Snapshot
| Where | About 40km off Brisbane in Moreton Bay · The Micat vehicle ferry terminal at Port of Brisbane is about a 30 to 40-minute drive from the city centre · Holt Street Wharf at Pinkenba handles the passenger catamaran to Tangalooma · The island runs 37km north to south and is 10km at its widest |
|---|---|
| Getting there | 4WD essential beyond the resort — QPWS says high clearance and low range are strongly recommended, and that all-wheel drives without true 4WD function and low-clearance vehicles are not suitable for inland tracks and soft sand · No sealed roads anywhere on the island · Ferries run daily with bookings essential — the Micat carries vehicles from Port of Brisbane to the Tangalooma Wrecks in about 75 to 90 minutes, and the Tangalooma passenger catamaran runs from Holt Street Wharf in about 75 minutes · A vehicle access permit must be bought and displayed before you drive on the island |
| Best time | May to October — the drier months on the bay, mild days of 12 to 22°C through winter, and humpback whales passing Cape Moreton from June to November |
| Worst time | December to February — the humid, stormy stretch of the Queensland wet season and the busiest school holidays, when barge slots and campsites go first and afternoon storms roll through |
| Time needed | Two days to snorkel the wrecks, climb Mount Tempest and drive the northern tracks; three days to reach the southern end and Rous Battery |
| Cost | A vehicle access permit for the Moreton Island Recreation Area and, if you are camping, a camping permit — both booked through Mulgumpin Camping before you arrive, with QPWS publishing 'fees apply' rather than dollar figures · Camping under the Queensland fee schedule from 1 July is $7.75 per person per night or $31.00 per family per night, and children under 5 camp free · Ferry fares are extra — the Micat vehicle barge and the Tangalooma passenger catamaran each charge separately |
| Facilities | Toilets and showers at Ben-Ewa, Comboyuro Point, Blue Lagoon, North Point (trailer site) and The Wrecks, and no toilets or showers in the five beach camping zones · Fuel only as 20L drums of unleaded at Castaways at Bulwer — QPWS tells you to carry what you need from Brisbane and limits fuel in developed camping areas to 50L · Limited mobile reception, with a QldParks wifi hotspot at The Wrecks · No dogs in any campground or camping zone, and camping is not permitted on the beach |
| Best for | Brisbane 4WD campers, families snorkelling the wrecks on a day trip, and Moreton Bay island weekenders |
| Difficulty |
3 of 5 — Challenging
The walks are short and mostly easy; the access is what sets the grade. Beach driving needs a high-clearance 4WD, tyre pressures and tide sense, and Mount Tempest is a stepped climb in soft sand to 285m. |
Driving there? Car hire and what to check →
Mulgumpin means 'place of sandhills' in the Quandamooka language: a 37km wedge of sand 40km off Brisbane, 10km at its widest, forming the eastern edge of Moreton Bay with Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island) and holding most of its 19,000 hectares as Gheebulum Kunungai (Moreton Island) National Park and the Moreton Island Recreation Area. Mount Tempest rises 285m near the middle of the island and is thought to be the highest stabilised sand dune in the world, and Cape Moreton at the northern tip carries Queensland's first lighthouse, built of island sandstone in 1857. Most of the island falls inside the Moreton Bay Ramsar Site, and the only rock anywhere on it is the headlands around Cape Moreton and North Point. This is Quandamooka Country: the Ngugi people are the Quandamooka clan of Mulgumpin and lived here for thousands of years on fish, shellfish, dugong and turtle, with the dolphin as their totem.
People come to snorkel the Tangalooma Wrecks, drive the beaches and walk the dunes, and all three need planning: there is no sealed road, a vehicle access permit has to be displayed before you drive, and camping in the five campgrounds and five beach zones is booked before you arrive.
