day trip to tangalooma from redcliffe

Moreton Island Eco Marine Safari Cruise - Redcliffe, Brisbane

Go on an unforgettable cruise into the sheltered crystal clear waters of Moreton Island and its Marine Park. This haven is home to many playful dolphins, the rare and shy dugongs, huge sea turtles and even whale watching encounters during the winter months.

Description

• Fantastic eight hour day cruise on the water
• Experience dolphins, dugongs and turtles free in their natural habitat
• Guided Snorkel and Fish Feeding Tour at the Tangalooma Wrecks
• Marine Eco Safari tour

This cruise is not to be missed and will give you an amazing insight into the magnificent marine life which exists on Brisbane’s doorstep. Don't miss the chance to encounter dolphins, turtles and dugongs on this adventure, as well as the chance to see whales during the month of June - September. This provider has an outstanding 98% success rate of spotting!

This experience is part of the Responsible range because they are ECO certified by Ecotourism Australia.

Experience Details

Fitness and experience.

• Those choosing to participate in the Guided Snorkel and Fish Feeding tour of the Tangalooma Wrecks must be able to swim. All participants snorkelling will be required to complete a health questionnaire prior to entering the water. Some pre-existing medical conditions (eg asthma, heart conditions, weight etc) may prevent you from joining the guided snorkelling tour

What to Bring/Wear

What is supplied.

• Eco cruise with informative commentary
• Morning tea, coffee and biscuits
• Fresh healthy lunch
• Free time on the beach
• Afternoon tea, coffee & fresh fruit
• Ice cold water (bring own bottle to refill all day)
• Guided Snorkel tour through Tangalooma wrecks

More Information

• Check in is on the boat at 7:30am, return to Newport Marina at 4pm
• Cruises may be cancelled upon the discretion of the cruise operators taking into account the weather conditions of the day.
• Please note you MUST be able to swim to participate in this activity .  Due to Queensland Workplace Health and Safety Legislation and Risk Assessments, participants are unable to snorkel alone at the Tangalooma Wrecks whilst on the cruise
• There is a high probability that you will see dolphins, dugongs and turtles, however this cannot be guaranteed as all the marine life are untamed and free in their natural habitat
• Eftpos and cash accepted onboard

Cancellation Policy

• Change your booking up to 7 days before the start time of your experience
• Changes are not permitted within 7 days of your experience
• Late arrivals or no shows may result in you forfeiting your experience

  Available Dates

Newport Marina (Scarborough)

Related Experiences

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Snorkel, Swim and Explore Moreton

Brisbane day cruise and eco marine safari.

Spend a day off the beaten track at one of Brisbane’s best kept secrets, Moreton Island. Snorkel the crystal clear aqua water of the Tangalooma Wrecks and experience pristine white sandy beaches and an abundance of marine life such as dolphins, turtles and dugongs that all call this paradise home.

Moreton bay Sunset Cruise

Unwind with friends and family and let us take you on an unforgettable sunset cruise along Moreton Bay. Take in the breathtaking views whilst enjoying a delicious complementary beverage and grazing box. Our live musicians will serenade you as the sun sets out on the water

Experience Pristine Moreton Island and its Marine Park

Moreton Island Day Tours – Sunset Safaris

Visiting Moreton Island and looking for some adventure?! Look for the Big Red Bus as the Micat lands on Moreton. The friendly team at Sunset Safaris offer hourly or daily hire of sandboards, snorkels and kayaks. They also offer day trips on Moreton without the hassle of organising it yourself! You can even buy ferry and day pass tickets at the same time on their website.

• Call Sunset Safaris On: 1300 553 606
• Learn More and Book at: www.sunsetsafaris.com.au

Night Kayaking on Moreton Island

Meeting Place: Tangalooma Wrecks (you make your own way to the Island via the Micat)

Book Night Kayaking

Moreton Island Equipment Hire – Kayaking & Snorkeling

Snorkeling hire Adult $35 per 90 minute hire | Student / Backpacker $30 per 90 minute hire | Child $25 per 90 minute hire

Book Equipment

Sandboarding on Moreton Island

Want to try something even more adventurous? Then try our heart stopping plummet down the dunes on a sandboard!

