Ultimate Guide for Moreton Island
- homeUltimate Guide for Moreton Island
Moreton Island (Mulgumpin) is one of Brisbane’s easiest escapes. It’s a giant sand island with shipwrecks to snorkel, dunes to slide down and wild dolphins that visit the jetty at dusk, and you can reach it by ferry in 75 to 90 minutes. Better still, you can do it as a day trip without a car.
This guide covers how to choose a Moreton Island day tour from Brisbane or the Gold Coast, which ferry to take, the best things to do, what it all costs and the permit rules if you’re driving.
| Traditional name | Mulgumpin |
| Getting there | Ferry from Brisbane, about 75 to 90 minutes depending on the operator |
| Day trip? | Yes, by ferry or guided tour from Brisbane or the Gold Coast |
| Getting around | 4WD only. All roads on the island are sand |
| Permit | A vehicle access permit is required if you drive. Camping permits are separate |
| Best time | Year-round. Summer for snorkelling and sand tobogganing, autumn for fewer crowds, roughly June to November for whale watching |
| Time needed | One day is enough for the highlights. Two or three days lets you explore and camp |
Moreton Island is the third-largest sand island in the world, sitting in Moreton Bay off the coast of Brisbane. Mulgumpin, its traditional name, is used by the Quandamooka People, the Traditional Owners, and means “place of sandhills”. Most of the island is protected as Gheebulum Kunungai (Moreton Island) National Park, renamed in 2021 and jointly managed by the Quandamooka People and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS).
There are no sealed roads. All tracks, including through the small settlements, are sand, so conventional 2WD vehicles aren’t allowed. Most visitors arrive near Tangalooma, the island’s resort on the west coast, where the famous shipwrecks sit just offshore.
If you’ve been to K’gari, think of Moreton as its smaller, closer-to-the-city cousin. For a bigger sand-island adventure, see our K’gari (Fraser Island) tours.
Most visitors see Moreton Island on a day tour. Tours cover the ferry, guides and activities, and some include pickup from Brisbane and the Gold Coast. They also solve the biggest practical problem: without a 4WD and a permit, you can’t get far from the jetty on your own.
| Tour | What you do | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Day Moreton Island Get Wrecked Tour | Guided snorkelling and transparent kayaking over the Tangalooma Wrecks, sand tobogganing and a 4WD tour. Brisbane and Gold Coast pickups. Rated 4.68 from 128 reviews | First-timers who want the highlights in one day |
| 1 Day Moreton Island 4WD Eco Sightseeing Tour | Cruise across Moreton Bay, a guided 4WD tour of the national park, Blue Lagoon, Cape Moreton Lighthouse and whale watching in season. Minimum age 5 | Scenery, wildlife and a relaxed pace |
| Moreton Island Snorkel, Sandboarding & 4WD Day Trip | Snorkel the wrecks, sandboard the dunes and travel by 4WD. Rated 4.73 from 15 reviews | Active travellers |
| Moreton Island Day Pass | Return ferry plus kayak, snorkel and paddleboard hire at Tangalooma, at your own pace. About 11 hours | Independent travellers on a budget |
| Tangalooma Wrecks Adventure Tour | Return ferry plus a choice of three activities at Tangalooma. About 11 hours | Travellers who want to choose their own activities |
| 2 Day Moreton Island Explorer | Two days and one night with transparent kayaks over the wrecks and meals included. Minimum age 4 | A weekend away |
| Moreton Island 3 Day 4WD Explorer | Three days and two nights camping with equipment provided. Minimum age 5 | Campers who want to see more of the island |
Prices vary by date and departure point, so check each tour page for today’s price. Up to 10% cashback is available on listed tours, with terms.
Book a guided tour if you don’t have a 4WD, don’t want to organise permits and ferries, or want your transport, guide and equipment bundled. It’s also the only practical way to see the northern highlights without driving yourself.
Go independent if you’re happy with one area. A Moreton Island day pass gets you a return ferry and equipment hire at Tangalooma, and you can snorkel, kayak and relax at your own pace. You won’t reach the lighthouse or the north end without a vehicle or tour.
Read each tour page for inclusions. Some tours exclude fees paid on the day, such as a national park levy. Lunch, drinks and equipment deposits can also be extra, so budget for them.
Pickups usually start early. Pickup times on one of our Brisbane tours start at early morning usually. After the ferry across Moreton Bay you’ll typically snorkel or kayak over the Tangalooma Wrecks, move inland for sand tobogganing or a 4WD tour, then have lunch before the return ferry. On the Get Wrecked tour, returns to Brisbane are usually around 6 pm and to the Gold Coast around 7 pm, with later returns in school holidays.
Both work. Brisbane departures are shorter, and the Gold Coast option adds travel time but saves you the trip north. Check the pickup points on each tour page before booking.
There are three main ways to cross Moreton Bay. They leave from different terminals, so check which one your tour or booking uses before you set off.
| Ferry | Departs from | Crossing | Takes vehicles? | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tangalooma Island Resort ferry | Holt Street Wharf, 220 Holt St, Pinkenba | About 75 minutes | No | Day trippers and resort guests |
| Micat vehicle and passenger ferry | 14 Howard Smith Drive, Port of Brisbane | About 90 minutes | Yes | 4WD travellers, campers and many day-tour operators |
| See Moreton catamaran | Rivergate Marina, Murarrie | About 75 minutes | No | Guided day trip, or a transfer to Bulwer |
The Micat runs on a demand-based timetable. In busy periods it can run up to five times a day, and in quiet periods it generally doesn’t run on Wednesdays, runs once a day on most days and twice on Fridays and Sundays. Its gates open one hour before departure.
