Attractions Moreton Island - Gold Coast QLD

ATTRACTIONS MORETON ISLAND QLD

Find Attractions in Moreton Island QLD, 4009 search things to do and see in your holiday location with Gold Coast QLD.

Gotham City Dive Site Logo and Images

Gotham City Dive Site

Pacific Ocean, North of Flinders Reef, Moreton Island QLD 4009

In the Moreton Bay area north of Moreton Island and off Brisbane, a giant Granite Rock extends 15 metres up from the sandy bottom. It looks like a giant fridge lying on its side, 40 metres by 25 metres wide. Sheer cliffs rise from the bottom on three sides, with a few shallow caves. Originally called Emporers Tomb because of the abundance of Red Emporer, a typo had it renamed Gotham City in the ships logbook and it has been named so ever since.

Henderson's Rock Dive Site Logo and Images

Henderson's Rock Dive Site

Off the Eastern Side of Moreton Island, Moreton Island QLD 4009

Henderson's Rock Dive Site is of Brisbane's better and less frequented dive sites. There are deep ledges, overhangs and caves, hidden and partly obscured by thick kelp, all to be explored. Keep an eye out for the Ornate crayfish, prolific in this area. Expect sightings of Grey Nurse Sharks in Winter, where they occasionally school up in the main gutter to the north of the shallow rock. Other species of shark, including Gummy Sharks, Leopard Sharks and Wobbegong, also frequent the area.

Cherubs Cave Dive Site Logo and Images

Cherubs Cave Dive Site

South Pacific Ocean, Moreton Island QLD 4009

A small concrete cherub once marked the main entrance to this hidden cave off Moreton Island (it was last seen near the engine of the 'St Paul', 6 miles north). The large circular shaped cave roughly measures 20 by 15 metres and has six exits. The entire area is surrounded by rocky gullies, smaller caves, overhangs, pelagic life, a large resident Queensland Groper and Grey Nurse Sharks.

Telegraph Track Logo and Images

Telegraph Track

Moreton Island National Park, Moreton Island QLD 4009

The Telegraph Track on Moreton Island National Park lets you explore the most natural of the large sand islands located in Moreton Bay's sheltered waters. This hilly track passes through woodlands and heath and is great for bird watching. See the remains of the telegraph line that serviced the lighthouse along the track edge. Walkers can enjoy distant views out to sea and to the Cape Moreton lighthouse.

Flinders Reef Dive Site Logo and Images

Flinders Reef Dive Site

Moreton Island, Moreton Island QLD 4009
Moreton Bay Marine Park is home to Brisbane's only true coral reef and fully protected marine sanctuary, Flinders Reef. Scuba dive among an amazing array of marine life and coral, perfect for any diver. The walls, gutters, caves and pinnacles of this reef are covered in over one hundred coral species including staghorn, brain, plate and many others, as well as soft corals, gorgonians and sponges. On your dive, you'll discover that Flinders Reef also hosts more than 175 species of reef fish, invertebrates, turtles, stingrays, wobbegong sharks and even the occasional manta ray.
Curtain Artificial Reef Dive Site Logo and Images

Curtain Artificial Reef Dive Site

Moreton Island, Moreton Island QLD 4009
Curtin Artificial Reef is a popular dive site in Moreton Bay and is easily accessible from Brisbane. Since 1968, the Underwater Research Group of Queensland has been sinking large vessels, cars, tires and pontoons at this site to create a haven for the local tropical fish, gropers, trevally, abundant wobbegongs, rays and other schooling fish. This great underwater wrecking yard features 32 sunken vessels, the largest being former 50 metre coal barge the Bremer, which - like most of the other wrecks - has been cleared of obstructions so divers can safely enter and explore these impressive playground submerged in depths from 12 to 28 metres.
The Pines Dive Site Logo and Images

The Pines Dive Site

Moreton Island, Moreton Island QLD 4009
One of the more unusual dive sites off Brisbane, The Pines is a coffee rock reef, or in other words a dirt boulder reef. Now a dirt boulder reef might not sound very exciting but cut with ledges and caves these dirt boulders are home to a surprising amount of marine life. The Pines in located on the inner side of Moreton Island and varies in depth from 3 to 30 metres. This site is a great place to see turtles, stingrays, batfish, wobbegongs, moray eels and a rich variety of reef fish and pelagic fish. But divers should also look out for unusual species like pineapplefish, leaf scorpionfish, nudibranchs, octopus, cuttlefish and pipefish.
Tangalooma Wrecks Dive Site Logo and Images

Tangalooma Wrecks Dive Site

Tangalooma Wrecks, Moreton Island QLD 4009
Situated on the western side of Moreton Island, the Tangalooma Wrecks comprises 17 vessels deliberately sunk to not only form a breakwall for small boats, but also to create a unique and exciting wreck dive and snorkel site. The wrecks provide great diving in depths from 2 to 10 metres. The shallow water of the site attracts an amazing array of marine life, including wobbegongs, trevally, kingfish, yellowtail and lots of tropical fish. Each wreck tells a different story, with the hulls of each waiting to be explored. The Tangalooma Wrecks are a casual swim off the beach for those who want an easily accessible dive, but be careful of the currents between the shore and the wrecks.
Gotham City Dive Site Logo and Images

