Canaipa Passage & Redland Bay
The Southern Moreton Bay Islands, or the Bay Islands to locals, are a cluster of low, lived-in islands off Redland Bay: Russell, Macleay, Lamb and Karragarra, with Canaipa Passage running down the eastern side of Russell Island towards Jumpinpin. It's a busy little world of ferries, barges and tinnies, with mooring areas everywhere and not much depth. For a keelboat it's a pretty but slow way between Moreton Bay and the Gold Coast, and one to do on a rising tide with an eye on the latest notices. There's been a run of wrecks and missing marks here lately.
- Overhead clearances of 9.6 m and 20 m printed on MSQ map SMB-8. We haven't yet matched them to the crossings they belong to.
- 1Redland Bay, Banana St ramp · 4 lanes, pontoon, toilets (TMR).
- 2Morley Marine's Pelican Slipways · Boatyard (directory).
- 3Lamb Island rocks (signs missing) · Signs marking rocks reported missing, May 2026.
- 4Macleay Island, Russell Tce ramp · 2 lanes, pontoon, toilets (TMR).
- 5Russell Island, Jock Kennedy Park ramp · 2 lanes, pontoon (TMR).
- 6Wreck buoy off Russell Island · Fl Y 2.5s, Nov 2025 (MSQ 523(T)/2025).
- 7Aczel Marine · Boatyard (directory).
- 8Wahine Drive ramp (works) · Closed for works from 20 Oct 2026.
- 9Semi-submerged wreck, Canaipa Passage · Fl Y 2.5s, July 2026 (MSQ 408(T)/2026).
- 10Wreck buoy, Redland Bay Channel · Fl 2.5s, May 2026 (MSQ 256(T)/2026).
At a glance
| What it is | Island-studded passages between Redland Bay and North Stradbroke Island, linking Moreton Bay to Jumpinpin and the Broadwater |
| Getting here | From the north via Victoria Point and Coochiemudlo; from the south via Jacobs Well or Jumpinpin |
| Depth | Shallow. MSQ's 2017 soundings give medians of about 1–1.6 m across the area |
| Fuel | None confirmed in our sources |
| Ferries | Passenger ferries from Weinam Creek (Redland Bay) to the islands; barges too |
| Map age | MSQ Beacon to Beacon maps SMB-7 and SMB-8 current to 9 May 2016 |
| Last checked | 18 October 2026 |
Getting here
MSQ's open data has 78 aids in this area, most of them lit. Follow the marked channels and give the ferries and barges room: they run to timetables and don't hang about. The MSQ map warns that emergency vessels run at high speed from Weinam Creek 24 hours a day, and you must give way to them.
Things to know:
- Old maps. MSQ's Southern Moreton Bay maps say depth contours mostly haven't been re-surveyed since the 2011 and 2013 floods. One part of SMB-8 is marked as shoaling shallow water with no navigation markers, and one passage as suitable for dinghies only at high tide. Check the chart before taking a short cut.
- ⚠ July 2026: a lit yellow mark (Fl Y 2.5s) sits on a semi-submerged wreck in Canaipa Passage off Russell Island.
- ⚠ November 2025: a yellow buoy (Fl Y 2.5s) marks a sunken wreck off the west side of Russell Island.
- ⚠ May 2026: a yellow buoy marks a sunken wreck in the Redland Bay Channel. New beacons were also laid in that channel in December 2025.
- ⚠ May 2026: signs marking rocks north of Lamb Island were reported missing.
- ⚠ May 2026: the Pelican Banks 4 port beacon (Fl R 2.5s), north of the islands, was destroyed.
These were all temporary notices when we checked. Some may have been cleared, and others may have been added since.
Anchoring and moorings
The marine park has eight mooring areas around the islands: Redland Bay (MGA32), South-west Macleay Island (MGA33), Macleay/Lamb/Karragarra (MGA34), Krummel Passage (MGA35), Russell Island/Canaipa Passage (MGA36), West Russell Island (MGA37), Lagoon Island (MGA38) and East Russell Island (MGA39). MSQ's maps show anchorages too, but our sources don't give depths, holding or shelter for them. Price Anchorage is a green zone (MNP26) and a go-slow area. Water south of 27°41′S (the bottom end of Russell Island) comes under the Gold Coast anchoring time limits.