Go if…
- You want a sand island within reach of the city — 40km off Brisbane, with a vehicle crossing of about 75 to 90 minutes
- You want to snorkel from the shore: the Tangalooma Wrecks sit just off the western beach inside Moreton Bay Marine Park
- You have a high-clearance 4WD and want beach driving with no sealed roads — permit, tyre pressures and tide sense included
- You are happy camping behind the foredunes on what you carried in — five campgrounds and five beach zones, all booked in advance
Skip it if…
- You drive a 2WD, an all-wheel drive or a caravan — QPWS says all-wheel drives without true 4WD function and low-clearance vehicles are not suitable for the inland tracks and soft sand, and does not recommend caravans or camper trailers on the narrow western roads
- You want to turn up without booking — permits are arranged before arrival with no self-registration, and ferry bookings are essential, with extra services only in the school holidays
- You need reliable phone reception and a doctor nearby — coverage is limited, there is no resident doctor on the island, and medical assistance is hours away
- You are chasing a quiet off-season escape in December and January — the humid, stormy weather lands on top of the busiest school holidays
What to expect
Reviewed
You step off the barge onto sand and stay on it: there is not a metre of sealed road on Mulgumpin, and the western beach, Middle Road and the North Point and Bulwer–Blue Lagoon roads are soft, narrow going that QPWS says suits high-clearance 4WDs with low range. You plan the driving around the tide. Beach travel works best near low tide, QPWS asks you to stay off the beach two hours either side of high tide, and at Mirapool vehicles are banned three hours either side of high tide to protect migratory shorebirds, with a 30km/h limit and a bypass road at other times. There is no beach driving past Tangalooma Island Resort or through Cowan Cowan township — take the bypass roads. After heavy rain and rough seas expect washouts, exposed rocks and debris, and the western beach between Kooringal and Tangalooma is not always trafficable even at low tide.
Behind the beaches the island is all dune and heath. The Desert, south of Tangalooma, is one of the few places in the region where Pleistocene dunes have been naturally destabilised and are actively reworked — bare mobile sand that people toboggan down — and the Big and Little Sandhills work the same way further south. Mount Tempest sits inland at 285m and gives the whole island at once: the bays, the surf coast, the bay's shipping channels and, on a clear day, the Glass House Mountains. The track up is stepped and soft, with seats along the way, and QPWS marks it difficult. The freshwater is different again: Blue Lagoon is a window lake, with the water table showing at the surface, and Honeyeater Lake 60m off the road is a perched lake, its solid bottom holding rainwater above the water table, with musk ducks turning up on it occasionally.
The western shore is where the island's human life sits. Tangalooma Island Resort occupies a stretch of beach backed by the wrecks, and its guests feed wild dolphins from the shore each evening — one of the few places in Queensland where that happens. The Wrecks camping area sits beside the ferry landing, walk-in and tent-only, and the beach in front of both is one of the busiest pieces of sand on the island, with vehicles coming and going from the barge and the resort. North along the coast are the small settlements of Cowan Cowan and Bulwer, where Castaways sells fuel in 20L drums and groceries, and the island's only real facilities cluster. None of it is sealed, and none of it is quick to reach from anywhere else.
The northern end is the island's one piece of rock: Cape Moreton's headlands are sandstone, conglomerate and rhyolite, the only rock anywhere on Mulgumpin, and the light station on top was built from island sandstone in 1857 as Queensland's first lighthouse. You walk to it on the Cape Moreton track and you stay outside — entry to the lighthouse, its grounds and the lighthouse keeper's wife's grave is not permitted. From June to November humpback whales pass the cape on their annual migration, and this is where most people watch them from shore. More than 180 bird species are recorded on the island, seabirds, waders, forest birds and birds of prey among them, and 31 are migratory species protected under international agreements. Moreton Bay is a feeding and resting point for over 50,000 migratory waders from September to April, and the osprey breeds here despite being regionally vulnerable in south-east Queensland. Pied oystercatchers and red-capped plovers work the sand, turtles nest in summer, and sea snakes occasionally wash up — keep clear and tell a ranger.
Culture sits under all of it. This is Quandamooka Country and Mulgumpin is Ngugi country: the island's shell and bone scatters, large shell middens and a stone quarry record a marine-based life lived here for thousands of years, and the island is protected under Queensland's Aboriginal cultural heritage law. If you come across cultural heritage, do not pick it up or move it — keep it clear of harm and contact QYAC on (07) 3415 2816. Take nothing home, not shells, not sand, not wood, give shorebirds on the beach a wide berth, and stay on the marked tracks so the dune systems keep what holds them together.
Where to stay
Most people base at Tangalooma Island Resort or Castaways at Bulwer, camp in one of the five campgrounds or five beach zones, or do the whole thing as a day trip from Brisbane on the passenger ferry.