Brisbane’s closest sandboarding experience – climbing the world’s tallest coastal sand dune and reaching speeds of up to 60km/h! Wax up your sandboard on Moreton Island and feel the rush as you hit speeds of up to 60km/h sliding, carving and tumbling your way back down – the higher you go up the faster you come down! Get ready to burn some serious calories as you climb back up our amazing sandhills! You might have been dumped before but we guarantee you’ve never had this much sand lodged in ya dacks until now! Try the desert for some serious sand boarding fun and action. The only place to go sandboarding in Brisbane!

Sandboards are available onboard Micat on your journey over.

It’s a 30 minute trip to the sand hill from the Micat launch. You can go with Sunset who will take you there and back or simply buy a board from the MICAT and DIY!

Moreton Island Get Wrecked 1 Day Tour

This is the ULTIMATE ECO Adventure Day Tour in Queensland. Book Tour

Moreton Island Cape Moreton Scenic Day Tour

Our mission is to make your visit to Moreton Island more than just a beautiful place to go, but an experience to remember! Book Tour

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The Best Moreton Island Tours

A visit to Moreton Island is on most family’s bucket list, particularly those who love the great outdoors.  However, not everyone owns a 4WD and renting one can be terribly expensive, not to mention super daunting for those without any 4WD experience, which is why I’ve put together this guide on the best Moreton Island tours , so no one has to miss out!

A day trip to Moreton Island can be pricey, particularly for families with a couple of kids.  However, as I mentioned above, so is hiring a 4WD, not to mention the vehicle driving permit and the barge price!  However, the best Moreton Island tour makes things super easy, taking you to all the island highlights, so you don’t have to worry about individual costs.

If you do have your own 4WD or don’t mind hiring one, I recommend you go yourself and spend a few days exploring the island.  You can find our guide on things to do on Moreton Island here and our guide to Moreton Island family accommodation here .  However, for everyone else – this guide on the top Moreton Island day trip options is for you.

This guide will cover a range of Moreton Island day tour options and a few multi day tours too. It covers tours that depart from various places, including Brisbane, Redcliffe and the Gold Coast.

Are you planning a trip to Queensland? Have any questions? Join our Queensland Travel Planning Facebook group here now! It’s the perfect place to ask any questions and to be inspired!

This post may contain compensated links.  Please refer to my disclaimer here for more information.

Page Contents

• 1 Best Moreton Island Tours
• 2.1 Tangalooma Wrecks and Snorkel Tour
• 2.2 Tangalooma Island Resort with Dolphin Feeding
• 2.3 Tangalooma Day Trip with 3 Activities
• 2.4 Moreton Island Get Wrecked Tour
• 2.5 Full Day 4WD Tour
• 2.6 Day Trip at Tangalooma
• 2.7 Moreton Island Snorkel and Sandboard
• 2.8 Moreton Island Day Trip with Scuba Dive
• 2.9 Whale Watching and Tangalooma Resort Day Pass
• 2.10 2 Days Explorer Tour
• 2.11 2 Day Camping Tour
• 3 Gold Coast to Moreton Island Day Trip
• 4 Redcliffe to Moreton Island Day Trip

Best Moreton Island Tours

Below is a simple table where you can easily see all the different Moreton Island tours in this guide.  The table below makes it easy to compare tours and decide which day tour to Moreton Island is right for you.

Brisbane to Moreton Island Day Trip

While Redcliffe is the closest point on the mainland to Moreton Island. the majority of tours depart from Brisbane.  There are quite a lot of tours to choose from – however, given there is so much to do on Moreton Island, you’ll find that most tours cover one or two activities and often include some free time on the beach.  So when choosing a day trip to Moreton Island from Brisbane, you’ll need to decide whats activity you want to do and then consider if you want the tour to includes things like lunch or transfers.

Below is a range of Brisbane day trips Moreton Island offers and a brief description of what each tour covers.   Also included is information on where you can book your Brisbane to Moreton Island day trip – it generally doesn’t matter where you book from as the price will be the same – nevertheless, we give you options when available.

Tangalooma Wrecks and Snorkel Tour

One of the most popular activities on Moreton Island is a guided snorkelling tour of the Tangalooma Wrecks.  So for a good value day tour Moreton Island offers, which includes snorkelling, consider this Tangalooma Wrecks and snorkel tour.

This tour includes a cruise to Moreton Island, including time for spotting marine life on the way.   With any luck, you’ll see dolphins, turtles and even dugongs!  During your Brisbane to Moreton Island cruise , your guide will also provide a bit of commentary about the marine life you see.

