgumpin) was called Moreton Bay. The bay was home to the Lightship Rose, which provided permanent navigation aid to ships passing through the mouth of the Brisbane River. Therefore, the European use and occupation of Quandamooka in the 19th century was largely restricted to government institutions in small parts of the islands, and to free enterprise entrepreneurs such as the Campbell brothers who ran a salt factory and sugar plantations on Russell and Macleay Islands, as well as to the bay's first fishing and oyster businesses that employed the Quandamooka Aborigines. When the floods stopped and the tides returned to normal, currents of the bay were used to carry wood north to either the Brisbane River or Dunwich for shipment to Sydney.
Within Moreton Bay are smaller bays such as Waterloo Bay, Redland Bay, Raby Bay, Deception Bay and Bramble Bay. The Wynnum Wharf is another great place to take a walk and watch boats come and go with beautiful views of the bay. The Moreton Bay insect (Thenus orientalis) is a species of slipper lobster found in these waters off Australia's north coast. On a subsequent visit the following year, Oxley established the first European settlement in the bay on what is now Redcliffe. Celebrity tours are organized in regional areas of Moreton Bay with tourist attractions such as Jacob Francis Worrall's birthplace and Geoffrey Rush's vacation home. Moreton's spelling was a mistake in Hawkesworth's Voyages - Cook's first published account of his voyage - as he had not been able to determine its island status due to South Passage Bar being too dangerous to look at more closely.
He was unaware of Southern Passage (as it is now called) between two islands and did not sail to what is now Moreton Bay. The Amity Banks are located just west of Amity Point while Moreton Banks are located west of southern tip of Moreton Island. Moreton Bay is an incredible destination for those looking for an unforgettable experience. From its stunningly beautiful islands to its rich history and culture, there is something for everyone here. Whether you're looking for a relaxing day on one of its many beaches or an adventure-filled day exploring its many attractions, you'll find it all here in this amazing part of Australia.
