15 October 2026: Kiwis living in South East Queensland are being put on notice this summer – when the cuzzies cross the ditch, a backyard BBQ and a quick trip to the shops is no longer going to cut it.
Moreton Bay, just up the road from Brisbane, has released the Kiwi Cuzzy Guide to Summer, a follow-up to its popular first edition, packed with ideas to help Kiwi expats show visiting whānau (friends and family) how a Queensland summer is really done.
And there will be plenty of visitors to impress. More than 350,000 New Zealanders live in Queensland, with around 25,000 calling Moreton Bay home. New Zealand is also Brisbane Airport’s top international two-way market, with more than two million seats flown between Brisbane and New Zealand in the past financial year.
The Kiwi Cuzzy Guide to Summer takes the guesswork out of hosting, with plenty to do just up the road from Brisbane. Bribie Island is an island escape where visitors can swim and surf at Woorim Beach, kayak the calm waters of Pumicestone Passage or head off on a 4WD adventure. Back on the mainland, Redcliffe serves up fish and chips overlooking the bay, a first taste of Moreton Bay bug, and Aqua Warrior’s giant inflatable water park, where “the loser buys the ‘fush and chups.”
For something truly Aussie, hosts can take their visitors kangaroo spotting with G’Day Adventure Tours, order a schooner at Hip Hops Brewers in Brendale, or join the Christmas Eve seafood queue at Morgan’s Seafood in Scarborough – and buy far too many prawns. Sandstone Point Hotel hosts sunset gigs by the water, where Kiwi legends Crowded House have taken the stage, while Woodford Folk Festival runs from 27 December to 1 January for the ultimate way to see in the New Year.
And for Kiwi hosts who love their friends and family but also love shutting their own bedroom door at night, the guide points to waterfront stays in Redcliffe and Bribie Island, plus hinterland cottages and farm stays – close enough to spend plenty of time together, but not so close you’re fighting over the bathroom every morning.
There’s even a translation guide for the Kiwis who’ve gone a bit Aussie, reminding them that jandals are thongs, a chilly bin is an esky, and asking a Queenslander for directions to the nearest dairy might have them looking for cows.
Tourism and Events Moreton Bay CEO Luke Edwards said Kiwi hosts had everything they needed to impress right on their doorstep.
“We all know the feeling – the cuzzies land, and suddenly you’ve got two weeks to prove Queensland was worth moving for,” Edwards said.
“The good news is you don’t need to plan an epic road trip. You can pick them up from Brisbane Airport and have them on the sand at Bribie or eating fish and chips on Redcliffe Jetty by lunchtime.”
“So get out of the backyard, chuck on the jandals, and show your family (and honorary) a summer they’ll be bragging about back home.”
The Kiwi Cuzzy Guide to Summer is available online at the Visit Moreton Bay website.
Sources:
- Brisbane Airport, FY26 passenger records
- Brisbane Airport, Air New Zealand ramps up Brisbane to New Zealand routes
- Brisbane Airport, Boost to Brisbane’s trans-Tasman network
The Comms. People provides strategic communications, public relations and media relations support to Tourism and Events Moreton Bay. For more information and images, please contact Jennifer or Heather at The Comms. People:
Jennifer Swaine | 0438952830 | jen@commspeople.au
Heather Mollins | 0412421411 | heather@commspeople.au