SCHOOLS close this Friday and a new tourism campaign is set to promote the Redlands as a winter holiday destination for the domestic market.
Mayor Karen Williams said the campaign would highlight some of the major attractions.
"We want the rest of south east Queensland to know that there's more to explore - and it's right next door," she said.
The area offers whale watching, glamping and camping options, coastal adventures and island escapes.
"Whales have just started their migration, and Point Lookout on North Stradbroke Island offers some of the best land-based whale watching vantage points in the Southern Hemisphere," Cr Williams said.
While on Straddie, visitors can take an Aboriginal cultural walk with a Quandamooka guide and hear sacred stories dating back more than 21,000 years.
"Redlands Coast is the place to visit if you are after an island escape.
"We are lucky enough to have an amazing 335 kilometres of coastline and, with fast ferry services available to all our islands, it's a definitely a destination worth exploring," she said.
Cr Williams said visitors could check out the local food scene - from hidden bars and micro-breweries to breakfast hotspots and dinner options.
The Redlands Coast online food trail directory boasts local culinary trails.
For art lovers, there are a number of galleries to explore with exhibitions in Cleveland and Capalaba.
The Old Schoolhouse Gallery is run by local artists and offers artwork to purchase, while the volunteer-run Redland Yurara Art Society holds monthly rotating exhibitions from its Thornlands studio.
North Stradbroke Island boasts several galleries featuring work by local artists, while the four Southern Moreton Bay Islands are a haven for artists and creatives.
Getting out in the winter sun and reconnecting with nature offers plenty of options - from guided eco-education tours by Ranger Stacey at the IndigiScapes Centre, to a sunset picnic at Wellington Point or bushwalking through many of the nature reserves.
For the more adventurous, check out the hinterland mountain bike, hiking and horse riding trails.
There are more than 60 kilometre of tracks in the Bayview Conservation Area which is home to koalas, goannas, glossy black cockatoos, wallabies and powerful owls.
Other options include the 239ha of natural conservation bushland at Redlands Track Park.
For coastal adventures, there are canoe and kayak launching pontoons if you have your own water craft. Or hire a standup paddleboard, canoe or kayak from one of the local waterfront businesses.
Cr Williams said visitors wishing to stay a little longer than a day trip, Redlands offered a accommodation options.
"From coastal cottages on the waterfront on Macleay Island, to glamping at Sirromet winery and beachfront resorts on Minjerribah there is something to suit everyone," she said.