A Moreton Island Travel Guide (Mulgumpin)

It was late January 2023, and I was queuing for the Moreton Island ferry in Brisbane when I first realised my goal in life.

As the 4WDs lined up to pack tightly onto the 90-minute ferry, I noticed a family get out of their sand coloured Land Cruiser 76 series. With fishing lines and a jet ski in tow, every cell in my body lit up to the adventure this family were about to embark on.

A weekend offline, on an island, in nature, with the kids rolling around in the wild. Heaven, right?

If you are someone who also lives for an off-grid adventure, cooking out under the stars and a bed that you can roll straight into the ocean from… you’re going to be as obsessed with Moreton Island as I am, and you’ll want to save this Moreton Island travel guide.

Moreton Island (Mulgumpin in the Indigenous Quandamooka language) is an absolute paradise located just off the coast of Brisbane in Queensland, Australia.

This raw and rugged island is one of the world’s largest sand islands and is one of the best 4WD adventures you can find along the east coast of Australia alongside Fraser island and North Stradbroke Island.

In this Moreton Island travel guide, I am going to share with you all of the best things to do on Moreton Island so that if you’re considering making your way over there, you’ll know exactly what kind of adventure to expect. I’ll also share the options you have to get over there, what to take with you and the best time of year to visit.

Notepads and pens at the ready…

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Getting To Moreton Island

Whilst Moreton Island is a 4WD-only island (no roads, just sand), you can still visit Moreton Island without a 4WD of your own. I have listed all the options below for you!

Getting to Moreton Island with a 4WD

If you have a 4WD or are renting one, book yourself onto the Micat vehicle ferry from the Port of Brisbane. Travelling on this vehicle barge allows you to fill your car with all your camping gear and transport everything across to the island to roam freely. Book online here.

• Price – Starts around $120 return for standard vehicles (lots of add-ons available)
• Duration – around 90 minutes.
• Tip – If you know your days, book well in advance! These ferries have limited space and they book out all the time. Keep an eye on school holidays and weekends as this is peak booking time.

Passengers Without Vehicles

If you don’t have a 4WD, do not fear; you can still explore this paradise in a few different ways.

Tangalooma (the one resort on the island) offers a passenger ferry, which gives you the option to come over for the day or you can stay overnight at their accommodation.

They currently have 4 ferries that depart from Brisbane’s Holt Street Wharf daily and tours that you can choose from if you want to see more of the island. See more here. I’ve heard you can also rent a 4WD from them, too.

• Price for a day return on the ferry: Around $99 return per adult, $59 per child.
• Duration: 75 minutes.

Best Time to Visit Moreton Island, Australia

Moreton Island is an epic year-round destination, so the best time to visit Moreton Island depends on what your priority adventure is whilst you’re here.

If it’s snorkeling, diving, and sand tobogganing you’re after – visit in the summer (December to February).

If it’s mild temperatures, fewer crowds, and great fishing conditions – visit in Autumn (March to May). This is the best chance to see dolphins and turtles active too.

If it’s whale watching and exploring the island with cooler temperatures that is your priority – visit in Winter (June to August).

Wildlife Spotting Calendar

• Dolphins: Year-round at Tangalooma Resort
• Humpback Whales: June to November, best viewed from Cape Moreton.
• Turtles: Active from September to March, nesting from November.
• Dugongs: Often seen in the protected waters near the island.
• Birdlife: Migratory shorebirds visit in spring and summer.
• Marine Life: Snorkelers can spot reef fish, wobbegongs, and rays.

1. 4WD around Moreton Islands Sand Tracks

Moreton Island is 37 kilometers long and 10 kilometers wide, consisting of 98% sand. So if your visiting with a 4WD, you’re in for a fun adventure.

You have the option of driving along the beaches (watch out for the tide) and using the inland sand tracks, which present contrasting tropical jungle views (see below).

Things to remember:

• You’ll need to purchase your 4WD permit before arriving on the island
• Lower your tire pressure on the ferry or bring portable equipment
• Take a screenshot of the tide times before you arrive so that you know when you can and cannot drive on the beaches!

2. Pull up somewhere and enjoy lunch/dinner in the wild

This is probably my favourite thing to do on Moreton Island.

I love that you have everything with you in your car and you can drive around until you feel inspired, hungry or tired… pull up, have a tip and get the camp stove out.

For the most part of the year, you’ll find yourself with spots all to yourself. The ultimate unplug from the world and the ultimate plug into nature and restorative time with friends / family.

You can find all of my favourite pull up and camp spots on the island in my Australia Google Map Legend here. You can open this map on your phone and navigate to my exact location pins!

Get lifetime access to my endless hours of research and time spent on the ground finding the best places to eat, drink, relax and explore in the area. You simply open the Google Map on your device and all my pins are at the touch of your fingertips.

3. Go snorkeling at Tangalooma Wrecks

Snorkelling the wrecks is up there with the best things to do on Moreton Island. You’ll see these wrecks as you arrive to the island on the ferry as they are right outside the Tangalooma Resort.

These 15 sunken shipwrecks create an artificial reef that is teeming with marine life. You can swim out from the beach, hire a kayak or head out in a clear canoe.

Seeing turtles, tropical fish, and dolphins are no uncommon experiences here at the Tangalooma Wrecks!

4. Camp out and cook under the stars

This is just IT for me.

Moreton Island offers many camping spots (5 camp zones and 5 campgrounds) that feel truly wild and unplugged from the matrix. Some of my favourites are Yellow Patch, North Point and Blue Lagoon.

