Coochiemudlo Island, Moreton Bay – Social-Day Walk

Description: Coochiemudlo Island is one of many islands in Moreton Bay. The name comes from the Jandai language where Kutchie means Red and Mudlo means Stone, a reference to the island’s distinctive Red Cliffs

Accessibility is good with only a 10minute ferry trip from the jetty at Victoria Point. Cost: 50c (cash or card) each way.

The island is well-vegetated, with most of the walk along sealed roads and shared paths in the shade. Along the way we’ll visit the Flinders Lookout, golf club, Morong beach (toilets here) and Norfolk Beach, the last as we pass through the Melaleuca Wetlands where there is about a kilometre of unsealed track. The beaches provide excellent views of Moreton Bay and some of the surrounding islands.

Coffee and/or lunch can be enjoyed at the Curlew Café before catching the ferry to return to the mainland. Hopefully the resident curlews will show themselves during our visit.

Please do not attend this activity if you are feeling unwell.

Walk Grading: Easy – about 5km – a reasonable level of fitness is required.

Please register for this activity via the NPAQ website completing all fields.

Meet: Victoria Point Jetty at 8.45am for the 9.00am ferry.

What to Bring: Hat, light jacket, rain gear (just in case), insect repellent (midges, mosquitos), torch, whistle, 1+ litres of water, morning tea, lunch (optional) $5.00 NPA Fee.

Directions: From Brisbane, Travel to Victoria Point. Drive to the eastern end of Colburn Avenue, turn right onto Masters Avenue and follow this around to the parking area. If the lower park is full, drive back along Masters Avenue to the upper parking area on your right at the top of the hill. Walk down to the ferry via the concrete steps.

Nominations: Via NPAQ Website.

Leader: Frank Freeman ( 0427 655 514; Email: frank_fr@bigpond.net.au

NPAQ Activity Report

Coochiemudlo Island Social Walk Activity Report

Catching the passenger ferry from Victoria Point, eight keen, walkers made their way to Coochiemudlo Island under leaden skies. A short, sharp shower during the voyage brought out rain gear as protection from the cool drops.

Moving ashore, the group turned left to walk around the island in a clockwise direction. Points of interest during the walk included the “train” house (a private residence using train carriages for various areas of a normal house), the Flinders Lookout, the Golf Club, pine trees, Morotns Steps (a set of steps leading down to a jetty built by a local landowner), Morwong and Norfolk beaches and the melaleuca Wetlands. Of particular interest were various crochet works attached to trees completed by various local artisans.

Arriving back near the ferry terminal, refreshments were enjoyed by members of the group at the Curlew Café. A cheeky curlew strolled into the café and wandered amongst the diners looking for scraps of food, to the delight of those present.

Although only five kilometres in length, the walk had many points of interest to reward walkers for their effort. An enjoyable day had by all.

Frank Freeman

(Leader)