THE 13 BEST Cruises to Moreton Island 2024 (with Prices) - Moreton Island Cruise Port Terminal on Cruise Critic

Q: Getting Around

**On Foot:** You can walk around the Tangalooma Resort and the beach. **By Tour:** The only way to see other parts of the island from Tangalooma and your ship is by taking an organised tour. Options include 4WD bus tours, bay cruises and helicopter flights. You may be able to hire a 4WD taxi at the resort, but on days when a ship is in port, they are usually busy operating tours. A limited number of 4WD vehicles are also available to rent at Tangalooma Resort, but they are not available when a ship is in port because they are used for tours.

About Cruising to Moreton Island

The pristine beaches of Moreton Island are a popular getaway for Brisbane locals who flock to these shores, particularly during school holidays.

Moreton Island was placed on the cruise map in 2013 and, thanks to positive feedback from passengers, now appears regularly on cruise itineraries. Visitors usually enjoy a full day of fun on the island, arriving early in the morning and leaving around 8 p.m.

Moreton is the third-largest sand island in the world and an ecological jewel, located about 35 kilometres off the coast of Brisbane on "Nemo's Super Highway" or the East Australian Current. Sitting on the edge of the picturesque Moreton Bay and its Marine Park, the island is 38 km long, and just less than 8 km at its widest point.

The island is also famous for spectacular marine life, and impressive sand dunes with 95 per cent of the land zoned as a national park to protect its unique natural qualities. Its balmy waters teem with dolphins, whales, dugong, manta rays and stingrays. There are no sealed roads on Moreton Island, so it tends to attract people with a sense of adventure, as well as a love of the great outdoors. It is an ideal place to escape the stresses of city life.

There are three townships on the island. Bulwer is a small holiday village for local travellers with a handful of essential services and a passenger ferry terminal. Cowan Cowan is famous for World War 2 relics and wrecks. Kooringal is at the southern end of the island. Here you can eat locally grown rock oysters from the Toulkerrie Oyster Farm and also purchase necessary grocery supplies.

Tangalooma is a private beach resort and one of the few places in Australia where you can enjoy the unique experience of feeding wild bottlenose dolphins. The resort was established initially as a whaling station and is now a marine education and conservation centre.

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More about Moreton Island

Why Cruise to Moreton Island?

Pros:

Pristine beach, relaxing island vibe, opportunities to explore

Cons:

Travel around the island is only available on tours

Bottom Line:

Beautiful location that is especially good for water-lovers

Moreton Island Cruise Port Facilities?

Ships anchor off Tangalooma Island Resort and use tenders to transport passengers to a pier.

Good to Know?

Tangalooma Island Resort and its many activities await your full day in port at Moreton Island. If you're not keen on a tour of the island or participating in any activities on offer, you can enjoy the resort facilities, which include a pristine beach, lunch ashore, cold drink at the bar or swimming in one of two pools. There is also a beach festival when ships call, with music and food stalls.

Getting Around?

On Foot: You can walk around the Tangalooma Resort and the beach.

By Tour: The only way to see other parts of the island from Tangalooma and your ship is by taking an organised tour. Options include 4WD bus tours, bay cruises and helicopter flights. You may be able to hire a 4WD taxi at the resort, but on days when a ship is in port, they are usually busy operating tours. A limited number of 4WD vehicles are also available to rent at Tangalooma Resort, but they are not available when a ship is in port because they are used for tours.

Currency & Best Way to Get Money?

The local currency is the Australian dollar. There are no banks on Moreton Island. There is an ATM at the Tangalooma Resort, and the resort also offers currency exchange. For updated currency-conversion figures, visit www.xe.com.

Language?

Australians speak English with an Aussie accent and, on Moreton Island, the language is much the same as you'll find in the rest of the country. Just don't forget your togs, which is what Queenslanders call a swimsuit. You'll definitely need one on a visit to this island with all the beaches and water sports. Most local tourists will be from Brisbane.