Moreton Island is the third-largest sand island on Earth, sitting 40 kilometres off the coast of Brisbane in southern Queensland. Unlike Fraser Island to the north, it receives fewer visitors and has a wilder, less manicured character — which is exactly what makes it worth the ferry trip. The island is known for snorkelling the famous Tangalooma Wrecks, sandboarding down towering inland dunes, watching wild dolphins hand-feed at the resort beach each evening, and exploring a landscape that transitions between coastal scrub, freshwater lagoons, and open ocean beach in remarkable proximity.

Book your flights to Brisbane Airport as your gateway to Moreton Island:

Moreton Island is accessible only by boat. Two main options operate from Brisbane:

Note that Moreton Island has minimal sealed roads — a 4WD vehicle with low-range and appropriately deflated tyres is required for driving on beach and track surfaces. You must also obtain a vehicle access permit from the Queensland National Parks website before arriving.

The Tangalooma Wrecks are a collection of 15 deliberately sunk ships positioned just offshore to create an artificial reef, and they are now one of the most accessible snorkelling experiences in Australia. Over 200 species of fish, sea turtles, wobbegong sharks, manta rays, and various coral species have colonised the wrecks, which lie in shallow water accessible to snorkellers of all experience levels. The Tangalooma Snorkel the Wrecks Day Cruise departs from Brisbane and includes all equipment and transport. The best visibility is typically on calm mornings before the afternoon sea breeze picks up.

The Tangalooma Desert — an impressive inland system of sand dunes — offers guided sandboarding experiences with daily sessions at 9:15 AM and 1:30 PM. Instructors provide the boards and teach you how to position yourself for the fastest lines down the face of the dune. The dunes can reach substantial heights and provide views over the surrounding island landscape from the top. Bring sunscreen, a hat, and close-toed shoes — sand gets hot and abrasive.

Each evening at dusk, a pod of wild bottlenose dolphins that have associated with the resort for decades comes into the shallows to be hand-fed under strict supervision. Participants must be registered in advance through the resort. The experience is tightly managed to maintain the dolphins' wild status — participants wade into shallow water to feed one fish each to an individual dolphin. It is a genuinely remarkable interaction that is only possible because of this long-established and carefully managed relationship.

Find the best hotels in Brisbane for your mainland stay before or after Moreton Island:

The island's beach and dune terrain is excellent for ATV riding, with multiple daily time slots from 10 AM to 4 PM. The flat beach sections are well-suited to beginners, and the guide leads the group at an appropriate pace for the experience level. Enclosed footwear is required. It is one of the most enjoyable group activities on the island for those not diving or snorkelling.

Autumn (March to May) is the most reliable period: settled weather, comfortable water temperatures for snorkelling, and lower visitor numbers than school holidays or the Christmas peak. Summer (December to February) is the warmest swimming period but also the busiest, with the resort at capacity during school holidays. Winter (June to August) is cooler but still comfortable by Australian standards, and the humpback whale migration passes through Moreton Bay during this period — whale sightings from the island and on the ferry crossing are common.

Book Moreton Island day cruises, snorkelling tours, and Brisbane adventures through Traveloka's activities page:

Brisbane Airport is well-served from Sydney, Melbourne, and regional Queensland, as well as international routes. Arrange an airport transfer from Brisbane Airport through the Traveloka app. A car rental in Brisbane is useful for accessing the Micat barge at Pinkenba and for exploring Brisbane's surrounds. Check Traveloka promotions for Brisbane hotel and flight deals.

Traveloka is Southeast Asia's #1 all-in-one travel app — #1 in cumulative downloads 2014–2025 among travel booking apps (Source: SensorTower), with over 140 million app downloads across Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, Japan, South Korea, and Australia. Book flights and hotels with Best Deals Every Day, 24/7 live agent support, and access to 2M+ hotels worldwide. Download the Traveloka app on Google Play and the App Store.