A normal person would check tide times for this popular Redlands’ tidal spot. But I love the uncertainty of will we make it? Won’t we make it? I’m talking about a walk to King Island from Wellington Point, on the outer edge of Brisbane.
At certain times of day, visitors can walk on a kilometre-long sandbar from Wellington Point to King Island. It’s a really cool experience to walk across the bay on a sandbar to a deserted island of mangroves. And even more satisfying to make it back to the mainland. Or, like our family, you can end up waist-deep in water carrying your sandals and marching in wet clothes. But that’s the adventure!
On the Wellington Point mainland side, there’s a rather large carpark so it’s easy to get a park most days. There’s a very old-school fish-and-chip spot which also serves scoops of ice-cream. There are plenty of large fig trees to sit under and stretches of grass to eat chicken-salt chips wrapped in butcher’s paper. For smaller kids there is a fantastic playground and huge Moreton Bay figs for climbing. And there are public toilets.
The atmosphere around King Island and Wellington Point is always jubilant: there are families, groups of students, retirees, locals and day-trippers. It’s hard not to be joyful walking with rippled sand underfoot to a windswept island against the tide.
The stroll to the island is worth it just to gaze across to North Stradbroke Island and other Moreton Bay landmarks. There are recreational boats dotted on the horizon and that glittering diamonds on the water effect that happens on a sparkling day – all to take in and savour.