When bookings open: Camping and vehicle access permits for the Moreton Island Recreation Area are booked and managed through Mulgumpin Camping, owned and operated by QYAC, and every permit must be obtained before you arrive — there is no self-registration on the island. Queensland's booking service opens camping bookings 12 months ahead and advises at least six weeks ahead for popular sites and holiday periods; barge crossings book separately and fill first. Official booking page. Checked 9 November 2026. Booking dates for every state.
| Stay | Guest rating | Best for | Distance | Style | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tangalooma Island Resort | 4.1 / 5 (8,146 reviews, Tripadvisor) | Day-trippers and families who want beds, meals and the wrecks off the beach | Western shore at Tangalooma · about 75 minutes by passenger catamaran from Holt Street Wharf, Pinkenba | Beachfront resort with hotel rooms, villas, houses, units and apartments, several dining venues and wild dolphin feeding each evening; helicopter flights, sunset cruises, snorkelling and diving run from the resort | Check rates |
| Castaways Moreton Island | Not rated | Glamping and self-contained groups at the island's western township | Bulwer, on the western shore north of the barge landing | Glamping tents with queen beds and bunks sleeping 2 to 5 with a private en suite, plus 2- and 3-bedroom self-contained apartments, a café and licensed store; fuel sold in 20L drums | Check rates |
| Comboyuro Point camping area (QPWS) | Not rated | Tent and camper trailer campers who want a sheltered bay and an evening fire | Western shore, north of the Tangalooma barge landing | Large shady campground on a sheltered bay with toilets and showers; tent and camper trailer sites, campfires allowed in existing fireplaces; no generators, no caravans, no dogs | Book now |
| Ben-Ewa camping area (QPWS) | Not rated | First-time campers and families close to the barge landing | Western shore, a short drive north of the Tangalooma barge landing | Valley campsite with shady sites and a sheltered bay; tent and camper trailer sites, toilets and showers, campfires allowed; no caravans, no generators, no dogs | Book now |
| The Wrecks camping area (QPWS) | Not rated | Walk-on guests arriving on the passenger ferry | Beside the ferry landing at the Tangalooma Wrecks on the western beach | Tent-only walk-in sites in a sheltered bay with toilets, showers and a QldParks wifi hotspot; no campfires, no generators; the beach here is busy with barge and resort traffic | Book now |
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What to do here
8 walks & sights
Tangalooma Wrecks snorkel and dive
The Tangalooma Wrecks lie just off the island's western beach in the sheltered water of Moreton Bay Marine Park, and they are the reason most people come. You can swim out to them from the shore, with the barge landing and the resort next door and vehicles moving along the beach, or take a guided boat trip with gear and a guide. Below the surface the wrecks are the island's reef: the sunken structure holds fish and marine life in water that is calmer than the open ocean side, which is why first-time snorkellers and families start here. Operators run guided snorkel trips with wetsuits and kayaks, and the resort runs diving and snorkelling sessions from its own beach. Check the tide and the Mulgumpin conditions report before you swim out, give the boats room, and treat the wrecks as a marine park site — nothing comes up with you.
Mount Tempest lookout track
Mount Tempest rises 285m and is thought to be the highest stabilised sand dune in the world. The track is steep, stepped and soft underfoot, with seats along the way, and the summit gives 360 degrees over the island, Moreton Bay Marine Park and, on clear days, the Glass House Mountains. From the western beach it is 6km along Middle Road and then 2.4km to the car park; the trailhead is also reachable from the eastern beach. Note the numbers disagree across sources — the things-to-do page gives 2.5km return and the track page 2.2km — and both allow 2 hours, so treat it as a half-day outing and carry water.
The Desert sandboarding
The Desert is bare mobile sand on Pleistocene dunes south of Tangalooma — one of the few places in the region where old dunes are naturally destabilised and actively reworked. You walk in from the western beach 620m south of Tangalooma Island Resort, or take the 1.2km track from the southern end of the resort with its stairs, then a final 250m to the sand itself. Slide down the dunes, watch the wind redraw them, and expect sand through everything you own. The sources disagree on the walk: the track page lists 1.1km return and 1 hour, the things-to-do page a 4km circuit and 2 hours, so plan on the shorter figure and explore on foot once you are there.