On arrival at the island, you’ll join a guided snorkel tour of the Tangalooma Wrecks, where you’ll see loads of colourful subtropical fish.  It will then be time to enjoy a tropical buffet lunch on the boat, after which you’ll have some free time for relaxing on the beach.

In addition, this day trip from Brisbane to Moreton Island includes morning tea, all your snorkelling gear, and transfers can also be arranged from Brisbane or the Gold Coast for an additional fee.

This Moreton Island day cruise operates from mid November to early May and departs from the Rivergate Marina in Brisbane from 9.30 am, returning at 5 pm.  Pick up from the Gold Coast is at 7.30 am and 8.40 am from the Brisbane CBD.

The tour is $159 per adult and $129 per child (3-13 yrs).  Transfers from either the Gold Coast or Brisbane are an additional $20 per person.

Click the following links for information or to book: Experience Oz (departs Brisbane or Gold Coast | Viator (departs Brisbane) | Viator (departs Gold Coast)

Tangalooma Island Resort with Dolphin Feeding

In addition to the Tangalooma Wrecks, a 4WD tour to the Desert and feeding the resident dolphins are super popular activities on Moreton Island.  So if you’d rather go sandboarding than snorkelling and feeding dolphins than coming face to face with fish, then this day tour Moreton Island has might be what you’re looking for.

This tour starts at 8.45 am, where you’ll cruise from Brisbane to Moreton Island.   You’ll then have access to a range of activities at the Tangalooma Island Resort, including the resort’s two swimming pools, restaurants and bars.

You’ll then have a choice of one of three activities. You could join a 4WD tour to the island’s Desert, where you’ll have the option of sand tobogganing down one of the islands’ giant sand dunes. If you prefer, you can do the 1.5 hour snorkelling tour of the wrecks or take the Marine Discovery Cruise, where you’ll go in search of marine animals.

In the evening, you’ll join the nightly dolphin feeding program, where you’ll get the opportunity to feed one of these magical creatures before heading home.  The boat will arrive back in Brisbane at 8.40 pm.

This Moreton Island 1 day tour, includes transfers from Brisbane hotels and a lunch voucher ($20 per adult and $15 per child) which you can use at one of the Tangalooma restaurants or cafes.

Click the following links for information or to book: Experience Oz

Tangalooma Day Trip with 3 Activities

If you’re heading over to Moreton Island with younger kids and the dolphin feeding makes for too long of a day, then this three activity Tangalooma day trip may be a better fit.  This tour gives you a choice of a range of different activities, so you can pick and choose what best suits your family.

This tour departs Brisbane at 8 am from Pinkena.  You’ll then cruise over to the island, where you’ll get to make use of all of Tangalooma’s facilities.  You can go swimming, start a beach volleyball game, or relax around the restaurants and bars.

You’ll also choose 3 paid activities from a great list of 8 different things.  There’s a segway tour, SUP hire, guided snorkelling tour, banana boat rides, beach bike hire, fish feeding tour, kayak hire or even fishing gear available.

When you’re not off on an adventure, you’ll be able to relax along the beach or make the most of the free activities on offer at the resort.  

Lunch is not included in this Tangalooma Resort Moreton Island day cruise , so bring a picnic or choose to eat at any of the resort’s restaurants and cafes.

There is also an option on this tour to pay an additional $45 per person and stay for the dolphin viewing.  Otherwise, the boat arrives back in Brisbane at 5.15 pm.

Click the following links for information or to book: Viator

Moreton Island Get Wrecked Tour

This Moreton Island Tour is great for those wanting to do all the island’s most popular activities.  On this tour, you’ll snorkel or kayak the Tangalooma Wrecks, sandboard down the island’s largest sand dunes, enjoy lunch on the beach and more.

This tour departs bright and early with transfers from Brisbane or the Gold Coast – or you can self drive to the ferry.  Once you get to Moreton Island, you’ll head on over to the Tangalooma Wrecks, where you’ll take a guided snorkelling tour.  You’ll then enjoy a picnic lunch followed by some kayaking.

Now to see some of the island’s inland highlights.  You’ll jump on board a 4WD where you’ll take the inland track to the Desert.  Here you’ll get the opportunity to climb one of these giant sand dunes and sandboard down.

If there is still time to spare, you’ll get some free time to chill on the beach or maybe have a swim before heading back to the mainland.

This tour includes transfers to and from the Gold Coast or Brisbane, lunch, wetsuits, kayaks and snorkelling gear.

