The Gayundah Coastal Arboretum is a park located at Woody Point on the foreshores of the Redcliffe Peninsula.
The park looks out over Moreton Bay towards Moreton Island, a vista catered for with a number of bench seats along the foreshore to relax and take in the view.
In addition to the bench seats, there are a number of picnic tables. None of them has a shelter but there are lots of trees offering shade to some of the tables. The only shelter provided is above the free BBQ.
A path runs along the full length of Gayundah Coastal Arboretum, around 600m in length. At the southern end is the Gayundah Wreck, the namesake of the park’s name. Around 2023 or 2024, a new sandstone retaining wall was built, with a set of flagpoles and a stone with a plaque dedicated to the HMQS Gayundah.
Interestingly, a smaller plaque beside it says it was unveiled on Trafalgar Day in October 1961. It wasn’t there in 2018 – perhaps it had been removed somewhere along the way and then returned.
At the northern end, there is sand and a rock reef that become exposed at low tides. There are a few small water pools with some critters for additional exploring. The beach is generally non-existent during high tide.
Before the flags and plaque were added to the park
There is no playground but there are lots for kids to explore, such as the wonderful Pandanus palms and other trees all along the park.
There are some posts, salvaged from the old wooden bridge that crossed from Redcliffe to Brighton. They have historical information, such as of John ‘Jack’ McGuire, a coach from Sydney retired to Redcliffe. He continued to train athletes along Margate and Woody Point foreshores and aided the development of the Redcliffe Peninsula’s sporting culture.
To Get There
Coming from north of Brisbane along the Bruce Hwy, follow the signs to Redcliffe. A brown sign to Redcliffe is at the approach to Deception Bay Rd (exit 142). Follow Deception Bay Rd for 7.7km, and turn left into Anzac Ave. Continue straight following Anzac Ave for another 6.6km, turning right onto Oxley Ave towards Margate. Follow Oxley Ave for 3.5km staying in the left lane towards the end towards Woody Point. Turn left at the roundabout into Lilla St and follow through to the next roundabout. Head straight through the roundabout with the brown sign for Gayundah Wreck. The view from the road is 50m on the right, or continue another 400m for the entrance to the Gayundah Coastal Arboretum and parking area for the wreck.
Coming from the south, there are two points to enter Redcliffe. The Deagon Deviation is accessed from the Gateway Motorway (exit 120A). Follow the Deagon Deviation for 6.1km, and cross over the Ted Smout Memorial Bridge, another 2.9km. At the end of the bridge, follow to the right from the 2 right lanes off the bridge onto Hornibrook Esp. Continue for along Hornibrook Esp for 2.4km, and turn right towards the Tourist Drive and Woody Point. At the end, turn right onto Oxley Ave, then immediately left into Lilla St at the roundabout. Follow Lilla St to the next roundabout and heat straight through with the brown sign for Gayundah Wreck. The view from the road is 50m on the right, or continue another 400m for the entrance to the Gayundah Coastal Arboretum and parking area for the wreck. (NOTE: The Deagon Deviation is no longer accessed from the two right-hand lanes. This has changed and Exit 120A from the left lane is now used).
Coming from the south, you can also head up the Bruce Hwy from along Gympie Rd. If you miss the Deagon Deviation exit, you will eventually come to this exit also. Take the exit to Anzac Ave (exit 133), and keep to the right lane to go under the overpass and loop back to Anzac Ave, turning left towards Redcliffe. Drive for 4.8kms and turn right to continue along Anzac Ave. Continue straight following Anzac Ave for another 6.6km, turning right onto Oxley Ave towards Margate. Follow Oxley Ave for 3.5km staying in the left lane towards the end towards Woody Point. Turn left at the roundabout into Lilla St and follow through to the next roundabout. Head straight through the roundabout with the brown sign for Gayundah Wreck. The view from the road is 50m on the right, or continue another 400m for the entrance to the Gayundah Coastal Arboretum and parking area for the wreck.