Book early. Micat recommends booking at least four weeks ahead if you’re taking a 4WD over for a weekend or long weekend, about a week ahead for walk-on tickets and two weeks ahead in school holidays. For the September, Easter and Christmas school holidays, it recommends booking six months in advance, as popular sailings sell out about five months ahead.
The Tangalooma ferry requires pre-booking, and check-in opens at least an hour before departure. Sailings have been listed at 7:30 am, 10:00 am, 12:30 pm and 5:30 pm, with the day trip return at about 4 pm.
Fares change by season and demand, and third-party sites list very different numbers. Generally, ferries prices start from around $40 and could go up to $100 per person each way. Parking at the terminals is typically around $20 a day and the Micat terminal sells out of pre-booked parking on weekends, so car-pooling or a ride-share is smart.
You’ll need the Micat vehicle ferry and a vehicle access permit before you drive. Permits are booked through Mulgumpin Camping, not the Queensland National Parks Booking Service, and a permit must be in your name and displayed on your vehicle. Check tide times before driving on the beach, and remember all roads are sand.
Snorkel or kayak the Tangalooma Wrecks. Fifteen ships were sunk just off the west coast, creating an artificial reef covered in fish and coral. You can snorkel, paddle a transparent kayak or dive, and turtles and wobbegong sharks turn up now and then. Go with a guide if you can, as currents can be strong.
See wild dolphins at Tangalooma. Wild dolphins visit the resort’s jetty after sunset, and the resort runs supervised feeding sessions.
Whale watching. Humpback whales migrate past Moreton Island roughly from June to November, and Cape Moreton is one of the best lookouts. Our 4WD eco tour includes whale watching in season.
Swim at Blue Lagoon. This freshwater lake near the northern end of the island is a calm place to cool off, and mornings are usually quietest.
Sandboard or toboggan the dunes. The Desert, inland from Tangalooma, is where most people slide down the sand. Mount Tempest is often described as the world’s tallest coastal sand dune. Try it on the Snorkel, Sandboarding & 4WD Day Trip.
Drive the sand tracks. With a 4WD and a permit, you can drive the beaches and bush tracks. Plan around the tides and lower your tyre pressure.
Quad bike or surf. Tangalooma runs guided quad bike tours, and North Point has a right-hand surf break.
Cape Moreton Lighthouse. Queensland’s first lighthouse, lit in 1857, has a short walk to the top and sweeping coastal views, and a small museum in the old caretaker’s cottage.
Champagne Pools. These rock pools at the northern end are named for the foam as waves wash over the rocks. Visit at mid to high tide for the best effect.
Honeymoon Bay and North Point. Honeymoon Bay is beautiful but can have rips, so stay close to shore. North Point is a popular stop for a picnic.
Five Hills Lookout. A short sandy walk (about 1 km return) gives you views across the middle of the island.
Spend a day at Tangalooma. Use the resort’s beach, pools and cafes on a day pass, or watch the sunset over the wrecks.
Try night kayaking. Sunset Safaris runs guided night kayaking over the wrecks in lit, transparent kayaks.
Mulgumpin is a place of deep significance to the Quandamooka People, who have lived on the island for thousands of years. The joint management of the national park is a good reminder to follow park rules and respect cultural sites.
Moreton Island has a subtropical climate with warm days through the year, and autumn is a great time to visit, with blue skies and good water temperatures. Summer (December to February) is high season and best for snorkelling and sand tobogganing. Winter (June to August) is quieter and brings whale watching. Avoid school holidays if you want fewer crowds, and book early if you can’t.
For wider planning, see our guide to the best time to visit Australia.
Budgets vary by choice of your means to go. For an estimate, we have mentioned approximate pricing below for different activities. Check before you book as pricing tend to change.
| Activity | Pricing |
|---|---|
| Tangalooma ferry | Starts from $104 (return) |
| Micat passenger or vehicle ferry | Around $75 return for each walk-on passenger |
| Vehicle access permit | $61.80 AUD for monthly pass and $311 AUD for the annual pass |
| Camping | $7.75 per person per night |
Budget tip: A day pass is the cheapest way to get a taste, and a guided tour often works out better value once you add transport and activities.
The main options are Tangalooma Island Resort and national park campgrounds. Camping is only allowed at marked camping areas, and permits must be booked in advance through Mulgumpin Camping. Sites sell out quickly in peak periods.
Want to camp without the gear? The 3 Day 4WD Explorer includes camping equipment.
Yes. It’s close to Brisbane yet feels wild, with shipwreck snorkelling, giant dunes, wild dolphins and quiet beaches. It works as a day trip, a weekend or a camping trip, and you don’t need your own 4WD to enjoy it.
Yes. Take the Tangalooma ferry for a day pass, or join a guided tour that includes the ferry, a guide and a 4WD vehicle. You only need your own 4WD and permit if you want to drive yourself.
The Tangalooma ferry takes about 75 minutes from Holt Street Wharf, and the Micat takes about 90 minutes from the Port of Brisbane. The See Moreton catamaran takes about 75 minutes from Rivergate Marina.
Only if you’re driving or camping. A vehicle access permit is required to drive on the island, and camping permits are separate. Both are booked through Mulgumpin Camping. If you’re on a tour, your operator handles transport.
Yes. Day tours leave from Brisbane and the Gold Coast, and the ferry crossing is 75 to 90 minutes each way. Most day trips return to the mainland in the late afternoon or evening.
For most first-timers, the Get Wrecked tour combines snorkelling, kayaking, sand tobogganing and a 4WD tour. If you prefer scenery and wildlife, try the 4WD eco sightseeing tour.
The Tangalooma ferry departs from Holt Street Wharf in Pinkenba, the Micat departs from 14 Howard Smith Drive at the Port of Brisbane, and the See Moreton catamaran departs from Rivergate Marina in Murarrie.