Camping on Moreton Island is, without a doubt, one of the most relaxing, restorative adventures I’ve ever been on so if you’re looking to switch off, you’re heading to the right place.

All you need is your swag, your rooftop tent, or your camper set up and to book a site! Spots are inexpensive to book but it just means you can reserve a spot. Book here.

Things to remember:

• All camping permits must be purchased before you arrive on the island (there is no self-registration or reception on site).
• A camping tag must be displayed at your campsite at all times.
• A limit of one vehicle per campsite is allowed.

Get lifetime access to my endless hours of research and time spent on the ground finding the best places to eat, drink, relax and explore in the area. You simply open the Google Map on your device and all my pins are at the touch of your fingertips.

5. Visit Cape Moreton Lighthouse

Whilst driving around the north part of the island, be sure to stop at the island’s highest point, Cape Moreton.

Once parked up in the sand car park, take the 5 minute walk up to the top, where you can bathe in 360-degree views of the coastline. You’ll see exactly why this is a prime whale-watching spot from June to November.

Tip: Bring binoculars for spotting marine life!

6. Sand Tobogganing at The Desert

This is one of the most popular adventures to go on and one of the best things to do on Moreton Island if you’re down for a bit of adrenaline. From the beachside sand dunes to the popular spots of Little Sand Hills, Big Sand Hills, and The Desert, this is your chance to slide down some epic dunes at thrilling speeds!!

If this sounds like a bit of you, be sure to pack your sand board, some cardboard OR check out sand dune tours!

Tip: Wax up your board for extra speed!

7. Pitch up for the day and surf at North Point

North Point is one of my favourite spots on the island and is, as you may have guessed, located on the North of the island by Champagne Pools and Honeymoon Bay – two other spots you can check out whilst you’re up here.

North Point is where you’re most likely to find yourself a wave on this right-hand break.

It’s also a vibey spot to hang out for the day as many people drive along the beach and pitch up here to play games on the beach, cook up long, sunbake and surf.

Whether it’s for an hour, a morning or a whole day, hanging out at North Point is one of the best things to do on Moreton Island.

Just look at the photos below!

8. Spot the whales migrating

If you’re on a whale mission, you’ll want to visit between June and November to witness the Humpback whales migrate past the island. As previously mentioned, one of the best spots to see this spectacle occur is on the north of the island at Cape Moreton.

Or, of course, you could book a specialised boat tour to get up close and personal with the gorgeous species. Check out Tangalooma Whale Watching for more.

9. Stop off at Blue Lagoon for a swim!

On the east side of the island, a short drive down from the North Point, lies a crystal-clear freshwater lake surrounded by pure white sand – Blue Lagoon!

Blue Lagoon is a dreamy spot to cool off in, and if you visit in the morning, you’ll likely have calm waters and the place to yourself! There’s a camp ground nearby that you could book into, too, if you’re looking for somewhere to stay.

10. Visit Champagne Pools

These natural rock pools at the northern end of the island are named Champagne Pools because of the sparkling ‘champagne’ effect created as ocean wave’s crash over the volcanic rock & sandstone breakwall.

These pools are a great one to tee up with a visit to Honeymoon Bay and North Point beach!

Tip: Visit at mid to high tide for the full effect.

11. Walk up to Five Hills Lookout for views across the Island

This lookout is located along the west side of the island as you drive from Tangalooma (where the ferry drops you off) up to Cape Moreton and is one of the best things to do on Moreton Island because of the epic views it offers for a relatively short walking distance.

On the side of the sand track, when you arrive, there are a few casual parking bays, and you can complete this stop-off in around 25 minutes once you’ve walked and taken 10 minutes to enjoy the view.

I didn’t do this on my first visit to the island, but I loved adding it in this time because it gives you a different perspective across the middle of the island (the bush) and gives you a real concept of the size of Moreton Island!

12. Look out for Dolphins

Okay, so I knew seeing the dolphins was one of the best things to do on Moreton Island, but I had no intention of being a visitor of Tangalooma Resort to experience it. It’s a well-known fact that every evening, a family of wild dolphins visits Tangalooma Resort’s pier to interact with visitors and guests staying there.

However, we ended up with a pretty surreal experience as we arrived just south of the resort to take a morning dip in the water (around 6 am).

Two dolphins joined us and swam around us for about 10 minutes just meters away. SO surreal. A once in a lifetime experience that I am over the moon I got to share with my mumma!

If you’re keen to add a dolphin experience to your time here on Moreton Island, check out the Tangalooma Dolphin Feeding.

My Top tips for Visiting Moreton Island:

Remember to pack:

• Sunscreen, hat, and sunglasses
• Swimwear and towel
• Insect repellent
• First-aid kit

For 4WD Travelers

• Download Google Maps offline so that you can navigate even when you lose signal
• Recovery gear, tire deflator, and shovel (prepare for getting stuck!)
• Camping equipment and enough drinking water
• Printed or screenshotted tide charts (so that you don’t get caught out!)

I think that’s everything you need to know before visiting Moreton Island!

Trust me, get it on your bucket list or even better, round up your friends and book your ferry!

Have you been to Moreton Island, Australia?

What are the best things to do on Moreton Island, Australia? Anything you’d add to this Moreton Island, Australia bucket list?

Love as always and happy adventuring… 

Get lifetime access to my endless hours of research and time spent on the ground finding the best places to eat, drink, relax and explore in the area. You simply open the Google Map on your device and all my pins are at the touch of your fingertips.