Are you planning your first trip to Moreton Island and wondering how to get there? Well, it’s a lot easier than you think!
I spent three days camping on the island and have put together this guide on how to get there for a day trip or longer.
Getting to Moreton Island, QLD
Moreton Island is located off the coast of Brisbane in Queensland, Australia. From Brisbane, you’ll need to catch a 90-minute ferry to Moreton Island.
Ferry to Moreton Island
Two ferries go to Moreton Island from Brisbane:
- Moreton Island Adventures Micat Ferry: This is for vehicles and walk-on passengers and departs from the Port of Brisbane.
- Tangalooma Ferry: This ferry services Tangalooma Resort and is for walk-on passengers only. It departs from Holt Street Wharf.
Micat Ferry
If you’re looking for the best way to get to Moreton Island, it’s with the Moreton Island Adventures Ferry (Micat). This is the main ferry that takes walk-on passengers and 4WD vehicles to Moreton Island.
The Micat ferry departs from 4 Howard Smith Drive, Port of Brisbane (Google Maps location here) and takes 90 minutes to arrive at the ferry landing point closest to Tangalooma Wrecks.
Prices for the ferry vary depending on which day you plan to travel. But expect to pay $76 per person for adults and $56 per child (return). If you’re travelling with a 4WD vehicle, you’ll need to pay an additional $120 for the return transfer for your vehicle.
Note: There are no roads on Moreton Island, so if you’re taking a car, it needs to be a high-clearance 4WD vehicle.
Parking is available at the Port of Brisbane for $20 per day. However, there are limited spaces, and bookings can’t be made in advance, so I recommend getting there early to secure a spot.
You can find out more information and the ferry schedule here.
Tangalooma Ferry
The Tangalooma Ferry is a passenger ferry that primarily serves hotel guests going to and from the Tangalooma Resort. However, they also cater to walk-on passengers who are visiting Moreton Island on a day trip from Brisbane.
It departs from Holt Street Wharf in Pinkenba (Google Maps location here) and arrives at Tangalooma Resort on Moreton Island. From here, you’ll need to walk about 1.5 km (30 minutes) along the beach to get to Tangalooma Wrecks.
There are different packages for hotel guests and day trip passengers. If you only visit for the day, the return ferry transfer will cost $95 per adult and $55 per child. This includes a day pass to the resort and a lunch voucher.
The Tangalooma ferry is slightly quicker than the Micat ferry but still takes 1 hour 15 minutes to get to Moreton Island.
If you plan on taking a day trip with the Tangalooma ferry, you can find out more here.
Secure parking is available at Holt Street Wharf and costs $20 daily.
FAQs about how to get to Moreton Island
How long is the ferry ride to Moreton Island?
The ferry to Moreton Island takes 1.5 hours from the Port of Brisbane.
Can I go to Moreton Island without a car?
Yes! You can take the passenger ferry and do a day trip to Tangalooma Wrecks on Moreton Island. You can also stay at Tangalooma Resort, which has easy access to all the most popular attractions on Moreton Island.
How to get to Moreton Island with a car
The Micat ferry departs from the port of Brisbane and is the only ferry that takes cars to Moreton Island. To drive on the island, you will need a 4WD vehicle and a vehicle access pass.
Do you have any questions about how to get to Moreton Island? Drop me a message in the comments section below!
Looking for more Queensland travel inspiration? Check out my other posts!
