Redland Bay, one of the most charming and friendly bayside suburbs around, is home to plenty of gorgeous bay walks, and perhaps none more so than the Redland Bay South Walk and the Jack Gordon Pathway. With stunning shoreline views, heaps of flora and wildlife, and charming cafés to refuel, these walks truly have it all.
The most obvious starting point for either trail would be Sel Outridge Park, but if you don’t mind setting off from a little ways back, the Pelican Café is an excellent place to begin your journey. Not only does it have sweeping views of the bay, but their eggs benny are to die for!
If you decide to pay them a visit, and if you’re following the South Walk, your next step is to follow the Esplanade past lively swimming enclosure, Ruster’s Reserve, where you can spot the café’s namesakes (aka pelicans) going about their birdy business.
Next, you’ll come up a pedestrian path that will lead you to an expanse of green that hugs the shoreline. You’ll pass plenty of towering fig and banana trees, as well as casuarinas and, of course, a huge variety of birdlife. If you’ve got your fur babies with you, you’ll be happy to know you’ll reach Point Talburpin Dog Park, where you can let them run to their heart’s content!
All in all, the walk takes about a half hour each way, and is extremely kid- and dog-friendly.
On the other hand, you can choose to go in the opposite direction and follow the Jack Gordon Pathway, which takes you through lush, tranquil Sel Outridge Park. You’ll very soon come up to the historic Redland Bay Hotel and, if you’re already feeling thirsty, you can make a stop at their beautiful beer garden.
As you come to a less woodsy area, you’ll be walking the shoreline again, and will be treated to views of Moreton Bay and, eventually, Stradbroke Island. You’ll also pass quiet BBQ spots where you can take a break, or you can head up the hill for even more spectacular views of the ocean, with beautiful mansions lining the street.
Finally, you’ll come to the Redland Bay Golf Club, which is a good place to turn and stroll back to your starting point, stopping as much as you want along the way.
Key features
Where: Redland Bay South Walk
Distance: 2.5km
Total time: About an hour out and back
Difficulty level: Easy
Where: Jack Gordon Pathway
Distance: 2km
Total time: About 45 minutes out and back
Difficulty level: Easy
How to get there
Redland Bay is an easy 30-minute drive from Brisbane. You can also take a train or bus, which will take you roughly an hour.
