Moreton Island

Moreton Bay, to the east of the city of Brisbane and its suburbs, is very much the city's playground, a wide expanse of relatively calm water dotted with many surprisingly unspoilt islands of different sizes and varying character. The bay extends some 160 km from Caloundra in the north almost to Surfers Paradise in the south. The bay's southern navigation entrance is the Gold Coast Seaway. It is a haven for wildlife - spotting dolphins, whales, turtles and manta rays, and its vast array of birdlife is a popular pass time. The bay's heritage protected wetlands, mudflats, and waterways are some of the healthiest in the region, supporting seasonally up to 25 % of Australia's bird species. Moreton Bay is also a popular destination for recreational anglers and is used by commercial operators who provide seafood to market. A number of ferry and water-taxi services travel over the bay either to and from islands or on day and half-day sightseeing and fishing tours.

Moreton Island

Moreton Island

The second largest sand island in the world after Fraser Island, Moreton Island is a wonderful holiday destination on Brisbane's doorstep. The island is blessed with untouched scenery, crystal clear lakes and lagoons amongst tall sand dunes, abundant wildflowers and pristine beaches. Here you can hand-fed dolphins or dive or snorkel amongst the mysterious wrecks off Tangalooma and colourful coral reefs around its shores. The adventurous can try quad biking, four-wheel driving or sand tobogganing, or just swim or laze on the beach and watch the silhouettes of fisherman as they cast their lines into the surf in the lingering twilight.
The island covers an area of approximately 170 square km, and extends for 38 km from north to south. At its widest it is 8 km across. The highest point on the island is named Mount Tempest, which, at 280 m, is reputedly the highest coastal sandhill in the world. Close to Mount Tempest is another large sandhill - Storm Mountain at 264 m. Only in Iran are there sandhills of comparable size, measuring up to 210 m from bases to crest. Cape Moreton, at the north eastern tip of the island, is the only rock outcrop on the island. It was named Cape Morton by Lieut. James Cook in May 1770, and was at that time assumed to be part of the mainland. The current spelling came about because of a clerical error later.
Four small settlements exist on the western side of the island. The northern most of these is Bulwer near the north western corner of the island, whilst Cowan Cowan is approximately 4.5 kilometres further south. Approximately 6 kilometres further south lies Tangalooma Wild Dolphin Resort. This former whaling station features a Marine Education and Conservation Centre and is known for its dolphin feeding and wreck diving.
Tangalooma is the main access point to the island with regular passenger ferry and vehicular barge services. The island's main airstrip is 1000 m long and lies between Cowan Cowan and Tangalooma. The other settlement is Kooringal which is located near the southern tip of the island. This township has its own 500 m airstrip and is serviced by a vehicular barge that runs to Amity Point on North Stradbroke Island. The bar between the two islands is known as South Passage and is dangerous to cross in high seas.
How to get there: access to the island is via the MiCat vehicle ferry service from Lytton, near the Port of Brisbane (75 minute crossing). The Tangalooma Flyer is a katamaran passenger ferry; The Kooringal Trader is the only vehicular and passenger ferry operating to the southern shores of Moreton Island from North Stradbroke Island.
There is no public bus service on the island. Tours and taxi transfers by four wheel drive (off road) vehicles operate from Tangalooma resort and Bulwer. Private vehicles may be brought to the island by ferry. They can be driven on the island but require a vehicle access permit as the island is a national park. Four wheel drive (off road) vehicles are necessary as roads are unsealed and often sandy tracks beyond resort areas. Many beaches, particularly on the east shore, also serve as roads. There is little or no petrol on the island.

Coochiemudlo Island

One of the smaller islands on Moreton Bay, Coochiemudlo Island is located between Brisbane and the Gold Coast. The island's shallow beaches and mangroves are protected from the breakers of the South Pacific. Although Coochie, as the island is known locally, is only 5 square kilometres in size, it boasts more than 4 Km of beautiful safe beaches, which are ideal for the children. The name 'Coochiemudlo' refers to the red rock pictured above. This dominant feature makes the island easily recogniseable when seen from the mainland. In spite of 'mud' appearing in the name, there is only a little mangrove - the rest is beach.
How to get there: by road, proceed south along Gateway Fwy.; take Old Cleveland Rd exit to Capalaba, right into Redlands Bay Rd, left into Boundary Rd, right into Cleveland-Redlands Bay Rd, then left into and to end of Colburn Ave., Victoria Pt., car ferry (20 minutes) from Victoria Pt.