Cape Moreton track and lighthouse
Cape Moreton is the island's rocky northern tip and its most substantial view. The track starts 100m from the southern end of the car park, reached either by a 2km drive along the North Point–Cape Moreton Road from North Point Beach or up Harpers Track from the eastern beach. On top stands Queensland's first lighthouse, built of island sandstone in 1857 and still standing over the headland's sandstone, conglomerate and rhyolite cliffs. Entry to the lighthouse, its grounds and the lighthouse keeper's wife's grave is not permitted, so you walk the track and view the tower from outside. From June to November humpback whales pass the cape on migration and this is the island's standard whale-watching vantage; the sources list the walk as both 1.5km return and a 1.5km circuit, so allow an hour either way.
Honeymoon Bay and Five Hills lookout
Two short walks at the north end that pair with Cape Moreton. The Honeymoon Bay track leaves from the North Point campground and drops 700m return to a sheltered cove under the headland. The Five Hills lookout, 1km return and 30 minutes from North Point Road, is a moderate climb to views over Heath Island, the Five Hills area and the coastal swamps behind them. Both are easy to fold into a northern day, and North Point has both tent and camper trailer sites if you want to stay near them; the tent site has no showers and no campfires.
Northern Island discovery drive
The Northern Island discovery drive is a 55km circuit with the same start and finish, and Queensland Parks allows 6 hours for it with stops. It is the way to take in the north of the island in a day: surf beaches, freshwater lagoons, lookouts, fishing spots and Queensland's oldest lighthouse strung along one loop. The route runs over inland sand tracks and beaches, so you want high clearance and low range, and the western side carries extra rules. At Mirapool, vehicle access is prohibited three hours either side of high tide to protect migratory shorebirds; at other times the limit is 30km/h and there is a bypass road. The Blue Lagoon and Honeyeater Lake walks sit off the western end of the loop, and the Five Hills lookout and Cape Moreton track are near the top of it. Check the Mulgumpin conditions report before you leave, because the western beach between Kooringal and Tangalooma is not always trafficable.
Blue Lagoon and Honeyeater Lake walks
Two freshwater stops on the western side that take less than an hour between them. Blue Lagoon is a window lake — the water table showing at the land surface — reached on a 500m return walk from the ocean beach north of the Bulwer–Blue Lagoon Road, with toilets before the car park. Honeyeater Lake is the opposite kind of lake: perched, with a solid bottom holding rainwater above the water table, and its viewing platform is 60m return from the car park on the Bulwer–Blue Lagoon Road. Musk ducks turn up on Honeyeater Lake occasionally, and both walks are the easy option when the dunes are too hot to climb.
Rous Battery track
The only real walk on the southern half of the island, and the one that ends at history: the World War II coastal fort ruins at Rous Battery. It is listed two ways — 9.8km one way and 3.5 hours each way on the things-to-do page, 12.55km return and 3.5 hours on the track page — so allow most of a day and carry water. You can walk in 12.5km from Tangalooma Island Resort or drive 11.3km south of Middle Road to the track's start, where there is no designated parking; the track is also reachable by boat. From the battery it is about 400m to the ruins and 700m to Rous Lookout. Bore water near the ocean beach must be treated before drinking.
Moreton Island (Mulgumpin) itineraries: 1, 2 or 3 days
3 plans
One day: the wrecks and Mount Tempest
- Morning. Board the vehicle ferry at Port of Brisbane — the crossing to the Tangalooma Wrecks takes about 75 to 90 minutes and bookings are essential — air down on arrival and snorkel the wrecks straight off the western beach in Moreton Bay Marine Park.
- Midday. Drive 6km along Middle Road from the western beach, then 2.4km to the Mount Tempest car park and climb the lookout track: 2.5km return, 2 hours, difficult, with steps and seats on the way to 360-degree views over the island and the bay.
- Afternoon. Come down and drive south to The Desert for sandboarding, then head back to the barge for the last crossing. Drive the beach around low tide — QPWS asks you to stay off it two hours either side of high tide — and check the Mulgumpin conditions report before you roll.
