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Australia’s first year-round beachfront cabana club opens soon

Eleanor Edström Eleanor Edström
One of Queensland’s most nostalgic island holiday destinations will soon welcome its first guests to the brand-new Tangalooma Dunes Cabana Club.

A scenic 75-minute ferry-hop from Brisbane, Moreton Island has been a quintessential beach getaway among Queenslanders for generations. This wedge-shaped isle (that claims the title of world’s third-largest sand island, after Queensland’s K’gari and North Stradbroke Island) has whales to watch, shipwrecks to snorkel and towering desert dunes to sandboard down. But for those who prefer to kick back and take it easy, a brand-new cabana club is poised to bring a fresh dose of laid-back comfort to the shoreline. 

A resort that’s been in the Aussie holiday game for more than 60 years, Tangalooma Island Resort has unveiled Tangalooma Dunes Cabana Club, a new beachfront venue created in partnership with Carnival Cruise Line. Available to cruise guests as well as those staying at or day-tripping with Tangalooma Island Resort, the 160-seater space provides front-row seats to the island’s biscuit-hued sand and pristine, mouthwash-blue shallows. 

For Carnival cruise guests, there’s not long left to wait, with the club available to book from 1 August 2026. For other guests, the precinct will open from early September.

What to expect at the Tangalooma Dunes Cabana Club

tangalooma cabana club
Tangalooma Dunes Cabana Club is arriving this spring for all guests.

Sandwiched between the resort’s pools and the beach, Tangalooma Dunes Cabana Club is made for slow, sun-soaked days. The precinct promises a relaxed, lounge-like atmosphere where guests can while away the hours socialising, sipping perfectly chilled beverages and flitting between shady comfort and the crystal-clear ocean waters. Expect ambient beats that carry along the breeze and very little reason to check the time. 

Twenty cabanas, each hosting up to eight people, provide private bases with direct beach access. Inside, you’ll find all the bells and whistles needed to settle in for the day.

Comfy lounge seating is arranged around a central table, and each cabana features its own fridge to keep food and beverages cool throughout the day. Along with adjustable shutters for privacy and fans to beat Queensland’s no-joke heat, guests are also provided with lockable storage, towels and charging ports (keeping your phone alive for those envy-inducing beach snaps is naturally a priority). 

tangalooma cabana club
Enjoy laid-back sipping, lazing and socialising in your private beachfront base.

The space has also been designed with accessibility in mind. Select cabanas feature wheelchair-accessible design, while beach wheelchairs are available to hire, making it easier for more guests to enjoy Tangalooma’s spectacular stretch of sand. Guests with disabilities can also join in water-based activities such as dolphin feeding.

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

AI Prompt

When does Tangalooma Dunes Cabana Club open?

The cabana club is scheduled to open exclusively to Carnival Cruise Line guests from 1 August 2026, with the wider public launch scheduled for September. An official launch party is slated for 4 September 2026, where drinks, live entertainment, bites and great vibes will carry you long into the evening.

How much does Tangalooma Dunes Cabana Club cost?

tangalooma cabana club
The 20 cabanas are south-facing.

Booking one of the cabanas at Tangalooma Dunes Cabana Club will incur a fee of $399.99 for groups of up eight, for whole-day use. Food and beverage packages are available at an extra cost. 

Visitors can secure their spot through the Tangalooma booking portal. For cruise guests, bookings can be made directly through their cruise ship as an official shore excursion.  

The precinct will also be made available for exclusive hire or partial use, making it an ideal setting for private events and celebrations.

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Eleanor Edström
Eleanor Edström is Australian Traveller’s Associate Editor. Previously a staff writer at Signature Luxury Travel & Style and Vacations & Travel magazines, she's a curious wordsmith with a penchant for conservation, adventure, the arts and design. She discovered her knack for storytelling much earlier, however – penning mermaid sagas in glitter ink at age seven. Proof that her spelling has since improved, she holds an honours degree in English and philosophy, and a French diploma from the University of Sydney. Off duty, you’ll find her pirouetting between Pilates and ballet classes, or testing her friends’ patience with increasingly obscure vocabulary.
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8 experiences that make Moreton Bay the best getaway

    Rachel Lay Rachel Lay
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    From the moment you arrive in Moreton Bay, stunning natural vistas, fresh and tasty dining, history and more invite you to stay and play.

    Untouched national park, mirror-like lagoons and endless stretches of beaches all make Moreton Bay experiences feel like you’ve stumbled across a secret Queenslanders collectively vowed not to tell. Yet it’s easily accessible. Explore further and discover hinterland farms, ancient rainforest, fresh seafood and more: there’s something on offer for every pace, interest and generation.

    Just 20 minutes from Brisbane Airport, it’s hard to believe how underrated this Queensland getaway is. Here’s your ultimate guide to rediscover play with unmissable experiences in Moreton Bay.

    1. G’Day Adventure Tours, Bribie Island

    G’Day Adventure Tours’ Sea to Table Experience
    Explore Bribie Island with G’Day Adventure Tours.

