11 of the best Moreton Island tours from Brisbane

Kristie Lau-Adams Kristie Lau-Adams
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Jump aboard the best Moreton Island tours to unwrap every inch of paradise just off the coast of Brisbane.

A natural playground, Moreton Island is filled with unspoiled beaches, secret lagoons, dramatic sand dunes and ancient marine wreckages. The best way to explore such staggering beauty? By joining one of the expertly led Moreton Bay tours leaving from Brisbane. From offshore expeditions to up-in-the-air escapades, the potential for adventure in this spectacular corner of the world knows no bounds.

Snorkelling tours of Moreton Island

1. Dolphin Wild Island Cruises’ Moreton Island Eco-Marine Safari and Snorkel

an aerial view of the Tangalooma Wrecks
See the jaw-dropping Tangalooma Wrecks up close with Dolphin Wild Island Cruises. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Soak up vividly hued marine life and the jaw-dropping Tangalooma Wrecks with Dolphin Wild Island Cruises’ Moreton Island Eco-Marine Safari and Snorkel tour. The full-day experience, departing from Redcliffe’s Newport Marina, which is less than one hour’s drive from Brisbane’s CBD, will lead you to the best spots to spy dolphins, dugongs, sea turtles and unique birds. There’s also Tangalooma Wrecks, a group of ancient ships scuttled between 1963 and 1984 to provide sturdy anchorage for boaties, to explore. Snorkelling gear, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea, tea, coffee and water are all included. Prices start from $189 per adult.

2. Tangalooma Island Resort’s Snorkel the Wrecks Day Cruise

a woman snorkelling at the Tangalooma Wrecks
Go snorkelling around the wreckage. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

One of the best-loved Moreton Island tours to consider is Tangalooma Island Resort’s Snorkel the Wrecks Day Cruise departing from Brisbane. You’ll be taken on a guided tour of the Tangalooma Wrecks, where more than 200 fish species and 130 coral species will leave you speechless.

The experience also includes a lunch voucher to use at Tangalooma Island Resort, and all your gear is included. Prices start from $169 per adult.

3. Tangatours’ Snorkelling Tour

passengers riding a ferry during Tangatours’ Snorkelling Tour
Sail to Tangalooma Island Resort via one of Tangatours’ passenger ferries. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

If you’re travelling in from Brisbane to Tangalooma Island Resort via one of their passenger ferries, you’ve got Tangatours as a Moreton Island tour option. The team operate exclusive expeditions for resort day-trippers and guests, and their Snorkelling Tour is highly rated.

You’ll only spend 1.5 hours on the Tangalooma Wrecks, but experienced guides will show you where to look for the best marine life. Plus, your entire kit is included in addition to pool noodles if you need extra support. Prices start from $69.

Scenic flights and Aerial Tours of Moreton Island

4. Bekaa Air’s Moreton and Stradbroke Islands Helicopter Ride.

a scenic flight above Moreton Island
Experience spectacular Moreton Island views with Bekaa Air. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Prefer a bird’s eye view of those heavenly waters? Bekaa Air’s Moreton and Stradbroke Islands Helicopter Ride is just the ticket, offering aerial vistas across two spectacular coastal gems just off the coast of Brisbane.

The private flights, which last 70 minutes in total, depart from Archerfield Airport (about 30 minutes from the CBD) and soar to roughly 600 metres above the water. An extraordinary vantage point of the Tangalooma Wrecks is a stand-out, and you’ll also hear expert commentary from your experienced pilot. Prices start from $599 per person.

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5. The Redcliffe Aero Club’s Blue Lagoon Scenic Flight – Moreton Island

Set off from Redcliffe Aerodrome, located just under an hour’s drive from Brisbane’s CBD, to explore the shimmering turquoise and rugged bushland below.

The Redcliffe Aero Club’s Blue Lagoon Scenic Flight – Moreton Island will let you linger a little longer atop the Tangalooma Wrecks before sweeping the island for knock-out views of the Moreton National Forest and Cape Moreton. It’ll last about an hour all up, and prices start from $460 per adult.

Whale watching tours of Moreton Island

6. Tangalooma Island Resort’s Whale Watching Day Cruise

a whale swimming in Brisbane waters
Don’t miss out on the whale watching season in Brisbane. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Sniff out the ocean’s most magnificent creatures on board Tangalooma Island Resort’s Whale Watching Day Cruise departing from Brisbane during whale watching season (that’s mid-June to mid-October). You’ll jump on board a catamaran and score a light lunch over three hours of solid binocular squizzing.

Expert commentary will shine a light on the whales’ annual migration through Queensland’s waters, and as a bonus, you’ll also be granted access to Tangalooma Island Resort’s two swimming pools, restaurants and bars. Prices start from $105 per adult.

