Moreton Bay defines Brisbane, it shapes the city, forms the mouth of its famous river, and is South East Queensland’s outdoor playground. Think fishing, boating, diving, sailing, camping and of course cycling.

The Moreton Bay Cycleway (MBC) runs from Deception Bay in the north to Redland Bay in the south, threading along some of South East Queensland’s most spectacular coastline and linking the region’s fastest-growing bayside communities across three local government areas.

The full route covers around 150km — and while it isn’t yet continuous or complete, that shouldn’t put you off. Having grown up biking in Brisbane, and returning once or twice a year to ride the River City, the MBC is certainly up there as one of Brissie’s best rides.

Where to Ride

The Victoria Point to Manly section is a personal standout. It’s a beautifully varied ride — shared paths weave between quiet residential streets, elevated mangrove boardwalks drift out over tidal flats, and bayside bikeways open up to sweeping views across the bay islands and Stradbroke (aka Straddie). Recently ridden on a Specialized Roubaix with 28mm tyres, the bike and tyre combo performed well – smooth enough on the sealed paths, comfortable on the occasional rougher connector, and even short urban climbs to stretch the legs. Even in light rain, it ranked among the rides of the year. Wider tyres would suit a wider range of riders, and, bike-wise, the MBC suits all manner of enthusiasts, from those keen on a handful of weekend kilometres to riders seeking the challenge of riding the route in a day.

A standout highlight is the Eddie Santagiuliana Way between Cleveland and Thornlands. It’s a shared path and nature lover’s paradise, and in some sections it feels like you’re riding through a tropical jungle. Though the path can be busy with walkers on weekends, it’s a slower ‘journey, not the destination’ style ride and highly recommended.

Lookout, Koalas About

The Redland region also happens to be a major koala corridor, so it pays to keep watch for the cute little critters on route. Heavily populated koala havens are well signposted, with many marked crossing points along the scrubbier sections of the cycleway.

Between Ormiston, Birkdale, Ransome and Lota, you’ll enjoy a mix of the MBC and quiet streets, highlights being a separated path along Rickertt Road, the rural Chelsea Road and mangrove boardwalk section through Lota Creek.

From Wynnum to the Gateway Bridge is one of the MBC’s missing links, with road riding required for around 9km. Riding here is via a mix of shoulders plus shorter sections of bike paths and footpaths. It’s tolerable but not ideal.

The Gateway, or Sir Leo Hielscher Bridges, is a significant part of the MBC – an integral experience and scenic part of the ride. North of the river, you’re back onto shared and predominantly separated paths, for more of Brisbane’s best off-road cycling. Highlights here are the Jim Soorley Bikeway and the Boondal Wetlands Bikeway – both standout infrastructure and popular paths.

Further north, you’ll ride through the Scarborough section, then on to the Ted Smout Bridge Cycleway – dream cycling infrastructure in the form of a long bridge across Bramble Bay. Once known as the Hornibrook Highway, the bridge takes you to the Redcliffe Peninsula, one of Brisbane’s most historic foreshore areas, with cafés, jetties and views across the bay towards Moreton Island.

Signage and Navigation

One of the MBC’s major strengths is its signposting. The newer sections in particular are impressively marked — not just with distances and directions, but points of interest, historical notes, and connections to nearby train stations. For a visitor or first-timer, it makes navigation a breeze and the ride all the more interesting. Some older sections still have gaps and outdated, heavily faded signs, so it’s worth downloading the route or using Google Maps in bike mode as a backup.

Getting There

The MBC’s proximity to Queensland Rail’s Brisbane network is a major asset. Numerous stations sit within easy reach of the entire cycleway – from Cleveland in the south to Kippa Ring near Redcliffe in the north. Much like the Harbour City’s ‘Greater Sydney Cycling Trail’, it’s simple enough to travel one-way by train.

Add Brisbane’s brilliant 50c train fares to the equation, and a lot of ground can be covered in a day.

The future of the MBC

A dream outcome for the MBC would be a continuous 150km path around Brisbane’s bayside. While that may be years away, it’s heartening to know the Queensland Government recognises the value of the infrastructure. In 2024, the Government released a master plan to optimise the Moreton Bay Cycleway.

The document explores the best ways to optimise the route and provide a consistent, fit-for-purpose connection that meets the demand and expectations of a wide variety of users. It suggests infrastructure improvements and delivery steps.

The document that can be seen here reads –

“We partnered with Moreton Bay City Council, Brisbane City Council and Redland City Council to develop a masterplan for the cycleway. We also engaged with other stakeholders, including the Department of Tourism and Sport, Tourism and Events Queensland, Brisbane Economic Development Agency and Bicycle Queensland.

National bicycle tourism is valued at $6 billion per year, generating 4.6 million trips and 42 million visitor nights. Victoria and New South Wales remain the key destinations, but with world-class infrastructure such as the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail, the Olympic city’s ever-increasing network of bike paths, and the uber-impressive Moreton Bay Cycleway, South East Queensland sure is an appealing place to ride a bike.

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