Full Day 4WD Tour

If you’ve been to Moreton Island before and seen most of the more popular attractions, then this day trip might be what you’re after.  This full day 4WD tour takes you to some of the island’s attractions on the eastern side and northern tip of the island, which day trippers don’t always get to see.

On arrival at the island, you’ll board a 4WD and head off along the beach to the Blue Lagoon.  Here you’ll get to swim in this beautiful lagoon and afterwards enjoy a picnic lunch.

After lunch, you’ll head on over to Cape Moreton, where you’ll see the old lighthouse – the first one to be built in Queensland.  You can then swim in the gorgeous Champagne Pools or take a walk down to Honeymoon Bay.

You’ll then continue driving along the beach, where you’ll see the famous Tangalooma Wrecks before boarding the ferry to head back to Brisbane.

This tour includes transfers to and from either the Gold Coast or Brisbane and lunch.

Day Trip at Tangalooma

If you’re looking for the cheapest tour that will get you over to Moreton Island, then this day trip to Tangalooma Island Resort is it!  It’s the cheapest tour in this guide and will allow you to make use of all the free facilities at the resort (including the pool) as well as a few other activities.

This tour departs Brisbane at 7 am and once you arrive on the island, you’re pretty much free to do as you please.  Your tour gives you complete access to all that the Tangalooma Island Resort offers.  You can swim in the pools, play tennis, play in the playground and relax on the gorgeous stretch of beach right outside the resort. In addition, you’ll get all the snorkel gear you need to go and explore the wrecks, as well as kayak and SUP hire.

Lunch isn’t included, so to save costs, bring over a picnic.  Or you’re welcome to eat lunch at any of the resort’s restaurants and cafes.

Your ferry back to Brisbane departs the island at 4 pm, giving you a full day to enjoy Moreton Island.

Click the following links for information or to book: Get Your Guide | Viator

Moreton Island Snorkel and Sandboard

If you’ve never been to Moreton Island and want to do the two most popular activities – snorkel and sandboard – then you’ll want to sign up for this day trip. Given this tour includes snorkelling, sandboarding and lunch, it offers great value for money.

On this tour, you’ll depart Brisbane at 7 am.  As soon as you arrive on Moreton Island, you’ll jump on board a 4WD and head to the Desert – where you’ll find some of the island’s largest sand dunes. If you’re game, you’ll then sandboard down one of the dunes, reaching speeds of up to 50km.

After your sandboarding experience, you’ll head to the Blue Lagoon, where you can swim.  Afterwards, you’ll enjoy a picnic lunch on the sandy beach.

Next up, you’ll head to the famous Tangalooma Wrecks, where you’ll join a guided snorkel tour.  Another option is to kayak around the wrecks if you prefer.

Overall this tour offers first time visitors to Moreton Island great value for money.  It covers the most popular activities and includes lunch.

Moreton Island Day Trip with Scuba Dive

Like to dive?  If so, this Moreton Island day trip with scuba diving is the perfect tour for you.  As well as getting to spend the day hanging at the Tangalooma Island Resort, this tour also includes a dive around the famous Tangalooma Wrecks.

This tour will have you spending the day enjoying all the facilities around the Tangalooma Resort.  As well as having access to all the free activities and swimming pools, you’ll also get 1 hour of SUP hire, 1 hour of snorkel equipment, 1 hour of kayak hire and of course, your dive.

Whale Watching and Tangalooma Resort Day Pass

If you’re heading to Tangalooma Resort during whale watching season, why not join a tour which includes some whale watching.  As well as getting to spend the day enjoying all that the resort has to offer, you’ll also take a 3 hour cruise watching the whales around the island.

As well as your whale watching cruise, you’ll get to relax around the resort.  You can make use of all the free activities such as swimming in the pools, dining at the restaurants and cafes and relaxing along the beach.

You’ll also be served lunch on board the whale watching cruise.

If you want to upgrade your day trip, you can stay to watch the dolphin feeding or actually take part in the dolphin feeding.

Click the following links for information or to book: Whale Watching only | +Watch Dolphin Feeding | +Dolphin Feeding 

2 Days Explorer Tour

If you want to see all the islands highlights, you’ll definitely need more than one day, which is where this 2 Day Explorer Tour comes into play.  On this Moreton Island 2 day tour, you’ll snorkel, sandboard, see marine life and more!