7. Brisbane Whale Watching’s VIP Whale Watching Adventure

a whale gracefully popping out of the water, Brisbane Whale Watching
See these friendly creatures in action. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Catch a glimpse of ocean royalty in style with Brisbane Whale Watching’s VIP Whale Watching Adventure. Again, it’s a June to November window you’ll have to take advantage of (and get in quick, because it’s popular), but rest assured you’ll have a front-row seat to the action.

Running for approximately 330 minutes in total, guests will be transported via the MV Eye-Spy, a multi-million-dollar catamaran with reduced noise and vibration. There’s also a rooftop sun deck, air conditioning and a licensed bar to enjoy. Prices start from $200 per adult.

Sandboarding on Moreton Island

8. Moreton Bay Escapes’ Moreton Island 4WD Adventure Day Tour

One of the most popular small-group Moreton Island tours, Moreton Bay Escapes’ Moreton Island 4WD Adventure Day Tour departs from various locations within Brisbane (and even the Gold Coast) to get you flying down the infamous Moreton Island sand dunes. Home to 46 hectares of desert, including the mighty, 280-metre-tall Mount Tempest—Australia’s largest sand dune—it’s one of the largest sand wonderlands in the world. These guys reckon you’ll reach up to speeds of 50 kilometres per hour, so it’s a good thing experienced guides are on hand to walk you through it. The tour also includes snorkelling, beach visits and hiking. Prices start from $189 per adult.

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9. Australian Sunset Safaris’ Moreton Island Get Wrecked 1-day Tour

gliding down the dunes on Moreton Island with Australian Sunset Safaris
Race down the dunes. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Whether you’re staying in Brisbane’s CBD or you’re closer to the Port of Brisbane, Australian Sunset Safaris’ Moreton Island Get Wrecked 1-Day Tour is going to get you racing down those dunes quick sticks.

This standout Moreton Island tour includes snorkelling over the Tangalooma Wrecks in addition to gliding down those giant hills, with this team promising to get you up to 70 kilometres per hour.

If you’re game, expect to be out and about all day with prices starting from $259 per person, including lunch.

Scenic tours of Moreton Island

10. Australian Sunset Safaris’ Cape Moreton Scenic Day Tour

an aerial view of Honeymoon Bay
Head to a secret beach. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Let’s get ready to rumble. Australian Sunset Safaris’ Cape Moreton Scenic Day Tour will send a 4WD bus to pick you up from the Brisbane Coach Terminal in the CBD or the Port of Brisbane for a day of scenic activity.

One of the best-loved Moreton Island tours to choose from, this experience takes in quality time at beautiful headlands, lakes and secret beaches (like the beautiful Champagne Pools and Honeymoon Bay) while also putting on lunch—you’ll just need to BYO your cozzies and a towel. Prices start from $259 per adult.

11. Tangalooma Island Resort’s Beach Day Cruise

an aerial view of Tangalooma Island Resort
Soak up the natural splendour surrounding Tangalooma Island Resort. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Take things nice and easy onboard Tangalooma Island Resort’s Beach Day Cruise, departing from Brisbane and including lunch at the resort itself. You’ll glide at a sea turtle’s pace through Moreton Bay Marine Park and beyond, allowing you to thoroughly soak up the natural splendour. Plus, it offers access to the resort’s pools, restaurants and bars. Prices start from $99 per adult.

Read our comprehensive guide to camping on Moreton Island.

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Kristie Lau-Adams
Kristie Lau-Adams is a Gold Coast-based freelance writer after working as a journalist and editorial director for almost 20 years across Australia's best-known media brands including The Sun-Herald, WHO and Woman's Day. She has spent significant time exploring the world with highlights including trekking Japan’s life-changing Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage and ziplining 140 metres above the vines of Mexico’s Puerto Villarta. She loves exploring her own backyard (quite literally, with her two young children who love bugs), but can also be found stalking remote corners globally for outstanding chilli margaritas and soul-stirring cultural experiences.
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Exploding supernovas & gold fever: discover the past at this outback Qld town

    Kassia Byrnes Kassia Byrnes
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    Under wide-open outback skies, discover a fossicking gem that’s managed to slip under the radar.

    While the name Clermont may feel new to even the most intrepid traveller, its gilded history stretches back centuries. You’ll find it just off the highway, humming quietly under the hazy veil of Queensland’s outback sun. It’s here, hemmed in by mountains and perched atop soil heavy with the earth’s treasures, that one of Australia’s most accessible outback adventures awaits.

    Thanks to deposits of gold, copper and gemstones – souvenirs left by exploding supernovas and the heave of tectonic plates – Clermont became a centre point of Queensland’s Gold Rush. And now? Australia’s fossicking capital is yours to discover.