    G’Day Adventure Tours’ Sea to Table Experience should be your first agenda item in Moreton Bay. Take a 4WD journey through the sandy tracks of Bribie Island’s beaches to the still, glassy waters of the island’s lagoons. Glide over perfect replicas of paperbarks and fluffy blue clouds mirrored in the lagoon waters in your kayak. Listen as native birdsong echoes around you.

    Then, it’s on to Fort Bribie. During the Second World War, these concrete bunkers – now slowly being enveloped by the dunes – were the last line of defence for Moreton Bay.

    End the day with a sun-dappled beach picnic of locally caught Queensland prawns and famous Moreton Bay bugs. As you head home, watch the dolphins playfully dart in and out of the surf.

    2. Morgan’s Seafood at Scarborough

    Morgan’s Seafood
    It doesn’t get fresher than Morgan’s Seafood. (Image: Ezra Patchett)

    Right on the Scarborough Boat Harbour, you’ll find Morgan’s Seafood. Between the luxury yachts, you’ll also spot trawlers and fishermen delivering their day’s catch right to Morgan’s. The family-owned and operated spot is one of the best places to try the region’s eponymous Moreton Bay bug. Or, sample more of the area’s direct-from-the-boat seafood fresh at their oyster and sushi bar. If you’re lucky, your visit might coincide with a day they’ve caught tuna.

    Picture fish caught that day, prepared and then served to you as fresh sashimi as the sun sets over the unique silhouette of the Glasshouse Mountains.

    3. Woorim Beach, Bribie Island

    woorim beach bribie island
    Hang 10, or relax, on Woorim Beach.

    On Bribie’s eastern coastline, you’ll find Woorim Beach: aka the closest surf beach to Brisbane. Find a place on the sand by the patrolled area or wander further south to find a quiet spot and while the day away between the shaded dunes, the pages of your book and the peaceful sound of rolling waves.

    Ask any local where to grab lunch, and they’ll direct you to Bribie Island Surf Club Bistro. Tuck into a fresh, local seafood platter, just metres from the beach.

    4. D’Aguilar National Park

    D’Aguilar National Park
    Admire the landscapes of D’Aguilar National Park.

    D’Aguilar National Park is a 40,000-hectare slice of greenery that stretches from urban Brisbane right up to Woodford (home of the Woodford Folk Festival). The vast expanse of park is home to ancient rainforests, eucalypt forests and shaded swimming spots hidden within gorges and under waterfalls. The area is significant for the Jinibara and Turrbal people, with ceremonial bora rings and dreaming trails all found within the park.

    Carve out some time in your itinerary to explore the park’s many trails. The Maiala day-use area is the perfect starting point for walks for all levels of ability.

    5. Arcade Wine Bar

    arcade wine bar moreton bay
    Sit down to a menu inspired by Italy.

    Opposite the Redcliffe Jetty and down a laneway, you’ll find an unassuming wine bar. Venture inside and quickly fall in love with Arcade Wine Bar, one of the region’s most beloved local haunts.

    Owners Danilo and Matt have a combined 50 years of sommelier experience, which they have poured into the menu, styling and wine list. More than just a hole-in-the-wall wine bar, Arcade Wine is an enoteca (a wine repository), whose walls are lined with bottles upon bottles of Italian wine varietals from every corner of Italy.

    Settle in with a wine and work your way through the menu inspired by Danilo’s native Italy: traditional meatballs, their quick-to-sell-out terrine, or a selection of Italian cheeses, charcuterie and arancini.

    6. Wamuran & Loop Rail Trail

    Away from the ocean, tucked in the hinterland, is the Wamuran & Loop Rail Trail. Perfect for cyclists or walkers, the trail was built to showcase the history of the Caboolture to Kilcoy rail corridor (last operating in 1964) and makes for the perfect family day out. The trail runs for 10.5km and connects Wamuran and Caboolture via an accessible path.

    Pass through former railroad, bridges and shaded bushland as you cut from A to B. Plus, visit in winter for a detour along the way to one of the many pick-your-own strawberry farms.

    7. Farm Visits

    Beaches, mountains and history make an enticing combination. But Moreton Bay also brings hinterland, family-friendly farms to the table. Trevena Glen is one of the area’s most loved, with bunnies, ponies, sheep, alpacas (and more) available to visit for the kids. For the adults, book a horse-riding session and be treated to a grazing platter as you watch the sun set over the mountains of D’Aguilar National Park.

    At White Ridge Farm, find camels, putt-putt, train and tractor rides and all kinds of animals. The entire farm is paved, making it accessible for all.

    8. Miss Sprinkles

    Miss Sprinkles Gelato moreton bay
    Pick your scoop at Miss Sprinkles Gelato.

    An ice cream at the beach is one of life’s most perfect pleasures. While in town, stop by Miss Sprinkles for the locals’ pick of homemade gelato on the Scarborough foreshore.

    The gelato here is made the authentic Italian way and scooped up just across from the beach. Or, settle in at their kitschy pink wooden tables for traditional gelato in the sunshine.  Aside from the homemade gelato, you’ll also find tarts, pies and even doggie gelato.

    To start planning your Moreton Bay trip, or for more information, head to visitmoretonbay.com.au.