Stunning Island 75 Minutes from Brisbane, Indigenously Known as Mulgumpin

 

 

Snorkelling in the Coral Sea among vibrant rainbow coloured fish.

Hand-feeding wild dolphins just off the shore.

Floating in an idyllic blue lagoon.

Hurtling down a sand dune on a boogie board.

Walking along expansive stretches of shimmering, golden sand.

These are just some of the many things you can do if you visit Moreton Island.

Set pretty much within Brisbane’s backyard, the beautiful piece of paradise is just a short 75 minute ferry ride away from the mainland. This makes it the perfect spot for tourists to check out during their exploration of the Queensland coastline, and for city folk to escape the pressures of the rat race.

Home to some of the best beaches near Brisbane, many of which are surfable, some 95% of the island comprises the Moreton National Park.

Its subtropical climate means you can visit it all through the year. And regardless of whether you are an adventurous traveller or just want to do nothing more than sunbathe during the day and drink cocktails at night, you won’t be disappointed when you get here.

 

Indigenous History

The traditional indigenous name for Moreton Island is Mulgumpin (pronounced Moor-gum-pin), which translates to the very apt phrase of ‘place of sandhills’.

It was so called by the Quandamooka’s Ngugi people, who are the traditional owners of the land, in which they have lived for over 2000 years.

These proud people have a very strong spiritual connection with both the surrounding sea and the land, and most speak one of two indigenous languages, Gowar and Quandamooka.

If you happen to meet a member of the Quandamooka’s Ngugi people during your visit to Moreton Island, try to remember to say Kooemba boodloonggun (pronounced Ko-em-bah bood-loongoon), which is their way of saying ‘hello!’

 

 

How To Get To Moreton Island

If you want to go to Moreton Island the best way for you to do this is to take a passenger or vehicle ferry from Brisbane.

There are two operators that can take you to the island. One option is to go on the Tangalooma passenger ferry (no vehicles allowed), which is laid on by the Tangalooma Island Resort and carries both guests and day trippers between the Tangalooma Wharf in Pinkenba on the Brisbane Wharf and the Tangalooma Jetty. Services run regularly throughout the day and you can see the timetable here

The other option is to take the Micat ferry which transports vehicles and passengers from Howard Street in the Port of Brisbane to Moreton Island. It also runs regular services throughout the day and you can see their schedule here.

As Moreton Island is the third largest sand island in the world behind K’gari and North Stradbroke Island, you should be prepared to drive on sand if you decide to take a 4WD vehicle with you.

 

Best Time To Visit Moreton Island

As Moreton Island is blessed with over 300 days of sunshine every year, it is one of the best islands to visit in Queensland all year round.

Generally, the high season in Mulgumpin runs from December to February. As you would expect, this is a time where many people choose to visit the island, which means prices tend to be higher and availability more scarce. During the winter months of June to August, you’ll find the cheapest rates for accommodation available, and less people. However, it might be a bit chilly for some to swim, sunbathe or sit outside at night.

For this reason, the shoulder season months of March to May and September to November are considered by many to be the best time to go to Moreton Island.

During this period, the skies are usually clear and the sun is normally out. The water temperatures are also quite manageable for most people.

Regardless of the time of year you go, you will find the weekends and school and public holidays will be much busier than most other times.

 

 

Things to do at Moreton Island

What makes Moreton Island such a terrific place to visit for a day trip or longer getaway is that there are so many different ways to fill up your days.

Of course you can sunbathe, swim, surf and go for long walks along Honeymoon Bay. But on top of that you can also do the amazing things I mentioned in the introduction.

Additionally, I highly recommend snorkelling at the Tangalooma wrecks, checking out the Cape Moreton Lighthouse and tobogganing on the Tangalooma Desert.

You also may want to go on any of these tours or more offered by Viator and Get Your Guide.

Moreton Island: Marine Discovery Cruise & Dolphin Feeding

Kayak, Snorkel & Sandboard from Brisbane or Gold Coast

Desert Safari Tour & Dolphin Viewing

Dolphin & Tangalooma Wrecks Snorkel Day Cruise & Lunch

Tangalooma Day Trip with ATV Quad Bike Tour

Eco Marine Safari Cruise and Snorkel

 

Moreton Island Accommodation

There are several places to stay on Moreton Island, and the most well known is the Tangalooma Island Resort which is positioned beautifully on the beach and offers an excellent selection of rooms, suites, houses and deluxe villas. It also counts a swimming pool, restaurants, cafe, children’s playgrounds and tour desk among its amenities.

You will also find several other holiday rental options scattered along the coastline and other parts of the island.

Check out this list of list of Moreton Island accommodation that is currently available for you to book right now.