    Getting there

    car driving along Capricorn Way in queensland
    Take a drive through Queensland’s Mackay Isaac region. (Image: Sean Scott/ TEQ)

    You’ll find Clermont in Queensland’s Mackay Isaac region. To get here, it’s an easy three-hour drive over sealed roads from Mackay. Or, if you’re heading from the Sapphire Fields of Emerald, the drive will carve out just over an hour from your day.

    Whether you’re road-tripping through outback Queensland or just tracing your way through all that Australia has to offer, Clermont is remote but easily accessible.

    Best accommodation in Clermont

    Theresa CreekDam in clermont
    Camp by Theresa Creek Dam. (Image: Riptide Creative/ TEQ)

    All accommodation comes with a generous helping of country hospitality here. The choice is yours between modern hotels, parking up the camper or pitching a tent.

    Theresa Creek Dam lies just outside town. Begin each day with crisp country air and bright outback sunrises. Spend the night under the sparkling country stars and your days out on the dam fishing or kayaking. Even if you aren’t camping, be sure to save space in your itinerary for an afternoon on the red dirt shore.

    To stay closer to town, opt for a central hotel to base yourself between exploring and fossicking, like Smart Stayzzz Inn and Clermont Country Motor Inn.

    Things to do in Clermont

    three people on a tour with Golden Prospecting
    Join a tour with Golden Prospecting.

    One does not visit Clermont without trying their hand at fossicking. There are strict rules when it comes to fossicking, so stick to areas dedicated for general permission and make sure you obtain your license beforehand. Try your luck at McMasters, Four Mile, Town Desert, McDonald Flat and Flat Diggings. To increase your odds, sign on for a tour with the expert team at Golden Prospecting. They’ll give you access to exclusive plots and expert advice along the way.

    Once you’ve tried your luck on the gold fields, head to the Clermont Township and Historical Museum. Each exhibit works like an archaeologist’s brush to dust away the layers of Clermont’s history. Like the steam engine that painstakingly relocated the entire town inch by inch to higher ground after it was decimated by flooding in 1916. See the tools that helped build the Blair Athol mine, historic fire engines, shearing sheds and all sorts of relics that make up Clermont’s story.

    The historic Copperfield Chimney offers a change of pace. Legend has it that fossickers found a solid wall of copper here, over three metres high, kick-starting Queensland’s first-ever copper mine.

    Bush Heli Services flying over clermont queensland
    See Clermont from above with Bush Heli Services. (Image: Riptide Creative/ TEQ)

    For hiking, nearby Dysart is the best place to access Peak Range National Park. Here, mountainous horizons stretch across the outback as if plucked from another world. Set off for a scenic drive along the Peak Downs Highway for access to countless geological wonders. Like the slanting rockface of Wolfang Peak. Summit it, and you’ll find yourself looking out across a scene surely conjured up by Banjo Paterson. Dry scrub dancing in the warm breeze, grazing cattle, eucalypts and the gentle creak of windmills. Don’t miss visiting Gemini Peaks, either, for one of the park’s best vistas, and a blanket of wild flowers after rain.

    Then, take to the skies with a scenic helicopter tour with Bush Heli-Services. Shift your perspective and cruise above all the sights from your trip. Spots like Lords Table Mountain and Campbell’s Peak are best viewed from the skies.

    Before you head home, be sure to explore the neighbouring townships. Spend a lazy afternoon in the shade of Nebo Hotel’s wrap-around verandahs. The hotel’s 1900s dance hall has since been replaced with one of the area’s biggest rodeo arenas, so consider timing your trip to line up with a boot scootin’ rodeo. Or, stop by a ghost town. Mount Britton was once a thriving town during the 1880s Gold Rush. It’s been totally abandoned and now lies untouched, a perfect relic of the Gold Rush.

    Best restaurants and cafes in Clermont

    meal at Commercial Hotel
    Stop into the Commercial Hotel Clermont.

    Days spent fossicking, bushwalking and cramming on history call for excellent coffee and hearty country meals. Luckily, Clermont delivers in spades.

    Lotta Lattes Cafe is beloved by locals for a reason. Start your days here for the best caffeine fix in town and an impeccable brunch menu.

    For a real country meal, an icy cold beer and that famed country hospitality, head straight to the town’s iconic hotel: the Commercial Hotel (known endearingly to locals as ‘The Commie’). It’s been a staple in Clermont since 1877. The hotel even survived the flood of 1916 when it was sawn in two and moved to higher ground.

    Naturally, time spent in the outback must include calling into the local bakery. For delicious pies and a tantalising array of sweet treats, make Bluemac Bakehouse your go-to while in town.

    Discover more of The Mackay Isaac region, and start planning your trip at mackayisaac.com.