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Good news. You don’t need to pack the car for an epic Queensland road trip to show them a choice time.
Moreton Bay is just up the road from Brisbane, with surf beaches, calm bays, island adventures, fresh seafood and plenty happening all summer long.
So, get out of the backyard, chuck on the jandals and show your Kiwi whānau how summer is done in Moreton Bay.
Bribie Island is about as easy as island escapes get - no ferry timetable required.
Cross the bridge and spend the day swimming, surfing or strolling Woorim Beach, explore the calmer waters of Pumicestone Passage, hire a kayak or take things up a notch with a 4WD adventure.
Then find somewhere by the water, order something cold and settle in. Sweet as.
You’re in Moreton Bay. Getting on the water is basically compulsory.
Kayak the calm waters around Bribie Island, try stand-up paddleboarding, hire a boat or head out on an adventure across the bay.
And unlike your Kiwi cuzzies, you probably won’t need to spend the first five minutes insisting the water is “actually quite warm once you’re in.”
Nothing says Queensland summer quite like seafood by the water.
Head to Redcliffe for fish and chips overlooking the bay, introduce the cuzzies to a Moreton Bay bug, grab a table at a waterfront pub or settle in for a seafood feast around Sandstone Point or Bribie Island.
The backyard BBQ can wait.
If the cuzzies are here over New Year’s, this one’s a biggie.
From 27 December to 1 January, Woodford Folk Festival transforms Woodfordia into a temporary village filled with music, comedy, circus, workshops, performances and plenty of characters.
Camp for the full experience or head along for the day. Either way, it’s one memorable way to send off the old year and welcome the new.
You've shown them the beaches. You've fed them fish and chips by the water. Now it's time to really impress them.
Hop aboard with Dolphin Wild Island Cruises and head out into the crystal-clear waters surrounding Moreton Bay's islands for a snorkelling adventure your cuzzies definitely won't find in Auckland.
Float above colourful marine life, explore underwater worlds and soak up the kind of summer day that'll have everyone filling the group chat with photos before you've even made it back to shore.
It's the perfect way to swap another afternoon on the couch for a proper Moreton Bay story.
Love your whānau. Also love shutting your own bedroom door at night?
Fair enough.
From waterfront stays around Redcliffe and Bribie Island to hinterland cottages and farm stays, there are plenty of places for the cuzzies to call home - close enough to spend plenty of time together, but not so close you’re fighting over the bathroom every morning.
Here’s a local tip: summer mornings in Moreton Bay are where it’s at.
Catch sunrise over the bay, walk the Redcliffe foreshore before the day heats up, grab a coffee and breakfast, then hit the beach.
By the time everyone else is deciding what to do, you’ll already have a sunrise, swim, walk and flat white under your belt.
You can’t send your Kiwi cuzzies home without delivering at least one kangaroo sighting.
Join G’Day Adventure Tours and head out in search of roos in the wild while exploring Moreton Bay along the way. It’s an Aussie holiday box ticked - and much better than yelling “ROO!” as you fly past one in the car.
They might back the Warriors across the ditch, but in Moreton Bay your cuzzies can become one.
Hit Aqua Warrior at Redcliffe and race each other across the giant inflatable water park, climbing, jumping, sliding and inevitably ending up in the drink.
Loser buys the fish and chips.
Consider this an important lesson in Australian culture.
Head to Hip Hops Brewers in Brendale, grab a tasting paddle or order the cuzzies a proper schooner and settle in for an afternoon sampling locally brewed beers.
Just don’t get drawn into a Trans-Tasman debate about what size a beer should actually be.
If the cuzzies crossed the ditch with a suspiciously half-empty suitcase, they probably know exactly what they’re doing.
Browse Redcliffe’s fashion, homewares and gift boutiques between coffees by the bay, or head to Westfield North Lakes when some serious retail therapy is required.
Just remind them they still have to get it all home.
Kiwis might love their seafood, but Australians take things to another level at Christmas.
Come Christmas Eve, joining the queue for prawns, oysters and fresh seafood is practically a national rite of passage. Take the cuzzies to Morgan’s Seafood at Scarborough, stock up for the Christmas Day table and show them how festive feasting is done on this side of the ditch.
And yes, buying far too many prawns is part of the tradition.
Before the cuzzies arrive, check what’s happening at Sandstone Point Hotel.
The waterfront venue has a revolving line-up of concerts, festivals and big-name acts - even Kiwi legends Crowded House have taken the stage. Spend the day exploring Bribie Island, then head back across the bridge for a sunset gig by the water.
You don’t need an epic Queensland road trip to give visiting whānau a summer they’ll remember.
With beaches, island adventures, waterfront feeds, live music and plenty of reasons to get out on the water, there’s more than enough happening just up the road from Brisbane to keep the cuzzies busy.
So, get them out of the spare room, load up the car and start exploring Moreton Bay. Just be warned: you might do such a good job they book the return flight before they’ve even left.
Need more inspiration? Check out the official Kiwi Cuzzy Guide and start planning your next day out.
Moreton Bay starts just north of Brisbane, making it an easy option for a day trip, weekend away or a few adventures while the cuzzies are in town. Where you head will depend on the day’s plans, whether that’s Redcliffe, Bribie Island, Sandstone Point, Woodford or somewhere in between.
Plenty. Hit the beaches of Bribie Island, explore Redcliffe, get out on the water, tuck into local seafood, catch a gig, go kangaroo spotting or time your visit with one of Moreton Bay’s summer events.
Yep. Bribie Island is connected to the mainland by bridge, so there’s no need to organise a ferry. Pack the swimmers, cross the bridge and make a day of beaches, paddling, 4WD adventures and waterfront dining.
If spotting a roo is on the cuzzies’ Aussie bucket list, a guided wildlife experience is a great option. G’Day Adventure Tours offers experiences exploring Moreton Bay with the chance to encounter local wildlife along the way.
Summer brings plenty of reasons to get out and about. Stock up on fresh seafood for Christmas, check what’s on at Sandstone Point Hotel, or head inland to Woodford Folk Festival if your visit falls between Christmas and New Year.
There are accommodation options across the region, from waterfront stays around Redcliffe and Bribie Island to hinterland cottages and farm stays. Pick somewhere near the adventures you have planned, or strategically find the cuzzies somewhere lovely that isn’t your spare room.
Beach days, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, boating, waterfront dining and early-morning foreshore walks are all made for summer. For something different, throw in Aqua Warrior, a local brewery, wildlife spotting or one of the region’s summer events.
Discover the hidden gems and sun-soaked adventures waiting for you in Moreton Bay. Just up the road from Brisbane, our region is where the coast meets hinterland adventure, and the laid-back Queensland lifestyle takes centre stage.