No nights. Base in Brisbane and treat the day as a loop from the Port of Brisbane ferry terminal. A vehicle access permit for the Moreton Island Recreation Area must be bought and displayed before you drive, booked through Mulgumpin Camping, with QPWS publishing only 'fees apply', and the ferry fare is on top. Carry your own fuel and drinking water — Castaways at Bulwer sells unleaded fuel in 20L drums only, and permits limit fuel in developed camping areas to 50L.
Two days: Cape Moreton and a night behind the dunes
- Day 1. The day trip above — snorkelling the Tangalooma Wrecks, the 2.5km return Mount Tempest lookout track and sandboarding at The Desert — with the night at Ben-Ewa or Comboyuro Point camping area.
- Day 2, morning. Drive to the top of the island and walk the Cape Moreton track, 1.5km return and 1 hour, past the 1857 sandstone lighthouse; humpback whales pass the cape from June to November and entry to the lighthouse and its grounds is not permitted.
- Day 2, afternoon. Walk Honeymoon Bay from the North Point campground, 700m return and 20 minutes, then Five Hills lookout from North Point Road, 1km return and 30 minutes, before driving back to the barge.
One night, and the walks are the Mount Tempest lookout track, the Cape Moreton track, the Honeymoon Bay track and the Five Hills lookout. Camp at Ben-Ewa or Comboyuro Point — $7.75 per person per night or $31.00 per family per night under the Queensland camping fee schedule, booked before you arrive through Mulgumpin Camping, with the camping tag displayed at your site. Fuel is 20L drums of unleaded at Castaways at Bulwer only, so cross with a full tank, and no dogs are allowed in any campground or zone.
Three days: the southern end and Rous Battery
- Day 1. The day trip above — the Tangalooma Wrecks, the Mount Tempest lookout track and The Desert — with the night at Ben-Ewa or Comboyuro Point camping area.
- Day 2. Cape Moreton, Honeymoon Bay and the Five Hills lookout as in the two-day plan, with the second night at the same camp or further south at Blue Lagoon.
- Day 3, morning. Walk the Rous Battery track to the World War II fort ruins at the island's southern end — 9.8km one way and 3.5 hours, with the track page listing it as 12.55km return — and treat the bore water near the ocean beach if you use it.
- Day 3, afternoon. On the way out, walk Blue Lagoon, 500m return and 20 minutes, and Honeyeater Lake, 60m return and 5 minutes, then drive to the barge for the crossing back to Port of Brisbane.
Two nights, and the walks are the Mount Tempest lookout track, the Cape Moreton track, the Honeymoon Bay track, the Five Hills lookout, the Rous Battery track, the Blue Lagoon walk and the Honeyeater Lake walk. Camp at Ben-Ewa, Comboyuro Point or Blue Lagoon — $7.75 per person per night or $31.00 per family per night, booked before you arrive through Mulgumpin Camping. Carry or treat all drinking water, expect limited mobile reception, and remember there is no fuel except 20L drums at Castaways at Bulwer.
Experiences worth booking
Moreton Island Eco Marine Safari Cruise and Snorkel
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Moreton Island & Tangalooma Wrecks Snorkel Cruise - Brisbane
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Moreton Island Day Trip (Kayak, Snorkel & Sandboard) frm Brisbane or Gold Coast
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Moreton Island & Tangalooma Wrecks Snorkel Cruise - Gold Coast
Check availability →Tours run by independent operators and booked on Viator. Booking links go to Viator, and we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices are "from" figures in AUD, checked 2026-11-09.
Suggested gear for Moreton Island (Mulgumpin)
17 items
- Water bottles or a hydration bladder Carry at least 2 litres per person on the walks.
- Water treatment tablets or a filter Treat creek and camping-area water before drinking.
- Sun hat, sunscreen (SPF 50+) and sunglasses
- Sturdy, broken-in walking shoes or boots
- Day pack (20–30 L)
- First aid kit, including blister care
- Insect repellent
- Head torch with spare batteries
- Lightweight rain jacket
- Personal locator beacon Mobile coverage is unreliable in remote parks.
- A tyre pressure gauge and a 12V compressor Every inland track and the beaches are soft sand, and pressures decide whether you float over it or dig in. Drop them after the barge, check with the gauge, and re-inflate before the sealed run home.
