Moreton Island is a large sand island, which lies off the coast of the Australian state of Queensland. Visitor activities possible on Moreton Island include dolphin spotting and whale watching (in season), angling, camping, and exploring on foot, or by off-road vehicle. A number of different tour operators offer a Moreton Island tour, usually departing from Brisbane.
Moreton Island is about 170 square kilometres in area. It is about 40 kilometres in length, and about 8 kilometres across at the widest point. The long, thin shape is typical of this type of sand island, which has been formed by sand deposits being dragged along by the currents along the Queensland coast.
The only rock outcrop on this island of sand is Cape Moreton at the north eastern tip of the island. The lighthouse there was built by convicts. Captain James Cook, the British explorer, sailed past here in 1770. Believing that the area was part of the Australia mainland he named the point Cape Morton (the spelling changed to Moreton later, apparently through a transcription error). In 1799 Matthew Flinders discovered that it was actually an island.
The island has some extremely large sandhills. Mount Tempest (280m) is the highest coastal sandhill on earth. Nearby is Storm Mountain, which at 264m is almost as large. The only other place on earth with coastal sandhills of comparable size is Iran.
The island is known to have been home to aboriginal Australians since at least 2000 years ago. The first settlement by Europeans was in 1848. All four of the (small) settlements on Moreton island are on the sheltered Western side, nearest to the Queensland mainland. The largest of these is Tangalooma. At one point this was a whaling base, and up to eleven humpback whales were processed here every day. The whales were killed during their annual migration along the coast. This ended in 1962, and the site is now a wild dolphin reserve. The old whaling station is now a Marine Education and Conservation Centre, and the area is noted for dolphin feeding and wreck diving.
Tangalooma settlement is the main landing point for visitors to the island. There are passenger and vehicle ferry services to Lytton and Pinkenba, both of which are near Brisbane. As there are no sealed roads on Moreton island only off-road vehicles are suitable. Some tours and taxi services operate using these vehicles from Tangalooma, and also from Bulwer, which lies to the north. Visitors can bring their own off-road vehicle, and they may drive and/or camp in restricted areas. Obtain permits on the mainland before arrival.
Moreton Island Tours are available from a number of operators including Goanna Adventure Tours, Hooked on Moreton Tours and Australia Day Tours. The first of these operators offer 1, 2 and 3 day tours to Moreton Island and Fraser Island. The one day tour departs from Brisbane. If you are already on Moreton Island you can join the tour at Tangalooma Wrecks.
There a wide variety of sights and experiences even on a short, one-day Moreton Island Tour. Tourists may spot a humpbacked whale (in season only), but will also spot many other large marine animals: dolphins, turtles and dugong. A professionally qualified guide will lead the group snorkelling at Tangalooma Wrecks, and group members might try sand boarding or tobogganing on the massive sand hills. Transport is by off-road, four wheel drive vehicles, and the route passes through eucalyptus forests and desert areas, before reaching the Pacific at the Eastern Beach.
Moreton Island is about 170 square kilometres in area. It is about 40 kilometres in length, and about 8 kilometres across at the widest point. The long, thin shape is typical of this type of sand island, which has been formed by sand deposits being dragged along by the currents along the Queensland coast.
The only rock outcrop on this island of sand is Cape Moreton at the north eastern tip of the island. The lighthouse there was built by convicts. Captain James Cook, the British explorer, sailed past here in 1770. Believing that the area was part of the Australia mainland he named the point Cape Morton (the spelling changed to Moreton later, apparently through a transcription error). In 1799 Matthew Flinders discovered that it was actually an island.
The island has some extremely large sandhills. Mount Tempest (280m) is the highest coastal sandhill on earth. Nearby is Storm Mountain, which at 264m is almost as large. The only other place on earth with coastal sandhills of comparable size is Iran.
The island is known to have been home to aboriginal Australians since at least 2000 years ago. The first settlement by Europeans was in 1848. All four of the (small) settlements on Moreton island are on the sheltered Western side, nearest to the Queensland mainland. The largest of these is Tangalooma. At one point this was a whaling base, and up to eleven humpback whales were processed here every day. The whales were killed during their annual migration along the coast. This ended in 1962, and the site is now a wild dolphin reserve. The old whaling station is now a Marine Education and Conservation Centre, and the area is noted for dolphin feeding and wreck diving.
Tangalooma settlement is the main landing point for visitors to the island. There are passenger and vehicle ferry services to Lytton and Pinkenba, both of which are near Brisbane. As there are no sealed roads on Moreton island only off-road vehicles are suitable. Some tours and taxi services operate using these vehicles from Tangalooma, and also from Bulwer, which lies to the north. Visitors can bring their own off-road vehicle, and they may drive and/or camp in restricted areas. Obtain permits on the mainland before arrival.
Moreton Island Tours are available from a number of operators including Goanna Adventure Tours, Hooked on Moreton Tours and Australia Day Tours. The first of these operators offer 1, 2 and 3 day tours to Moreton Island and Fraser Island. The one day tour departs from Brisbane. If you are already on Moreton Island you can join the tour at Tangalooma Wrecks.
There a wide variety of sights and experiences even on a short, one-day Moreton Island Tour. Tourists may spot a humpbacked whale (in season only), but will also spot many other large marine animals: dolphins, turtles and dugong. A professionally qualified guide will lead the group snorkelling at Tangalooma Wrecks, and group members might try sand boarding or tobogganing on the massive sand hills. Transport is by off-road, four wheel drive vehicles, and the route passes through eucalyptus forests and desert areas, before reaching the Pacific at the Eastern Beach.
About the Author:
Home to a number of Queenslands most effective creators the Gold Coast Accommodation is home to this notably preferred of local editors. Charlie Lindsay is Queensland to the bone, from his aged ute through to his trusty four-legged friend.
No comments:
Post a Comment