Skipper's notes
Garry's own observations from deliveries through Canaipa Passage & Redland Bay. First-hand notes, dated, and no substitute for the chart.
- Depth
- [Garry to add: depths seen, state of tide and date.]
- Holding
- [Garry to add: bottom type and how the anchor held.]
- Shelter
- [Garry to add: wind directions it is good or bad in.]
- Other notes
- [Garry to add: anything else worth knowing, with date.]
Notes last updated: [date]
Facilities
- Weinam Creek (Redland Bay) is the ferry and barge harbour for the islands, with its own MSQ enlargement. ⚠ July 2026: maintenance works were scheduled at the Weinam Street jetty until about September.
- Morley Marine's Pelican Slipways (Redland Bay) and Aczel Marine (Russell Island) are listed as boatyards. We haven't confirmed what they take.
- Redland Bay Boat Hire operates in the area.
Rescue. MSQ's 2016 maps print Coast Guard Redland Bay and VMR Victoria Point, both with weekend and public-holiday hours. ⚠ As printed in 2016. Confirm current channels and hours.
Fuel, water and pump-out
None confirmed in our sources. The nearest fuel we know of is Pacific Point Marina to the south (24/7, per its website) and Raby Bay Marina at Cleveland to the north (see those pages).
Boat ramps
From the Queensland Government (TMR) list, all managed by Redland City Council:
- Redland Bay, Banana Street: four lanes, pontoon, toilets, not tide-limited. Moores Road nearby has one tide-limited lane.
- Macleay Island, Russell Terrace: two lanes, pontoon, toilets, not tide-limited. Brighton Road has a tide-limited barge/boat ramp and a jetty.
- Lamb Island, Lucas Drive: one tide-limited lane, pontoon, toilets.
- Karragarra Island, The Esplanade: one tide-limited lane, pontoon.
- Russell Island, Alice Street (Jock Kennedy Park): two lanes, pontoon, not tide-limited.
- Russell Island, Wahine Drive: being rebuilt. ⚠ October 2026: MSQ says the ramp is closed while a floating walkway is installed from 20 October 2026.
Rules in brief
- Go-slow areas. Lamb Island and Price Anchorage are go-slow for all boats. Willes Island is a go-slow amenity area. Garden Island, Karragarra Channel, Krummel Passage and Weinam Creek are go-slow for boats over 8 m.
- Green zones. Pannikin Island (MNP28), Willes Island (MNP29), Lamb Island (MNP27) and Price Anchorage (MNP26): no fishing. Canaipa Passage is mostly a conservation park zone (CPZ10, limited line fishing).
- Weinam Creek. Give way to emergency vessels.
- Gold Coast rules apply south of 27°41′S.
Ashore
What's within about a 15-minute walk (1.2 km) of each marina, ramp or landing on this page, measured along streets and footpaths in OpenStreetMap. Addresses are from OpenStreetMap where it has one; where it doesn't, we show the name and distance only. ⚠ As at 18 October 2026: we haven't confirmed each place is still trading, so check before you walk.