- Recovery gear: shovel, snatch strap, towrope or traction pads QPWS lists these as the essential recovery kit for the island, and all-wheel drives without true 4WD and low-clearance vehicles are not suitable. Carry your own rather than rely on a passing vehicle.
- A printed tide table and the Mulgumpin conditions report QPWS advises against beach driving two hours either side of high tide, and Mirapool is closed to vehicles three hours either side. A paper table works when reception does not.
- Fuel from the mainland, in approved containers Castaways at Bulwer sells unleaded in 20L drums only, and fuel in developed camping areas is limited to 50L. Fill up in Brisbane and carry enough for the beach driving.
- A gas or manufactured-fuel stove Campfires are allowed only in existing fireplaces where permitted, and the fire season runs September to March, so a stove is the dependable way to cook.
- Snorkel, mask and a rash shirt The Tangalooma Wrecks are the island's signature snorkel site, in sheltered Moreton Bay Marine Park water. Guided trips supply gear, but your own mask fits properly.
- Offline maps and downloaded permits Mobile reception is limited across the island, with a QldParks wifi hotspot only at The Wrecks camping area. Download maps, permits and tide times before you leave the mainland.
How this compares
Moreton Island (Mulgumpin) vs Bribie Island National Park
Bribie is the other Moreton Bay island and the only one you can drive onto — a bridge from the mainland, sealed roads to the townships, and 4WD beach driving with a vehicle permit in the national park at the northern end. It is simpler, closer and calmer, with Pumicestone Passage for kayaking and dugong, dolphin and turtle spotting. Choose Bribie for an island weekend with no ferry to book; choose Moreton Island for real sand-island access, the wrecks and dunes you can climb.
- Difficulty
- 2 of 5 — Moderate
- Access
- Bridge access from the mainland, sealed roads to townships; high-clearance 4WD and a vehicle access permit needed for the national park and recreation area
- Best for
- Families · kayak and calm-water trips · 4WD beach days without a barge
Moreton Island (Mulgumpin) vs Great Sandy National Park (Cooloola)
Cooloola is the mainland version of the sand-island trip: long beaches, coloured cliffs, perched lakes and beach driving from Rainbow Beach and Inskip Point, with vehicle permits and tidal driving and no crossing to book. It is bigger country and better for camping runs. Choose Cooloola for beach driving and lakes without a ferry; choose Moreton Island for the wrecks, the resort and a shorter trip from Brisbane.
- Difficulty
- 3 of 5 — Challenging
- Access
- 4WD beach driving from Rainbow Beach and Inskip Point on the gazetted Great Beach Drive; vehicle permits required and tidal driving applies
- Best for
- 4WD campers · Rainbow Beach-based trips · beach drives with no barge timetable
Moreton Island (Mulgumpin) vs Noosa National Park
Noosa is the coast trip that needs no 4WD at all: sealed paths and headland tracks past pandanus and paperbark to ocean lookouts, with a town of cafes and beaches at one end and surf at the other. It is the easier, more comfortable weekend. Choose Noosa for walking and swimming straight from town; choose Moreton Island for sand driving, snorkelling the wrecks and camping behind the dunes.
- Difficulty
- 2 of 5 — Moderate
- Access
- Sealed roads and walking tracks from Noosa township; no permit for walking, park-and-walk access
- Best for
- Walkers · surf and swimming without a 4WD · visitors with no vehicle
Before you go
- Two permits, both before you arrive: a vehicle access permit for every vehicle driving on the Moreton Island Recreation Area, attached to the left of the windscreen or another prominent position, and a camping permit if you are staying, with the camping tag and booking number displayed at your site. Both are booked through Mulgumpin Camping, owned and operated by QYAC, and there is no self-registration on the island.
- Book the barge or ferry early. Ferries for vehicles and passengers run daily with extra services in the school holidays and long weekends, and bookings are essential. The Micat carries vehicles from Port of Brisbane to the Tangalooma Wrecks in about 75 to 90 minutes; the passenger catamaran runs from Holt Street Wharf, Pinkenba, in about 75 minutes.
- Take a 4WD. QPWS says high clearance and low range are strongly recommended and that all-wheel drives without true 4WD function and low-clearance vehicles are not suitable for inland tracks and soft sand. Caravans and camper trailers are not recommended on the narrow Middle, North Point and Bulwer–Blue Lagoon roads, which get very rough in dry weather.
