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Discover a few of the things you can do around Victoria Point
If you’re thinking about retiring to the Redlands, one thing’s for sure – you will never be short of wonderful ways to fill your days!
Dozens of attractions both natural and man-made – on land and sea – await the keen adventurer. A leisurely round at the Redland Bay Golf Course; a malted milkshake at Victoria Point’s Rock and Roll Café (or something stronger at Sirromet Winery); or an expedition to a little island called Coochiemudlo.
Of course, half the fun is in the discovery, so here are just nine of the hundreds of ideas to get you started on your journey of exploration through Victoria Point and the Redlands.
1) Try island hopping
Moreton Bay is dotted with dozens of islands that attract boaties, fishermen, divers and weekend tourists to catch some sun, sea, surf and a fish or two!
Coochiemudlo Island (or ‘Coochie’ as it’s known) is just a 10 minute ferry ride from Victoria Point. For lunch you can choose either café or restaurant dining, or a BYO picnic under a tree overlooking the beach. Hire a tandem bike and ride to the other side of the island, or get wet with plenty of water activities on offer.
If you’d rather spend a day out on the bay, you can join Aria Cruises at Raby Bay Harbour and sail to Peel Island and North Stradbroke Island. Swim and snorkel in crystal clear waters, throw a line in, or join the captain as he checks crab pots.
Take a drive to Wellington Point and wander through the giant figs before taking off your shoes and walking (at low tide) to tiny King Island. Make sure you leave enough time for the return trip before the tide turns!
2) Visit stunning North Stradbroke Island
With its world class surf beaches, national parks, and whale watching, ‘Straddie’ deserves to be in a category of its own. Whether it’s your first trip or your hundredth, a visit to Straddie is always unforgettable.
Blue Lake is a 5.2km walk through the Naree Budjong Djara National Park, while Brown Lake is accessible by road. Take a Goompi Trail tour with the local Quandamooka people and learn about traditional Aboriginal ways to fish, gather bush tucker and apply native medicines.
The North Gorge walk at Point Lookout is a manageable 1.5km long, and includes dramatic views of the coastline with its rocky outcrops, blow hole, and magnificent gorge. You’ll be joined by an array of bird life, and you might also spot kangaroos, dolphins, turtles, rays, and migrating humpback whales (from June to November).
3) Enjoy art in abundance
The Redlands is a creative place to live in retirement. Redland Art Gallery in Cleveland is home to both local and touring artists, and offers up a regular array of events and workshops to fuel your creative drive.
Wander through the Cleveland and Capalaba Art Walks where you’ll find sculptures and mosaics sprinkled with meaningful prose by renowned indigenous poet Oodgeroo Noonuccal.
And the Quandamooka Indigenous Art Gallery on North Stradbroke Island and Macleay Island Arts Centre are fascinating destinations for those wanting to learn more about area’s indigenous culture.
4) Turn back time
Built in the 1860’s, heritage listed Ormiston House is set on 14 acres of grounds with beautifully tended gardens overlooking Moreton Bay. Visit on a Sunday afternoon for a delightful Devonshire Tea before taking a stroll through the home and gardens.
The Cleveland Point Lighthouse may be just 12 metres tall but it has a long and proud history. Overlooking Moreton Bay to the east and Raby Bay to the west, the wooden hexagonal tower was built in 1864 and is one of only two surviving lighthouses of this form.
To unearth even more fascinating local history, why not spend some time at the Redland Museum? Boasting more than 14,000 artefacts dating from 1842 to the present day, the museum also houses interesting engine, machinery, transport, textile and doll displays.
5) Enjoy a beer and wine trail
Get a taste of what’s on tap and in the cellar on the Redlands Beer and Wine Trail. The family-owned Sirromet Winery at Mt Cotton is a great place to start. You’ll find state-of-the-art facilities, bistro and fine dining, and wine tastings (of course) all in a natural bushland setting with views to North Stradbroke. There’s a year-round calendar of entertainment, so be sure to call ahead if you’re planning a quiet visit!
If you’re a beer connoisseur, head to Red Bay Brewery in Cleveland, followed by The Bench. Then it’s over to Craft Brew House at Birkdale for a beer and pizza before ending your tour with one of the famous dessert beers at Bacchus Brewing Co at Capalaba.
6) Be entertained!
The Redlands Performing Arts Centre offers a rich program of music, theatre, comedy, film and dance by both national and international performers. You’ll find free events, festivals, workshops and community arts displays.
You can also watch the latest movies at the Victoria Point Cineplex where you’ll find ticket prices and choc tops are much cheaper than city cinemas!
7) Learn something new
In the Redlands you’ll find a range of interesting classes on offer including arts and crafts, cooking, photography, wine appreciation, language, singing and about a hundred more! The following two organisations are also well regarded by the local retirement community.
The University of the Third Age (commonly known as U3A) is an international movement that aims to educate and stimulate mainly retired members of the community. U3A has branches throughout the Victoria Point and Redlands area, each promoting healthy ageing by sharing educational, creative, leisure activities provided by their own members.
The Australian Men’s Shed Association is a community-based organisation where members are able to work on meaningful projects at their own pace, in their own time, and in the company of others. A key focus is to advance the wellbeing and health of members and to encourage old-fashioned mateship.
8) Let’s get physical
You could play a different sport or partake in a new activity every day of the year in the Redlands and still not cover them all!
Golfers will tell you Redland Bay Golf Club has a fantastic course – just as long as you keep your eye on the ball and not the stunning Moreton Bay views!
Victoria Point Bowls Club is another well-loved spot, and if you’re on Straddie, you can shed the shoes and partake in a barefoot game at Point Lookout Bowls Club.
You can also join a walking group, take tai chi classes, stretch out in in yoga, or find your feet in a dance class. There are endless ways for you to keep active!
9) Discover even more about the Redlands
The Redlands IndigiScapes Centre at Capalaba is set on 14 hectares of nature reserve featuring native botanical gardens. There you can learn about the traditional lifestyle of the local Indigenous people, go bird or koala spotting, or sample the delicious Australian bush tucker flavours on the café menu.
It’s also home to the Redlands Visitor Information Centre, where you can find out more about everything that’s on offer for both tourists and locals in the Redlands.
See for yourself what’s available near Renaissance
To find out just how close Renaissance is to Victoria Point’s shops, recreational facilities, clubs and associations, transport, residential aged care and health service, you really do need to see us for yourself.
We invite you to come along for a one-on-one tour of Renaissance, where you can see our villas, meet our residents, and start to get a feel for our retirement community.
Just click the banner below to find out more.
Call Renaissance today on (07) 3820 7700 or fill out the form here to find out more about the lifestyle you’ll enjoy at our outstanding Victoria Point retirement living.
