Community workers discovered the item on John Wilson Ocean Dr, and notified police.
"They found what appears to be some explosives,'' acting Senior Sergeant Ben Butterfield, of the Southern District command centre, said.
That prompted the closure of the road, and the partial closure of several holes at the Chisholm Park Golf Club.
Closer inspection revealed the bomb was in fact a child's toy wrapped in tape, he said.
He praised the workers for "doing the right thing'' and reporting their find to police.