Top Attractions in Moreton Island

Moreton Island Essentials

Moreton Island is the world’s third-largest sand island, characterized by the 285-meter Mount Tempest—the planet's highest coastal sand dune. The island's perimeter features historical landmarks like the 1857 Cape Moreton Lighthouse and the Tangalooma Wrecks, a breakwater formed by 15 scuttled ships. On the western shore, the Tangalooma Island Resort hosts nightly wild dolphin viewings, while the northern tip contains unique geological features including the volcanic Champagne Pools and the secluded Honeymoon Bay.

Moreton Island Essentials — Map

A

Tangalooma Wrecks

A cluster of 15 vessels scuttled between 1963 and 1984 to create a breakwater for small boats. The rusted hulls now form an artificial reef supporting diverse coral and tropical fish.

Unknown / Public domain

B

Cape Moreton Lighthouse

Queensland's first lighthouse, built in 1857 from local sandstone. It serves as a primary vantage point for observing migrating humpback whales and sea turtles from the northern headland.

C

Dolphin Feeding Viewing

A dedicated viewing area at the Tangalooma Island Resort jetty where wild bottlenose dolphins arrive nightly at sunset for supervised feeding.

D

The Desert

A large inland expanse of sand dunes used for sand tobogganing. Unlike the coastal dunes, this area is sheltered and contains unique colored sand layers.

E

Mount Tempest

The highest coastal sand dune in the world, reaching 285 meters. A 2.5-kilometer return track leads to the summit for 360-degree views of the Moreton Bay region.

F

Champagne Pools

Natural rock pools formed by volcanic ledges on the northern coastline. Crashing waves create a bubbling, aerated effect within the shallow saltwater basins.

G

Big Sandhills

Massive dunes located on the southern end of the island. These steep slopes are used for sandboarding and provide views across the South Passage to North Stradbroke Island.

H

Tangalooma Island Resort

Built on the site of a mid-20th-century whaling station, this resort is the island's main transport and activity hub, managing the wild dolphin conservation program.

I

Honeymoon Beach

A 50-meter-wide secluded beach sheltered by rocky headlands. It is located at the northern tip of the island near the North Point campground.

J

Honeymoon Bay Lookout

An elevated viewpoint overlooking the crescent-shaped Honeymoon Bay, offering clear views of the volcanic rock formations and the Coral Sea.