The Magic of Moreton Island

A family trip to the Gold Coast is something most Australian families will do at least once.  If you have done the mandatory visit to the theme parks and the kids are asking for a repeat, consider a side-trip to Moreton Island to break the holiday up.

Whilst I love a week at the theme parks as much as anyone else, I also need a holiday to recover from it and Tangalooma Resort on Moreton Island offered just that.

Unless you have your own boat, access to the island is via a ferry from Brisbane.  The trip is just a short 75 minute commute.

Upon arrival there is beautiful sands, wrecks for snorkelling, restaurants, swimming pools and an assortment of activities you would expect from a resort catered for families. 

These were our top four things to do at Moreton Island:

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dolphin feeding

If you stay at the resort,  included in your stay is an opportunity to feed wild dolphins.  Every night a pod of dolphins swim up near the jetty for feeding and guests are invited to enter the shallows of the beach and hand feed them a fish.

Whilst you can not touch the dolphin and the experience is very short and sweet, it is a unique opportunity to get close to wild dolphins.

The dolphins are wild and the experience is not guaranteed, but from what I heard, it is very rare for none of the dolphins to make an appearance. The activity started back in 1992 and the resort follows strict guidelines to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the dolphins. 

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Snorkelling The Wrecks

Snorkelling amongst 15 ship wrecks was an absolute experience that is unique to Moreton Island.  The ships were purposefully wrecked to form a breakwall for small boats. The abundance of sea life that has resulted was something that both surprised and delighted both the kids and adults.  

When we instructed the kids to place their heads in the water, the look of surprise when they first realised what lied beneath was priceless. 

You can walk along the beach from the resort and swim out to the wrecks, however on our visits to the Island we have done both the escorted tour via boat with a guide and a self-guided tour with kayaks. The currants can get quite strong so having a floatation device whilst snorkelling is recommended. 

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Sand Toboggoning

Going head first on a waxed board down a sand dune in the desert is not something I was expecting to do on an island resort holiday. 

The Moreton Island desert is just a short drive from the resort with daily tours to the area.  

After donning swimming goggles, yes swimming goggles in the dessert, it is quite a leap of faith to set yourself off from the top of the dune face first with only a thin board between you and the sand.

This activity is not for the faint-hearted, the climb to the top of the dune in itself was a challenge - let alone doing it over and over again!
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Miss 5 was given an option to complete a half-dune and despite being tentative on the first launch, she completed it over and over again.

Master 8 head to the top of the dune with the adults and despite having a slight nose dive and roll out of control in the sand - he got back up and did it again. 

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Sunset Beach Walks

The sunsets on Moreton Island were spectacular.  Family walks along the beach at sunset every night were mandatory.  The kids cartwheeled and searched for shells as the adults enjoyed the amazing colours as the sun bounces on the ocean creating shadows through the wrecks. 

Other activities we completed included quad biking, kayaking, archery, basketball, swimming and much more.

For details about Tangalooma Resort visit their website.

Next time you are planning a Queensland family holiday, consider Moreton Island as a side trip.  There may not be any theme parks but the natural beauty and activities of this island will leave you wanting to return. 

Penny - Itchy Feet Family​​

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