You’ll spend the morning of your first day on the island, relaxing on the beach and either kayaking or snorkelling the famous Tangalooma Wrecks.  Next up, you’ll visit the Desert, where you’ll find some of the islands’ largest sand dunes and if you’re game, you can sandboard down one.

In the afternoon, you’ll head to Castaways, where you’ll be staying for the night after enjoying dinner.  

On the following day, you’ll visit more of the island’s highlights, including Champagne Pools, Honeymoon Bay, North Point and the lighthouse at Cape Moreton.

These Moreton Island 4WD tours are great for those that want to see all of the island’s best attractions over two days.  It includes all your activities, meals, transport and accommodation, making it quite good value for money.  It even includes transfers from Brisbane and the Gold Coast should you need it.

2 Day Camping Tour

If you like the idea of camping on beautiful Moreton Island but don’t have your own gear, then this 2 Day Camping Tour is one to consider.  It’s a great way to experience all the best activities the island offers as well as visiting all the popular places.

Over your two days on the island, you’ll join a guided snorkel tour of the famous Tangalooma Wrecks, sandboard down some of the island’s largest sand dunes, climb up Five Hills Lookout and swim in the tranquil Blue Lagoon.  You’ll also visit Cape Moreton and Queensland’s oldest lighthouse, Honeymoon Bay and more. 

This is a great way to see all of the island’s best attractions over two days, particularly those who don’t have their own 4WD or camping gear.  The tour includes all your activities, meals, transport and camping gear.

Gold Coast to Moreton Island Day Trip

If you’re staying on the Gold Coast and keen on heading over to Moreton Island for the day, then you’ll need to head to Brisbane and join one of the tours above.  

If you have your own vehicle, you can join any of the above tours.  However, even if you don’t have your own transport, some of the tours above offer transfers from the Gold Coast.  In the tour descriptions above, I’ve noted if the tour provides transfers from the Gold Coast.

Redcliffe to Moreton Island Day Trip

While Redcliffe is geographically closer to Tangalooma, only one tour goes from Redcliffe to Moreton Island – the Dolphin Wild Island Cruise.

This tour departs from Redcliffe at 8.30 am and the journey to Moreton Island takes around 50 minutes.  On route, you can even experience boom netting!

On arrival at Moreton Island, change into your swimming gear and join a guided snorkelling tour around the famous Tangalooma Wrecks (although this is an optional extra – $20 per person).  You’ll also have plenty of free time for relaxing on the beach and swimming in the ocean.

This tour includes morning tea, a buffet lunch and afternoon tea.

Click the following links for information or to book: Experience Oz | Get Your Guide | Viator

______________________________________________________________________

Hopefully you found this guide on the best Moreton Island tours helpful.  If you have more time, I highly recommend you do your own trip over to Moreton Island and stay a few days.  See our guide for things to do at Moreton Island with kids here and our guide on where to stay on Moreton Island here .

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Dolphin & Tangalooma Wrecks Cruise

Sorry, we are out of season..

We can’t wait to bring back our amazing team in November 2025, with our exciting new vessel and land based activities.  Reach out to our team to book your next adventure in advance!

Cruise with The Experts

Take a journey with us to the pristine waters of Moreton Bay Marine Park.

Our full-day tours are all about freedom and flexibility, allowing you to choose the pace of your day from deeply relaxed to high-energy adventure. Snorkel around the Tangalooma Wrecks, spot the big three: dolphins, dugongs and sea turtles, swim in crystal clear waters, spend time exploring untouched beaches or kick back on our boat and enjoy the licensed bar onboard. Do it all or do as little as you please.

Locally owned and operated, you will soon discover why See Moreton is TripAdvisor’s #1 Brisbane Boat Tour Company

What to Bring

• Getting Here

Your Day at a Glance

We’re all about freedom + flexibility, allowing you to choose the pace of your day from high energy adventure to deeply relaxed with no hidden fees. Do it all or do as little as you please.

Snorkeling Tour

Our naturalist guides have been visiting the Tangalooma Wrecks for over a decade and will ensure you see the very best that this underwater treasure has to offer.

Marine Discovery

Join us in spotting dolphins, dugongs, turtles, and birdlife accompanied by expert commentary to foster a deeper connection with the natural and cultural heritage of the region

Tropical Lunch Buffet

When all that adventuring works up an appetite, we’ve got you covered with a delicious tropical buffet lunch, as well as morning tea, sliced season melons and fruits in the afternoon

Free Island Time

There’s plenty of free time to cool off with a swim, relax on white-sand beaches, climb one of the famous sand dunes or challenge your friends to a game of beach soccer.