- Carry your own fuel. Castaways at Bulwer sells unleaded fuel in 20L drums only — contact them before your trip to confirm supply — and QPWS tells you to carry adequate fuel from Brisbane. Vehicle access permits limit fuel kept within a developed camping area to 50L.
- Carry drinking water. There is no resident doctor on the island and medical assistance can be hours away, so campers need to be self-sufficient; bore water near the ocean beach, such as at Rous Battery, must be treated before drinking.
- Drive to the tide, not the clock. Travel is best around low tide and QPWS advises against driving two hours either side of high tide, sometimes longer. At Mirapool vehicles are excluded three hours either side of high tide to protect migratory shorebirds, with a 30km/h limit and a bypass road otherwise. Beach driving is prohibited at Tangalooma Island Resort and through Cowan Cowan township — use the bypass roads.
- Check the Mulgumpin conditions report, the park alerts, the Bureau of Meteorology and any fire bans before you leave. The fire season runs September to March, campfires are allowed only in existing fireplaces where permitted and only outside fire bans, and firewood cannot be collected on the island.
- Assume no phone reception and no dogs. Coverage is limited across the island with a QldParks wifi hotspot at The Wrecks camping area, so download maps, permits and tide times before you leave the mainland, and note that dogs are not permitted in any campground or camping zone.
When to go
seasons & the hard months
May to October is the window. Those are the drier months on the bay, winter days sit in the 12 to 22°C range that QPWS publishes for the island, and the walking and dune climbing are far more comfortable than in summer. It is also whale season from June to November, with humpbacks passing Cape Moreton where the track gives you a shore-based vantage, and the migratory waders start arriving from September. Autumn is worth a look too: Tourism Australia names it one of the best times here, for blue skies and water still warm enough to snorkel the wrecks.
December to February is the hard stretch. The island runs 22 to 30°C through the warm months, humidity climbs, thunderstorms come through the afternoon, and the wet season brings the debris and washouts that close beaches to driving. It is also the busiest and dearest period, when barge slots and the five campgrounds go first around the school holidays. The fire season runs September to March, which is worth remembering if you plan on a campfire — allowed only in existing fireplaces where permitted, and not at all during fire bans.
Questions
6 answers
Yes, unless you are staying at the resort or arriving on the passenger ferry. There are no sealed roads anywhere on the island. QPWS says four-wheel-drive vehicles are essential, high clearance and low range are strongly recommended, and all-wheel drives without true 4WD function and low-clearance vehicles are not suitable for the inland tracks and soft sand.
A vehicle access permit for every vehicle that drives on the island, and a camping permit if you are camping. Both are booked and managed through Mulgumpin Camping, owned and operated by QYAC, and must be obtained before you arrive — there is no self-registration. Display the permit on the vehicle and the camping tag with your booking number at your campsite.
QPWS publishes 'fees apply' rather than dollar figures on the park pages, so check Mulgumpin Camping for current permit prices. Camping under the Queensland fee schedule from 1 July is $7.75 per person per night or $31.00 per family per night, with children under 5 free. Add the ferry — the Micat vehicle barge and the Tangalooma passenger catamaran both charge separately.
Yes. The passenger catamaran runs from Holt Street Wharf, Pinkenba, in about 75 minutes and drops walk-on guests at Tangalooma, where the resort, the wrecks and The Wrecks camping area are all within walking distance. Guided day tours from Brisbane and the Gold Coast cover the wrecks, The Desert and the northern sights by 4WD.
No. Camping is not permitted on the beach or outside designated sites. Camping is in five campgrounds — Ben-Ewa, Blue Lagoon, Comboyuro Point, North Point and The Wrecks — and five beach zones, and every site is marked with a totem. Campfires are allowed at some sites in existing fireplaces and not at others, and no dogs are permitted anywhere.
The Tangalooma Wrecks off the western beach, inside Moreton Bay Marine Park. The water is sheltered compared with the open ocean side, the wrecks are swimmable from the shore, and operators and the resort run guided trips with wetsuits and kayaks. Check the tide and conditions before you swim out.
Nearby & next
Official information
Always check current alerts before you travel.