From Russell Island, Jock Kennedy Park ramp (boat ramp / dinghy landing)
| Name | Type | Walk | Street address (OSM) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Restaurants and cafes | |||
| The Bayview Cafe on Russell | Cafe | 460 m | 1/2 Bayview Road, Russell Island QLD 4184 |
| Aunty Alices Cafe | Restaurant | 630 m | – |
| Shanghai Garden Chinese | Restaurant | 800 m | – |
| Kebab Shop | Takeaway | 840 m | – |
| Supermarkets and provisioning | |||
| Russell Island Liquor Store | Bottle shop | 520 m | 18 High Street |
| Russell Island Bakery | Bakery | 780 m | – |
| Canaipa Shopping Centre | Supermarket | 810 m | – |
| The Kiosk | Convenience store | 1.1 km | – |
From Redland Bay, Banana St ramp (boat ramp / dinghy landing)
| Name | Type | Walk | Street address (OSM) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bars, pubs and clubs | |||
| Redland Bay Hotel | Pub | 1.1 km | 160 Broadwater Terrace, Redland Bay QLD 4165 |
| Restaurants and cafes | |||
| Jetty Store II | Takeaway | 450 m | 47 Banana Street, Redland Bay QLD 4165 |
| Pelican Cafe | Cafe | 700 m | 293 Esplanade, Redland Bay QLD 4165 |
| Supermarkets and provisioning | |||
| BWS | Bottle shop | 1.1 km | – |
| Marine stores, chandlers and boat services | |||
| Morley Marine's Pelican Slipways | Shipwright / boatyard / haul-out † | 720 m | – |
From Macleay Island, Russell Tce ramp (boat ramp / dinghy landing)
| Name | Type | Walk | Street address (OSM) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bars, pubs and clubs | |||
| Paradise Pub | Pub | 290 m | Brighton Road, Macleay Island QLD 4184 |
| Restaurants and cafes | |||
| Nick's Kitchen | Restaurant | 370 m | 5/36 Southsea Terrace |
| Supermarkets and provisioning | |||
| Bottler Bottle Shop | Bottle shop | 290 m | – |
| Spar | Supermarket | 380 m | 1/41 Southsea Terrace, Macleay Island QLD 4184 |
Nothing mapped within the 15-minute walk of: Wahine Drive ramp (works).
† From our own marine business directory (live directory listings and business websites checked 16 October 2026), not OpenStreetMap; walk measured the same way from the listed position. Where no street address was published, only the suburb or nothing is shown.
Places, types, addresses and walking distances: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), fetched 18 October 2026.
About this page
This page is a planning aid written by a working delivery skipper from public sources. It is not for navigation. Use the official AHO charts (Aus 236 and Aus 814), current MSQ notices to mariners, official tide tables and local advice. Spotted something out of date? Please use Report a correction below.
Official links
Check these before you go. They beat anything on this page.
- MSQ notices to mariners, Brisbane (covers the Bay Islands)
- MSQ notices to mariners, South East Queensland outside pilotage areas
- Queensland Parks: Moreton Bay Marine Park zoning maps and app
- MSQ: crossing a coastal bar (safety advice)
- Queensland notices to mariners, all areas (subscribe)
- MSQ Queensland tide tables
- Bureau of Meteorology: tide predictions
- Bureau of Meteorology: Queensland warnings (incl. marine wind warnings)
- Bureau of Meteorology: Queensland coastal waters forecasts
Sources & credits
Written in fresh words from the facts in the Hartshorne Marine Sailing Directions area guide for Canaipa Passage, Macleay Island and Redland Bay (edition of 16 October 2026, Ashore data added 18 October 2026) and chapter 3 of the Tweed to Mooloolaba guidebook. Those draw on MSQ Beacon to Beacon maps SMB-7 and SMB-8 and enlargement H (current to 9 May 2016), MSQ notices to mariners to 16 October 2026, the Moreton Bay Marine Park layers and TMR boating-facility data.
Maritime Safety Queensland. Contains Maritime Safety Queensland data (Beacon to Beacon guide, notices to mariners, nav-aid open data, pump-out map C2-335, speed-limit schedule, tide information) © State of Queensland (Department of Transport and Main Roads), licensed under CC BY 4.0. Facts restated and summarised in our own words. Not endorsed by MSQ or TMR.
Queensland legislation. Transport Operations (Marine Safety) Regulation 2016 and Transport Infrastructure (Waterways Management) Regulation 2012 © State of Queensland, CC BY 4.0. Summarised; the authorised versions at legislation.qld.gov.au prevail.
NGA. Background from NGA Pub. 127, Sailing Directions (Enroute) East Coast of Australia and New Zealand (2025), U.S. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, a US Government work in the public domain. Parts of it are out of date; where a page leans on it, we say so. Not endorsed by NGA.
OpenStreetMap. Map tiles and some facility positions © OpenStreetMap contributors, data available under the Open Database Licence (ODbL).
Others. Facts from local authority pages and notices (for example the Gold Coast Waterways Authority), volunteer marine rescue sites and businesses' own websites are cited for fact only and restated in our own words. Listing a business is not an endorsement.
Last checked: 18 October 2026.
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