Deception Bay

Deception Bay can be found 30 kilometres north of Queensland’s capital, Brisbane, and is known for its shallow water, beachside esplanade, and undeveloped beauty.

The area’s name comes from its shallow bay, which led discoverer John Oxley to mistake it for a river. The calm and shallow water makes the perfect swimming spot for young families avoiding the rougher conditions of a surf beach, and the local parks and esplanade also draw families with barbeque facilities, bike tracks and grassy areas. The wider Moreton Bay region has several school holiday activities, events and challenges for school aged children, making it a popular getaway during school holiday weeks, particularly over summer.

Guests travel to Deception Bay not only for its family friendly atmosphere, but for a relaxing coastal escape, proximity to popular beaches, and pet friendly facilities such as off-leash parks and dog beaches. The protected nature of the bay makes it perfect for recreational water activities such as boating, fishing and swimming.

The area draws both domestic and international visitors, who travel via two local airports. Domestic visitors can choose to travel to either Brisbane Airport or the Sunshine Coast Airport, while international visitors can fly directly into Brisbane Airport. With growing international interest in the areas surrounding the Sunshine Coast, the Federal Government has approved a $181 million concessional loan for a new runway and terminal, allowing a $347 million international airport to be built over the next four years. Upon completion, some international visitors will have more choice about how they access the area.

Deception Bay has a total of 29 accommodation options and food services, which employ 6.3 percent of the area’s 23,253 residents and cater to the thousands of holidaymakers that choose to stay in the area each year.

The Moreton Bay region welcomes approximately 72,000 visitors each year, with caravan parks alone recording over 48,750 visitor nights. With tens of thousands of cars travelling through Deception Bay via Deception Bay Road each day, there’s scope for tourism in the area to increase, particularly given the redevelopment that the area is currently undergoing.  The coming years should see the development of serviced apartments and residential units near the water, a reopened bowling club, new boutique shop openings near Deception Bay Road, and increased fishing tourism.