A relentless Queensland summer means more time to soak up some sunshine and get in the water. Whether you’re visiting Brisbane or a local, there’s no better escape than Moreton Island at this time of year. Located a pleasant 75-90 minute ferry ride away from Brisbane, a day trip is all it takes to get to the bayside beaches of Moreton Island, where you’ll enjoy great snorkelling sites, beaches for lazing and sand dunes to climb. If you’re not the rugged type you can also visit the nearby Tangalooma Island Resort to slip into resort life for a day.
The ideal day trip
Here’s our favourite way to do a day trip to Moreton Island:
Pack: Swimmers, snorkelling gear, sunscreen (and lots of it), a collapsible beach umbrella, an esky full of food
Get there: Get on a morning ferry from Brisbane, returning in the afternoon. The ferry takes between 75 and 90 minutes. Check the departure and arrival points as they’re not the same. From Brisbane city two options are available:
- MICAT barge: $55 walk-on adults $38 kids pre-booked, more if not.Details.
- Tangalooma passenger launch: $65 adults, $40 kids, includes lunch. Details.
Do: Sit on the beach, swim out to the wrecks, snorkel amongst the bay wildlife. You’ll see lots of reef fish and if you’re lucky, rays, wobbegongs and turtles. Beach cricket is also popular.
If you’re planning to spend the whole day on the beach, don’t forget to reapply your sunscreen frequently and liberally – the Queensland sun can be unforgiving.
Important: Please note that if you wish to visit Tangalooma Island Resort during your day trip, you’ll need to organise a Casual Day Visitor Pass. The passes are free, however each booking is limited to 6 guests in order to allow the resort to manage visitor numbers. More here.
UPDATE (September 2018): Tangalooma Island Resort is no longer accepting casual visitors. Here’s their statement: “At this time we are not accepting casual visitors at the Resort. We had to take the decision to forego additional revenue from casual visitors, to ensure that our Resort facilities are not overrun, and we can prioritise professional and timely service to those that have chosen to holiday with us. For those who want to enjoy everything Tangalooma and the greater Moreton Island has to offer but don’t wish to stay overnight, we offer day cruises departing from our Holt Street Wharf in Pinkenba, Brisbane.”
Need more than a day?
If you’re looking to stay a little longer than a day to get into some quad biking, do a desert safari or to dart around on sea scooters, Tangalooma Island Resort is currently offering a 3-Night Island Escape deal at AUD 297 per person (twin share). You’ll also receive a AUD 200 resort credit when you book a 3-night stay. This deal is valid for travel from February 10 to May 14, 2017. To book, call 1300 652 250 or visit the resort’s website here.
We’ve written previously about Tangalooma, which you read here.
This Post Has 0 Comments