Fish Feeding Session

The Tangalooma Wrecks are home to an eye-watering 200 species of fish. Join our guides as they lead a fish feeding session – a firm favorite with the little ones.

• Paddle Boarding

Explore the calm waters surrounding the island at your own pace by stand-up paddle board. Keep your eyes peeled for abundant marine life in the crystal-clear waters below.

Tour Itinerary

Order and times of the itinerary and the snorkeling location may vary due to daily conditions and operational requirements.

• Gold Coast pickup (optional)
• Brisbane pickup (optional)
• Check-in opens, Rivergate Marina
• Depart, Rivergate Marina 
• Arrive, Moreton Island
• Snorkel the Tangalooma Wrecks 
• Tropical Buffet Lunch
• Free Island Beach Time & Paddle Boarding
• Marine Discovery Cruise
• Depart, Moreton Island
• Arrive, Rivergate Marina

7:30 am Gold Coast pickup (optional)

8:40 am Brisbane pickup (optional)

9:00 am Check-in opens, Rivergate Marina

9:30 am Depart, Rivergate Marina

10:45 am Arrive, Moreton Island

11:00 am Snorkel the Tangalooma Wrecks

12:00 pm Tropical Buffet Lunch

1:00 pm Free Island Beach Time & Paddle Boarding

2:30 pm Marine Discovery Cruise

3:45 pm Depart, Moreton Island

5:00 pm Arrive, Rivergate Marina

You have the whole day to enjoy Moreton Island, don’t forget to pack a day bag! No need to worry about bringing snorkel gear or beach games, we’ve got all that covered!

Whether you’re driving yourself or jumping on one of our coach transfers, we have all the details to get you to the departure marina on time! Check below prior to your day trip to Moreton Island to ensure you’re ready to go.

Check-in: 9:00 am Depart: 9:30 am Return: 5:00 pm (approx.)

Jetty/Wharf A, Rivergate Marina, 17 Rivergate Place, Murrarie QLD.

*Free street parking available or 10$ a day on site*

Self-driving from Brisbane City We recommend leaving by 8:30 am

Self-driving from the Gold Coast We recommend leaving by 7:30 am

Or jump on a coach transfer and let us get you there in time!

All-day enjoying the beauty of Moreton Island, with the freedom to spend it as you please.

3 – 13 Years

0 – 2 Years

SPECIAl      (RRP $716.00) 2 Adults + 1 Child + 1 Child FREE

The VIP Captain’s Lounge

Take your island adventure to the next level with our VIP Captain's Lounge experience. Offering the best views onboard and an upmarket, spacious area that is yours to enjoy for the entire day, this is genuinely the most luxurious way to explore the region. Exclusively available to a small number of guests, book early to avoid disappointment.

Acknowledgement of Country

See Moreton acknowledge the Traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Owners of the land, sea and waters on which we operate and recognise their custodianship of culture and Country for over 60,000 years.

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Day Trip to Tangalooma & Snorkeling at the incredible Shipwrecks.

• Post author: Elyse
• Post category: Australia
• Post last modified: 18/04/2022
• Post comments: 8 Comments

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Home » Travel Guides » Australia » Day Trip to Tangalooma & Snorkeling at the incredible Shipwrecks.

If you’re looking for an incredible day trip from Brisbane or the Gold Coast, Tangalooma Island Resort needs to be on your list! Tangalooma is on Moreton Island and only a 75-minute ferry ride from Brisbane. And the best part is, Tangalooma has one of the most unique and easily accessible snorkeling spots in southern Queensland.  

Recently my husband and I celebrated our two-year wedding anniversary, and for occasions like this, we always like to go away. The original plan was to be in Italy but then of course COVID ruined that. So taking advantage of the beautiful state we live in, we thought a day trip to Tangalooma would be perfect. Tangalooma Island Resort was absolutely stunning, the water (although a little cold) was amazing, so blue and crystal clear.  

There’re so many options when it comes to visiting Tangalooma. You can simply just book the ferry over and do your own thing for the day, or there are heaps of tour & accommodation options. We booked the ‘Beach Day Cruise’ through Tangalooma Island Resort for $89 each. This pack is basically a look after yourself kind of day. Which was perfect for us! Also, it’s the best value for money because it covered your ferry tickets, use of the resort facilities, and includes lunch vouchers, that could be used at any of the cafes & restaurants.  

