The best traffic-free bike rides in Queensland

This quiet stretch of shoreline sits beside mangroves, mudflats, and the southern edge of Boondall Wetlands. The area is known for birdlife, especially around high tide and along the boardwalks through the mangroves. Facilities include picnic areas, barbecues, playgrounds, dog park, toilets, boat access, and a waterfront shared path linking into the wider bikeway network. Water is shallow and tidal, with large mudflat areas exposed at low tide.

A short, steep walk up the hill at Mick Schamburg Park leads to a lookout that offers reaching views both north towards Surfers Paradise and south towards Burleigh Heads and Coolangatta. One of the lookouts even has a telescope. This park is an excellent place for a stroll along the Gold Coast Oceanway, beach day, or a relaxing picnic. Parking for Mick Schamburg Park is in the Kelly Avenue car park.

This long sandy beach is a great pick on a summer day for sunbathing, swimming, and surfing, and it has lifeguards on duty with a nearby park. It is a well-patrolled area due to dangerous riptides and rough, open-ocean waves. Keep in mind that swimmers should always stay between the red and yellow flags for their safety. The sand is white, soft, and clean, making walks along the shore enjoyable.

Fig Tree Point Park is a small foreshore park nestled on the shores of Moreton Bay in Manly West. Grassy picnic areas and walking paths sit beside beautiful mangroves and tidal flats that are part of the bay’s coastal ecosystem. The park is a quiet stop along the Moreton Bay Cycleway, making it an ideal place to pause and enjoy views across the water and surrounding wetlands.

The Esplanade Park sits along the foreshore of Moreton Bay and forms a pleasant stop along the walk between Greene Park and Norfolk Point. This open park area includes picnic tables, a playground and public toilets, making it a convenient place to pause along the route.

The Moreton Bay Cycleway follows the waterfront through Brisbane’s bayside suburbs, linking parks, marinas and long stretches of shoreline along Moreton Bay. The shared path is mostly flat and sealed, making it popular with walkers and cyclists alike. As you move along the route, you’ll pass sandy foreshore areas, boat harbours and open views across the bay, with cooling sea breezes often accompanying the walk.

Newstead Park is a waterfront park with some interesting historical stops. In the middle of the park, the Newstead House, built in 1845, is the oldest surviving home in the area and is now a museum. For a nature-based historical stop, check out the Old Fig Tree, which has a plaque explaining its massive size and age. This is a great stop on the Lores Bonney Riverwalk, with public restrooms and plenty of places to take a break on the grass and soak up the sun.

The Gold Coast Oceanway is a paved coastal path that runs parallel to the beach, linking suburbs along the shoreline. This section near Surfers Paradise follows the edge of the sand, offering uninterrupted ocean views with the skyline rising behind you. The wide, sealed path is shared by walkers, runners and cyclists, so keep left and stay aware of faster traffic. Shade is limited along exposed stretches, making early morning or late afternoon a more comfortable time to walk.