10 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 $215 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 $179 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 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.

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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 $699 per person.

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 $115 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 $225 per adult.

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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 $179 per adult.

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 $274 per person, including lunch.

Scenic tours of Moreton Island

10. 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 $109 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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7 wellness experiences on Hamilton Island for complete rejuvenation

(Credit: Riley Williams)

    Eleanor Edström Eleanor Edström
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    Conjuring calm and active adventure in equal measure, Hamilton Island is a tropical tonic for body and mind.

    Hamilton Island knows a thing or two about indulgence. There are long lunches to linger over, seafood towers to savour and poolside loungers designed for guilt-free idling. But for health-minded travellers wanting to feel energised inside and out, this sliver of the Whitsundays takes wellbeing just as seriously. Think yoga mats rolling out at dawn, kayaks skimming turquoise water, state-of-the-art fitness facilities and spa therapists working tropical magic. These Hamilton Island wellness experiences promise to restore, rebalance and leave you feeling brand new.

    1. E-Mountain biking

    mountain bikers on Hamilton Island wellness
    Follow Hamilton Island’s mountian biking trails. (Credit: Harry Gruttner)

    For travellers with an appetite for adrenaline, Hamilton Island’s new self-guided e-mountain biking experience is worth carving out a morning for. Start at HI Trails HQ, where you’ll be fitted with a full-suspension, pedal-assisted e-mountain bike and given a run-through of a nine-kilometre section of the island’s 25-kilometre trail network. The electric boost makes the ride more accessible (and the climbs more manageable), though an intermediate level of fitness is still recommended.

    As a first-time mountain biker, I start off wobbly – taking my time to get used to switching gears and electric modes – and wonder if I’ve overestimated my coordination. But soon something clicks. Suddenly we’re zooming through pockets of eucalyptus and out onto ridgelines with sweeping views of electric blue waters, catching our breath at hidden bays with barely another soul in sight. More than 70 per cent of the island remains untouched, so witnessing these lesser-explored pockets feels like a blessing. It’s the kind of adventure that leaves you buzzing, accomplished and blissfully tired out.

    2. HI Fitness Club

    HI Fitness Club reformer pilates
    Stretch out with reformer pilates.

    If mountain biking isn’t quite your speed, there are plenty of other ways to stay active on the island. One of the newest Hamilton Island wellness experiences, HI Fitness Club now has 24-hour access, offering a fully equipped modern gym, group classes spanning HIIT to yoga, plus two bubbling spas and a sauna waiting to loosen sore muscles.

    I drop in for a Reformer Pilates class. Each of the four machines has its own mini screen with a wide selection of high-quality virtual classes, meaning I can select one that suits my level and mood that day. Beyond Pilates, the virtual library is like a choose-your-own adventure for fitness enthusiasts: dance, Body Pump, Body Combat and GRIT Cardio are among the options. Or perhaps challenge a family member or friend to a hit of tennis at one of the three courts.

    3. Walking trails

    runners on hamilton island
    Get the blood pumping on a morning run.

    We set out early. By 6:45am, we’re halfway up Passage Peak, the highest point on Hamilton Island and widely considered its most impressive vantage point. From the Scenic Trail Entrance, the viewing platform takes around an hour to reach by foot, with moderate inclines that will get your heart pumping without feeling too punishing. The payoff at the top is immediate. Bush-clad Whitsundays islands scatter across the horizon in every direction, the sunrise brushing the scene with soft melon and gold tones. I take my time soaking up the 360° panorama, remembering how powerful an active start in nature can be for clearing the mind and energising the day ahead.

    While Passage Peak is one of the most popular hikes on Hamilton Island, Flat Top Hill Lookout and the longer Southeast Head Trail are also excellent choices.

    4. Spa wumurdaylin

    Spa Wumurdaylin on hamilton island wellness experiences
    Feel your worries melt away at Spa wumurdaylin.

    In a tranquil treatment room at Spa wumurdaylin, the world disappears. The space is all brown stone tiles, bamboo racks and lush garden views, setting the tone for my Soul Temple treatment. My therapist, Kass, begins with a full-body, exfoliating orange buff sugar scrub that feels divine. Next comes the vertical Vichy shower and underwater massage to knead out muscle knots. The sound of cascading water is reminiscent of a tropical rainstorm, and stress becomes a distant memory.

    It’s a prime example of the transportive power of the island’s spa, where guests can come to reset the mind and loosen tension in the body. The menu spans radiance facials to deep release rituals and mud wraps, all using products from pH-balanced skincare brand LaGaia Unedited. Concluding with herbal tea, I leave in a blissful daze.

    5. Sunrise yoga

    sunrise yoga session at the sundays on hamilton island wellness experiences
    Start your day on the right foot.

    Morning movement doesn’t get more surreal than sunrise yoga on The Sundays’ seaside terrace. As we roll out our mats, morning light spills across Catseye Beach below, turning the water into a sheet of molten gold. But the setting only does half the healing. I match my breath to the rhythm of the waves and feel my body gradually lengthen and wake as instructor Tyla Rae guides us through a slow, mindful flow.

    Available exclusively to guests of The Sundays, this session captures the spirit of wellness on Hamilton Island – immersion in nature, slowing down by the sea, recalibrating both body and mind. To round out the experience, the perfect ocean cool-off awaits just steps away.

    6. Getting out on the water

    people on sup boards at the sundays hamilton island
    Try your hand at a host of watersports.

    Speaking of ocean delights, Catseye Beach’s host of watersports delivers spades of fun and rejuvenation. Glide over the crystalline water in a kayak, test your sailing skills in a mini catamaran, spot schools of fish (and a turtle if you’re lucky) from a stand-up paddleboard, or slip into an underwater wonderland when you snorkel off the beach.

    Out here, the water is so clear it feels like floating in glass, and the green silhouettes of the Whitsunday Islands rise on the horizon. Half an hour on the water here is all you need to reset your entire mood.

    Guests staying at qualia, Beach Club, The Sundays, Reef View Hotel, Palm Bungalows and Hamilton Island Holiday Homes have complimentary access to all these water activities, making it easy to dive right in.

    7. Take a swing

    Dent Island Golf course
    Enjoy incredible views with a swing of golf.

    For others, mindfulness comes from calm concentration – and golf fits the bill to a tee. Designed by five-time British Open winner Peter Thomson, Hamilton Island Golf Club is perched along the scenic ridges of Dent Island. It’s Australia’s only golf course on its own island, making it one of the most scenic golf courses in the world. The experience is suitable for golfers of all skill levels, with spectator bookings also available for those simply wishing to take in the views. Follow the game with a well-earned lunch at the Clubhouse restaurant.

    Find out more ways to unwind in the Whitsundays at hamiltonisland.com.au.

    10 of the best Moreton Island tours from Brisbane - Australian Traveller