If you’re looking for the best beach near Brisbane, Margate is a top contender. Just a 40-minute drive north of the city, the coastal town has sandy shores, a scenic seafront boardwalk, and views across Moreton Bay. Cool off with a swim, join the windsurfing action at Scotts Point, then join locals for a beachside BBQ or take your pick of ocean-view bars and restaurants. Campers have a few options around Margate: there are powered sites at the nearby caravan park, lakeside campgrounds on the shores of Lake Kurwongbah, and several Hipcamps dotted around the Moreton Bay region. If you want to explore further, the Moreton Bay Cycleway runs all the way around the Redcliffe Peninsula—take a dolphin-watching cruise from Scarborough, browse the Sunday markets at Redcliffe, or go fishing off the jetty at Woody Point. You can also hop on a ferry to explore Moreton Island National Park.