How to Get to Tangalooma

The ferry departs from the Holt Street Wharf in Brisbane. We drove up from the Gold Coast and that took us just over an hour. There’s plenty of free parking on Holt Street or it’s $15 a day to park at the ferry terminal. If you’re flying in, the ferry terminal is only a 10-minute drive from Brisbane airport.  

When we first arrived on the island all I could think about is getting to the beach, the water looked incredible. Luckily the pier is right in front of the resort. The beach is really long so there was plenty of room for everyone to have their own space. The ocean was calm, very clear, and the most amazing color.  

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Snorkeling at the Tangalooma Shipwrecks

The best part about the day was snorkeling at the shipwrecks. There are 15 shipwrecks laying only a short swim from the shore. In 1963 these ships were deliberately sunk to create a break wall for smaller boats.

There are snorkeling tours you can book but honestly, you don’t need to! From the resort, it’s a 25-30 minutes walk, straight down the beach to the shipwrecks. Then from the shore, we swam out in under 5 minutes.

The only thing you’ll need to do is check the tide times, generally, the best time to snorkel is around 1.5 hours before low tide. Our plan was to go then but the wind was starting to pick up so we decided to go a bit earlier. By the time we got in the water it was about 2.5 hours before low tide and it was actually the most perfect time. In most areas, the visibility was very good and the currents weren’t too strong. We snorkeled for about an hour, didn’t see any turtles or dolphins but so many fish, and the wrecks looked awesome.

If you’re not keen on getting in the water, Tangalooma Island Resort offers glass-bottom boat and kayak tours. And, we took our own snorkeling gear but it’s possible to hire some on the island.

Day Tours & Accommodation at Tangalooma Resort

If you wanted to stay on the island for longer the accommodation at Tangalooma Island Resort looked beautiful and the rooms have the most gorgeous ocean views. There are also so many tours and activities available. Moreton Island is the world’s third-largest sand island, so during my next visit, I definitely want to go 4 wheel driving and sand tobogganing.

If you’re there in the evening you could take part in the unique opportunity to hand feed, wild bottlenose dolphins!

Book tours & activities on Moreton Island here.

Have you visited Tangalooma before? Comment below and tell me what you love most about this island.  

Thanks for reading,  

Happy Travels  

Book Your Day Trip or Holiday to Tangalooma Here;

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Where to Next?

If you want to travel around more of Australia, check out my Ultimate Guide to Travel Down Under . Which includes heaps of ideas for your Australian bucket list!

Searching For The Best Flights

Without a doubt the best site for comparing and booking flights is Skyscanner. Just click here to compare flights and get the best prices with Skyscanner. 

Booking Accommodation  

Then when it comes to booking accommodation; if you’re after a hostel the best place to search is HostelWorld.

Or, if you’d prefer a hotel or resort,  Booking.com or Agoda  are two of the best sites out there, they consistently return cheap rates.

Get Your Cashback

Before you book though don’t forget to activate your  Rakuten browser extension so you get cashback on these bookings. 

Don’t know what Rakuten is? Read my guide here!

And, Don’t Forget Travel Insurance 

Unfortunately, everything doesn’t always go to plan but travel insurance will protect you when it comes to illness, injury, theft & cancellation. I never travel overseas without travel insurance, it’s just not worth the risk! 

Cover-More is a trusted company and they also have COVID-19 benefits available. 

Elyse is the author & content creator behind A World To Live. After traveling to over 40 countries, she has a passion for discovering new places. Elyse is a money-conscious traveller who loves writing independent travel guides to help her readers get the most out of their travels.

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This post has 8 comments.

Hi Elyse! Great post. Thank you for sharing it. The snorkelling looks like so much fun. I love your blog and will definitely be coming back to it when I finally get to travel Australia 🙂

Thank you so much Trea, really appreciate it. Hopefully, the borders open soon

Ah, I love Australia. Can’t wait to go back when the borders open! This island looks absolutely incredible and is now on my bucket list 😍

Yay, that’s awesome, and it’s so good how close it is to Brisbane.

Thanks for this helpful post! Snorkeling the shipwrecks would be amazing and I’d love to go. I appreciate your photos and your tips!

Thank you Erica, you’re very welcome

What an incredible mini holiday to celebrate your marriage! I love that you don’t even need to book a tour, you can just wander down and see the shipwreck! The beaches look incredible too!

Thank you, yeah it was all so amazing, the water was perfect

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