Moreton Island Honeymoon Guide
Discover scenic Moreton Island, a sandy 18,500ha, 38km-long island wilderness fringed by kilometres of white sand and a national park scattered with freshwater lagoons, heathland, eucalypt woodland and more than 180 species of birdlife.
Be pampered at the beachfront 4-star Tangalooma Island Resort – the perfect spot for a honeymoon or romantic island getaway holiday.
What to do and see on Moreton Island
Follow a network of trails on foot or by four-wheel drive to see the ancient shell middens of early Aboriginal settlers and the remnants of a World War II fort scattered among the dunes.
Hike to the summit of Mount Tempest (280m), the highest coastal sand hill in the world, and be rewarded with 360-degree views of the island and, on a clear day, the Glass House Mountains.
Or head to the northern tip of Moreton Island to see Cape Moreton Lighthouse, the oldest operating lighthouse in Queensland, offering sweeping views over the island and the perfect perch for viewing marine life such as dolphins, sharks, turtles and whales (from June to November).
Watch honeyeaters feeding on banksia flowers at Honeyeater Lake and look out for some of the 50,000 migratory waders that reside on the island between September and April each year, including the eastern curlew, the little tern and the grey-tailed tattler.
At other times, watch out for pied oystercatchers and the red-capped plovers, two of the more common resident waders on Moreton Island.
Snorkel the Tangalooma wrecks and Flinders Reef and dive Curtin artificial reef to see colourful reef fish, sea turtles and dugong.
Where to stay on Moreton Island
Camping is available on Moreton, but to take advantage of a full range of holiday activities – including hand-feeding a pod of wild bottlenose dolphins – stay at Tangalooma Island Resort.
This 4-star resort offers a range of holiday accommodation options and is nestled alongside an old whaling station on a long palm-fringed crescent of white sand facing Moreton Bay.
Tangalooma Island Resort
Location: Moreton Island
Rating: 4-star
Prices: from AUD462 per room
Description: Surrounded by crystal clear waters, white sandy beaches and untouched national parks, this resort on Moreton Island, offers a variety of water sports and a chance to hand-feed wild dolphins. Tangalooma offers a range of accommodation styles, each set amidst the landscaped gardens and natural bushland, most with water views. The resort can arrange many day tours and activities, including desert safari tours, snorkelling experiences, quad bike tours and helicopter joy flights. Dining highlights include Tursiops buffet restaurant and Fire & Stone Restaurant. Alternatively, take in the views over Moreton Bay while enjoying meals cooked to order from the beach side café. Tangalooma Island Resort is a 75-minute boat ride from Brisbane.
Best time to visit Moreton Island
Anytime. But for hot-weather activities on the beach or poolside, the best time to visit Moreton Island is between mid-December and early-March.
Moreton Island enjoys a subtropical climate with hot, wet summers and dry, moderately warm winters, with plenty of year-round sunshine.
Summer temperatures between December and February usually reach an average high of 30°C (86°F), with a night-time low of 21°C (70°F). However, temperatures may reach 33°C (91°F) and beyond. Brief, torrential rainfalls and thunderstorms are common in summer.
Late winter and early spring are often considered to be a good time to visit Moreton Island as the climate is sunny and warm with little or no rainfall.
Autumn, from March to May, averages a high of 29°C (84°F) in March, dropping in May to an average high of 24°C (76°F) and a low of 13°C (56°F). Rainfalls decline as winter approaches.
Winter, June to August, has an average high of 22°C (71°F) and a low of 10°C (50°F).
Spring, September to November, receives an average high of 25°C (77°F) in September rising to 28°C (82°F) in November with an average low of 16°C (60°F).
More information about Moreton Island weather…
Getting to Moreton Island
Moreton Island is located 40km (25mi) from Brisbane on the eastern boundary of Moreton Bay, an easy cruise from Brisbane aboard a high-speed catamaran.
Passenger ferry services depart from Holt Street Wharf in Pinkenba, Brisbane and arrive at the Tangalooma Jetty on Moreton Island. Travelling time is just 75 minutes each way, with four services operating daily in each direction.
How to get to Brisbane
Brisbane – the capital and most populated city in Queensland – is located on the Brisbane River, about 15km (9mi) from its mouth at Moreton Bay. Brisbane extends in all directions along the Brisbane River Valley between Moreton Bay and the Great Dividing Range in southeast Queensland.
The most convenient route to Brisbane, from overseas or interstate, is by air to Brisbane Airport (BNE), located about 12km (7.4mi) northeast of the city centre.
More information about how to get to Brisbane…
Latest update: Moreton Island: 4 June, 2023
Advertising