Moreton Island camping - everything you need to know

Moreton Island (Gheebulum Kunungai) is a camper's paradise. It especially appeals to campers who love snorkelling, diving, bird watching, sand tobogganing, bushwalking and/or fishing. Best of all, this island paradise is an easy 75-minute ferry ride from Brisbane.

Getting there and permits

As with all island adventures, there are a few things you need to organise prior to your visit.

First, book your ferry ticket. You can catch the vehicle ferry Micat, which operates on a demand-based timetable, from the Port of Brisbane. Or passenger service goes from the Holt Street Wharf in Pinkenba. You’ll probably want a four-wheel drive (4WD) if you’re camping.

Note: You cannot bring pets to Moreton Island. 

Permits

Next, book your campsite and organise camping and vehicle access permits through Mulgumpin (Moreton Island) Camping.

You'll need to display a camping tag with your booking number at your campsite during your stay. 

4WD and equipment hire 

The only way to navigate the island is by high-clearance 4WDs, so you can either bring your own or hire one in Brisbane. Moreton Island does have a transfer service, but a 4WD is the recommended option for campers. As there are no mechanics or vehicle recovery service on the island, carry your own recovery gear.

Camping gear hire is available through a number of Brisbane retailers.

Where to camp

Choose how you would like to camp on the island. You can either stay in a dedicated campground with facilities, or at a secluded beach camping site. If you don't want to camp, you could book at stay at Tangalooma Island Resort.

Long weekends and school holidays are busier, so if you’re after some serenity at these times, beach camping is a good choice. 

The western side of the island is best for camping with kids. Campgrounds includeThe Wrecks, Ben-Ewa and Comboyuro Point. The south-west side is quieter, but trickier to access. 

Castaways Cafe & Store is a licenced convenience store in Bulwer.

National Park campgrounds

Here are the National Park and Recreation Area campgrounds you can choose from: 

The Wrecks

• Accessible by 4WD and boats. Leave your vehicle on the beach and walk to your camping spot.
• Not accessible by trailers, caravans or buses.

Ben-Ewa

• Best for first-time campers.
• Accessible by trailers and caravans. 
• Located in a valley that offers protection from strong winds.

Comboyuro Point

• Accessible by trailers and caravans.
• On the western side of the island, within walking distances of Bulwer township.

North Point

• Not accessible by trailers or caravans.
• Close to surf beaches and Honeymoon Bay.
• Large, grassy and defined sites, many with shade.

Blue Lagoon

• On the eastern side of the island.
• Easy access to surf beaches and walking distance to the Blue Lagoon.
• Accessible by trailers and caravans. Do not travel via Middle Road as it's a narrow on-way track with soft sand.

Beach camping

You'll find 5 beach camping zones on the island. Visitors must only camp on the beaches within these zones. Beach campers also need to bring their own essentials including drinking water and rubbish bags.

The following camping zones are accessible by trailers and caravans:

• north-west camping zone
• Yellow Patch camping zone
• south-west camping zone
• south-east camping zone.

Heavy rigs should not use the single-laned Middle Road to access the south camping zones.

You can reach the north-east camping zone by 4WD, boat or kayak, or on foot.

Things to check before setting up camp

1. You are in the correct campground or camping zone as per your booking.
2. You are camping in an officially designated area.
3. You are camping only within the campsite footprint near the camping totem.

What to see and do on Moreton Island

As the third-largest sand island in the world, Moreton Island has some of the most pristine beaches and freshwater lakes in Queensland. You'll find 4WD tracks to all attractions and the main sites listed below. 

Freshwater lagoons, lakes and pools

Bathe in the natural Champagne Pools of Honeymoon Bay or take a refreshing dip in the stunning Blue Lagoon. The water in the lagoon is full of tea tree oils and can be a bit cool, but you'll never have softer hair! The lagoon is also a renowned bird watching hub. 

Snorkelling the Tangalooma Wrecks

The Tangalooma Wrecks are a series of old sunken ship hulls made for snorkelling or scuba diving. The crystal-clear water is perfect to get up close with marine life, including tropical fish, coral, and if you're lucky, local green turtles. To explore this underwater paradise on your own, bring your own snorkelling gear. Otherwise, you can hire gear from Australian Sunset Safaris.

Sand tobogganing, Mount Tempest and hiking to Cape Moreton Lighthouse

The highest point on the island is the 280-metre-high Mount Tempest — one of the highest coastal sanddunes in the world. While you can hike to the summit, you can't sandboard down this mountain.

You'll find plenty of spots to sandboard on Moreton Island. The Desert (centre-west of the island) and Big and Little Sand Hills (in the south) are the best spots. These sites are great for beginners. The Big Sand Hills area has steep dunes (around 90 metres) perfect for serious adrenalin junkies.

Hiking is one of the best ways to appreciate Moreton Island's diverse range of native plants, birds and wildlife. Mount Tempest offers a stunning 360-degree view. You can see the coastline from the Sunshine Coast and Glasshouse Mountains to Brisbane and the Gold Coast on a clear day.

The island also has many well-maintained walking tracks, ranging from short, easy bushwalks to half-day hikes. The tracks traverse stunning spots including:

• the iconic Cape Moreton Lighthouse (the first lighthouse to be built in Queensland)
• Honeyeater Lake (abundant with wildflowers and birdlife)
• Five Hills Lookout (with views of Heath Island)
• picturesque Blue Lagoon.

Kayaking - day or night

If you're camping near Bulwer, check out Australian Sunset Safaris for equipment hire and tours. Hire a clear-bottomed kayak (between 10am-3pm) to go for a self-guided paddle. Or book a night guided kayaking tour.

Day trips

If you're staying on Moreton, take a day trip down Eastern Beach to the southern end of the island. Stop in at the township of Kooringal. Enjoy a cold drink or ice-cream at the unique Gutter Bar — a quintessential Queensland drinking hole immersed in the mangroves.

Afterwards, head north and you'll find an oyster farm selling trays of the freshest Moreton Bay oysters...bottoms up! To round out the day, continue further north from Kooringal to sand toboggan the day away.

More ideas to explore Brisbane's backyard

If you enjoyed this article, you might also like:

• Where to go walking and hiking in Brisbane blog.