25 May 23 | By pp-admin
With several below zero-degree mornings and grey days, perhaps you’ve already had enough of Canberra’s Winter this year? It’s around this time of year that many Canberrans dream of a more appealing, mild climate for their cycling adventures.
If you’re heading to Queensland with your bike, consider a half day easy cycling break at Bribie Island, about 1 ¾ hours’ drive north of Brisbane. Bribie Island is the most northerly of three major sand islands (along with Moreton and North Stradbroke Islands) which shelter the northern part of Moreton Bay. Although much of the island is national park, Bribie has thriving and friendly communities in its main coastal suburbs of Bongaree and Woorim, pleasant wide streets with little traffic and plenty of bike paths too – although like Canberra, in parts it suffers from ‘missing links’. But unlike in Canberra, these missing links aren’t really a problem, given there is so much less traffic.
The delightful Bongaree Trail is a wide, flat, paved, shared path hugging the seafront through continuous parklands from Sylvan Beach south through to Bongaree and onto Buckley’s Hole where you should stop and spend some time at the bird hide to spot some of the 350 bird species that call Bribie Island home. The only mountains on this bike ride are the picturesque Glass House Mountains on the mainland which are viewed across Pumicestone Passage for several kilometres of the Trail.
If the timing is right and hunger beckons, consider enjoying the best fish and chips on Bribie at Saviges Seafood just off the Trail on the corner of First Avenue. And when is the time not right for fresh fish and chips in the sunshine?
From Bongaree, you can also cycle an off-road bike path passing through coastal forest to Woorim. Take a break and walk the white sands of the long and lovely eastern beach of Bribie, viewing remnant wartime bunkers and refreshing your feet with a splash in the ocean. If you restrained yourself and avoided the fish and chips, the Woorim Surf Club might tempt you at its bistro, with outdoor covered seating overlooking the ocean. The avocado salad with prawns is a mighty tempting option! If a coffee is all you need, there’s plenty of options – Mojo’s on North is worth a try, just near the surf club.
It’s always nice to find a good spot to break a long journey, and in the case of Bribie, it also provides you with a great place for an easy ride to stretch your legs before continuing on your way. Or who knows, you might decide to stay for longer!