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Russell
Island - Brief Description & Climate
Russell Island has a country town atmosphere
where the traffic is minimal, the air is fresh and the
gardens and bushland are a subtropical green. Being
an island, summers are cooler and winter temperatures
are milder. A sea breeze can be experienced all over
the island. The subtropical climate is ideal for outdoor
activities all year round. The average winter temperature
ranges from 11-21 degrees and summer is 18-28 degrees
Celsius. Most tropical fruits can be grown, which is
not always the case in areas on the mainland because
of frosts.
There are patches of rural land still remaining
on the islands, which in the past had been completely
cleared for various farming purposes including market
gardens, cattle grazing, avocado, mango, custard apple,
lychee, and pecan nut orchards. The soil type ranges
from very sandy to heavy red clay.
Russell
Island does not have any ocean beaches, with most of
the coastline bordered in mangroves. This provides a
natural and important habitat for the abundant fish
life including mud crabs, sand crabs, and prawns. The
protected waters in amongst and around the Southern
Moreton Bay Islands are ideal for boating, fishing,
catching crabs and prawns.
Russell Island is rich
in spectacular scenery and birdlife. One of the many
attractions on Russell is Turtle Swamp, which in spring
bursts into an array of wildflowers. Outdoor pursuits
such as bushwalking and cycling are both popular pastimes
on the island.
The Redland Shire Council, having a strong focus on
conservation, restricts tree removal until building
plans approved.
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