Southern Moreton Bay, forming the southern part of the Moreton Bay Marine Park and Southern Moreton Bay Islands National Park, is a broad, shallow estuary system located north of the Gold Coast. It is characterized by expansive waters and a network of channels winding through numerous islands, including South Stradbroke, Russell, Karragarra, and Cobby Cobby Island. The area provides a tranquil paddling environment with opportunities to spot dolphins and sea turtles. Key access points for launching kayaks and paddleboards include the Cabbage Tree Point Boat Ramp and the public boat ramp at Pacific Point Marina in Jacobs Well, which also offers parking, fuel, and a café. Another noted launch site is the Carbrook Boat Ramp, which provides access to the southern bay islands and the northern Broadwater.

Paddling here is heavily influenced by tides and wind. The channels around the islands can shift, and it is recommended to travel with the rising tide when heading north along Cobby Cobby Island. The area is exposed, and conditions can change with the breeze; for example, anchorages like Horseshoe Bay on Peel Island are not suitable in a southerly wind. The bay experiences significant boat traffic, including ferries servicing the islands, which can be a hazard and occasionally annoying for paddlers. There are no surf zones at the primary launch points, which are within protected waterways.

Recommended routes include paddling from Jacobs Well to South Stradbroke Island, exploring the passages around the southern Moreton Bay islands, and visiting locations like Mosquito Creek (Cobby Passage). The water is generally clean in sheltered areas like Myora Reef, and the aesthetic is of a coastal marine park with clear waters in parts, sand hills, and historical sites such as the cemetery at Dunwich on North Stradbroke Island. Facilities are limited on the water, but some islands have small settlements where supplies can be obtained.