HERE is a list of family-oriented fun things to do over Christmas. Many of them are either free or reasonably cheap and easy to access.
NORTH STRADBROKE ISLAND: Take a walk-on ferry from Toondah Harbour to Dunwich or the One Mile. From there catch the public bus to Point Lookout. Things to do: Swimming, gorge walk, lazy lunch at the point. (Alternatively, you can take a car on the vehicular ferries.)
CAPALABA REGIONAL PARK: This is a great place for a picnic, particularly if you have kids. It is on Pittwin Road and is set up with BBQs, shelters, tables and wheelchair-accessible toilets. It has a playground stacked with equipment, including a musical forest and sand play area. It has giant climbing nets, a flying fox and swing. It’s all free, of course.
VENMAN’S NATIONAL PARK: Head out to West Mt Cotton Road. The park has two loop walks of 2.5km and 7.5km. You can see wallabies and plenty of birds. Try to the walks on a cooler day as it does get hot there.
COOCHIEMUDLO ISLAND: From Victoria Point get the ferry over to Coochiemudlo. Cheap as chips and a great day out. Things to do: Enjoy sand beaches and clear water in which to swim. Walk around the island. Hire a boat. There is a cafe and small resort for lunch.
REDLAND MUSEUM: Yes, there is heaps of old stuff here. It makes for a pretty cheap day out while you learn about the olden days. It’s at 60 Smith Street, Cleveland, and is part of the broader Cleveland Showgrounds complex.
KING ISLAND: Take a walk out to King Island. From Wellington Point walk out to the island along a sand spit. You must time your walk for the low tide and, remember, leave the dog at home. Be sure to start heading back to the mainland before the tide comes in too far.
RABY BAY: Instead of going to a noisy cafe on a weekend, try the coffee van on the Raby Bay foreshore in the mornings. Take a couple of deckchairs, a hat and relax at the waterfront. You can also hire a stand-up paddle board or kayak.
WELLINGTON POINT: Take a flask of tea or coffee or even a bottle of champers and a picnic and set yourself up at Wellington Point in the afternoon. Because of the lie of the land and the ithmus upon which the point sits, you can watch the sun set over water, an unusual thing on the east coast.
INDIGISCAPES: There is a short walk here over Coolnwynpin Creek and to a huge, 400-year-old tallowwood tree. It has cheap local native plants for sale and a cafe. It’s on Runnymede Rd, Capalaba, and is a nice place to lounge around.
BOAT RIDE: Go to Weinam Creek ferry terminal and take a boat ride to Russell or any of the other islands. You can get off at the islands and then hop back on the next ferry or simply do the round trip. The ferry takes gocards.
