Vacations To Cabo San Lucas

In between the mainland and North Stradbroke Island, Moreton’s most famous, are smaller islands laid out across the bay. These islands are close enough to Brisbane that many of the residents commute to the city on a daily basis.

Coochie Mudlo Island is named after the Aboriginal word for red rock because of the red cliffs .There are sandy beaches too.Coochie has a village feel and calm waters make for a good family swimming spot and boating area. Dine at Matthew Flinders Caf and admire bay views from every table. Matthew Flinders landed on the island 200 years ago and there is a re-enactment festival each July. Regular passenger ferry and barge services leave from Victoria Point.

Other islands worth noting are the Macleay Island, population 2500, and Russell Island, the largest of islands, with a population over 3000. Russell Island has become a popular choice for weekend getaways and retirement living. When visiting this island you will find shops, a supermarket, caf, holiday homes to rent, and a hotel. Other notable island is Lamb Island, only 2km by 1km with great views, Kangarra Island, the smallest, is a peaceful location with no shops. When visiting it is a good idea to pack your lunch. There are numerous smaller islands too which can be seen when boating in the area.

Historically, St Helena Island is the most interesting. The island was once hunting grounds for local tribes. In 1828, Napoleon Bonaparte was sent to St. Helena after becoming troublesome for the jail at Dunwich, on the North Stradbroke Island.

Forty years later, overcrowding in mainland prisons prompted the government to turn St Helena Island into a penal settlement and after clearing rainforest for timber and to prevent escapes, gardens were planted and houses built from coal blocks and clay. In some respects it was the model system; prisoners were taught a trade and were even paid for their labor and there were only three escapes in 65 years - This may have been because of an ever present large quantity of sharks whose presence were actively encouraged by the wardens !! The last inmate left in 1933.It is possible to tour the island for the day or for a night-tour and these days you will find the stone houses, the Deputy Superintendents house, now a museum and lots of photographs from the prison era.