Spooky spots to visit in the Moreton Bay Region this Halloween

LOOKING for something different? The Moreton Bay Region has no shortage of places where you might just spot a ghost or two this Halloween.

Take a spooky tour of Caboolture Historical Village with MysticJewelzAU.

LOOKING for something different? The Moreton Bay Region has no shortage of places where you might just spot a ghost or two this Halloween.

Take a spooky tour at Caboolture Historical Village with MysticJewelzAU.

Caboolture Historical Village will throw a Halloween party on October 31. Freak out yourself and your friends with a self-guided ghost tour of the 70 buildings — some more than 100 years old — dotted around the 4ha site. Those said to be ghost hot spots include the Old Hospital, prison, morgue and Bauer House.

The hospital was originally a family home at Caboolture, before being turned into Riverview Private Hospital, operating from 1920 to 1939.

There are no records available of the number of patients whose lives ended within its walls, but those who believe they’re more in tune with the spirit world say they can feel the presence of ghosts within this ominous building.

The beautiful old Bauer House (also known as Glenowen Homestead) would likely have witnessed some deaths over the years. One ghostly tale involves a security guard who was on duty during a music festival. The guard swears that, as he was doing his rounds, he heard a young lady enjoying a party inside the locked building.

The village Halloween party is from 5-8pm and tickets are just $5, available at the door.

In November, the village will also host another series of its regular Mystic Jewelz Guided Paranormal Tours. Run by para investigator and spiritual medium Jewelz Wraight, the day or evening events will be held on November 9, 14, 23 and 28.

“Join me as we look through beautiful historic buildings, and possibly interact with the resident spirits, having an authentic paranormal experience in a safe, educational environment,” Julie says.

Children are welcome on the day tours. Visit the MysticJewelzAU Facebook page to book.

Of course, if you’d rather explore a few ghostly sites on your own (with the benefit of being able to bail at any time if it gets too scary), take a trip to any of these “spooky” attractions.

Fort Bribie. Picture: Dominika Lis.

Fort Bribie, which was built at the outbreak of WWII, provided defence support against raiding warships. It was originally fairly primitive, but as Japanese aggression intensified, the bunker’s tactical position prompted it to be upgraded into a major facility.

The dilapidated installation sits on the northeastern sands of Ocean Beach, up from the shell of the Fort Skirmish bunker on the northern part of Woorim Beach.

In the bushland, behind what remains of these fascinating wrecks, is thought to be the hidden location of an underground war hospital. Original plans included a casualty dressing station, while eyewitness accounts confirm there was a hospital — but speculation remains around whether it was underground, or even used! This spooky site is accessed by 4WD.

HMQS Gayundah, Woody Point. Picture: Dominika Lis.

HMQS Gayundah at Woody Point offers an eerie site as the skeleton shipwreck sits under the moonlight.

While the Gayundah was purposely sunk to act as a wind breaker, it does have a ghostly presence at night.

The gunboat, said to be named after an Aboriginal word for lightning, was the first of Queensland’s Navy ships. Powered by two steam engines, it was designed for a maximum speed of 10 knots with the ability to transport up to 75 tonnes of coal, allowing it to travel 1300km at a time. The Gayundah arrived in Brisbane in 1885, with its chief duty to protect Queensland’s coastline.

Sold to Brisbane Gravel Pty Ltd in 1921, it was used as a sand and gravel barge on the Brisbane River. Redcliffe Town Council then purchased the ship in 1958 and breached it in its current position.

Dayboro Cemetery is certainly a place to visit if you are looking for some pioneering paranormal activity. The site is characterised by its many striking monuments and sweeping views of the valley. Grave sites are more than 100 years old with pioneer families rumoured to be buried there.

Yugar Railway Tunnel should be on your list if you have any interest in vampires. The Samford tunnel is known to be home to a unique bat colony.

Used as a rubbish tip for almost 30 years, the tunnel came under the control of the University of Queensland for the purpose of bat research. Could there be vampires lurking in the 82m of darkness?

The Gollum tree at Scarborough.

The Gollum Tree at Scarborough may be more to your liking if you want a more gentle Halloween experience. Local legend has it that Gollum, of Lord of the Rings fame, resides inside an ancient pine along Scarborough Beach. But do step quietly around the tree — for you might upset the host.