Gotham City Dive Site

Moreton Island, Moreton Island QLD 4009
Gotham City, north of Brisbane's Moreton Island, is one of the most spectacular dive sites in Queensland. Featuring a giant granite rock 15 metres tall, 40 metres long and 25 metres wide, with sheer cliffs off all edges, many divers compare the sight to a small version of the famous Uluru (or Ayers Rock). The rock is decorated with exquisite corals, including black coral trees and sea whips, and is a great place to see spotted eagle rays and wobbegong sharks. Snapper, batfish, gropers and barracuda are also regular visitors to Gotham City.
Moreton Island National Park Logo and Images

Moreton Island National Park

Moreton Island National Park, Moreton Island QLD 4009
Moreton Island National Park offers a playground of beaches, dunes, coastal heath, woodlands and shallow freshwater lagoons. Add a rocky outcrop and the historic Cape Moreton lighthouse and you have a recipe for discovery and relaxation. At the Cape Moreton information centre, investigate the history of the island. Stroll through the eerie, sandy landscapes of the Desert, Big Sandhills and Little Sandhills. Climb to the top of Mount Tempest - the world's highest stable coastal sand dune. Relax at one of five campgrounds or enjoy camping in one of the established camping zones along the beach. Swim in the clear waters of Blue Lagoon. Moreton Island is reached by boat from Brisbane.
Mount Tempest Logo and Images

Mount Tempest

Moreton Island National Park, Moreton Island QLD 4009
Moreton Island is the most natural of the large sand islands located in Moreton Bay's sheltered waters. At 285 metres high, Mount Tempest is the highest stabilised sand dune in the world. The walk to the top of Mount Tempest is a memorable one, with sweeping views of Moreton Bay and the island's length a spectacular experience. It is a steep climb and can be challenging, but the view is worth every step.
Cementco Dive Site Logo and Images

Cementco Dive Site

Moreton Bay, Moreton Island QLD 4009
The Cementco was a 67 metre long hopper barge that worked in Brisbane's Moreton Bay for many years transporting fossilised coral to be used in cement production. In 1985 the retired ship was to be scuttled off Moreton Island as an artificial reef when it prematurely sank in rough weather, landing on the sea floor upside down in 25 metres of water. Today Cementco is a popular wreck dive, with divers able to safely enter the ship and explore the rusting hull. The shipwreck is sparsely covered in corals and home to reef fish, invertebrate species and also the odd groper. Pelagic fish often cruise around the wreck, including trevally, batfish, mackerel and barracuda.
Moreton Island Lighthouse Logo and Images

Moreton Island Lighthouse

Moreton Island, Moreton Island QLD 4009
Moreton Island Lighthouse was the first lighthouse built in Queensland. The tower is built on a rare rocky promontory on a sand island and is constructed of sandstone quarried on Moreton Island. The lighthouse was built to cope with increased shipping movements along the northern coast and for a long time was the only light on the entire east coast of Australia. The large number of wrecks scattered around the entrance to Moreton Bay, near the island, attest to the need for the light. The original light source oil wick which was converted to pressurised acetylene gas in1930 then to 240 volt electricity in 1937 and finally to solar power in 1993. The lighthouse is on the northern point of Moreton Island. On the west side of the island is Tangalooma, which was also once home to Queensland's first and only whaling station from 1952 to 1962. It now functions as a small and popular resort. Situated near the lighthouse is the Moreton Island National park information centre, which has a great source on information on the island's history.
Aarhus Dive Site Logo and Images

Aarhus Dive Site

Moreton Island, Moreton Island QLD 4009
North of Moreton Island lies the Aarhus, a 50 metre iron barque. The three-mast sail ship sank in 1894 after a 122-day sail from New York, and is considered one of Australia's first major oil spills. The Aarhus carried a cargo of kerosene, glassware, wire bails and alarm clocks, with some of those timber artifacts under the sand still preserved by the kerosene they were drenched in. Only accessible with a permit, this is a site for advanced divers - but is worth the extra effort, with a lot of colourful pufferfish, sweetlips, wobbegongs, stingrays, lionfish, gropers and schools of cardinalfish waiting to greet you.
Henderson's Rock Dive Site Logo and Images

Henderson's Rock Dive Site

Off the Eastern Side of Moreton Island, Moreton Island QLD 4009
Henderson's Rock Dive Site is of Brisbane's better and less frequented dive sites. There are deep ledges, overhangs and caves, hidden and partly obscured by thick kelp, all to be explored. Keep an eye out for the Ornate crayfish, prolific in this area. Expect sightings of Grey Nurse Sharks in Winter, where they occasionally school up in the main gutter to the north of the shallow rock. Other species of shark, including Gummy Sharks, Leopard Sharks and Wobbegong, also frequent the area.
Cherubs Cave Dive Site Logo and Images

Cherubs Cave Dive Site

Moreton Island, Moreton Island QLD 4009
A small concrete cherub once marked the main entrance to this hidden cave off Moreton Island. While the guardian has since disappeared, this underwater world remains to be discovered by the adventurous diver. Cherub's Cave is a large, circular cave, roughly 20 by 15 metres, with six exits providing a 'choose-your-own-adventure' style dive. The entire area is surrounded by rocky gullies, smaller caves and overhangs to explore. Pelagic life, including barracuda, kingfish and trevally, patrol the area, and divers will also encounter turtles, gropers and wobbegong sharks. Grey nurse sharks gather in the gutters at Cherub's Cave over winter, and make for very interesting dive companions.
Henderson Rock Dive Site Logo and Images

Henderson Rock Dive Site

Moreton Island, Moreton Island QLD 4009
Henderson Rock, on the eastern side of Moreton Island, is one of Brisbane's better and less frequented dive sites. With lots of deep ledges, overhangs and caves hiding behind kelp, these mysterious rocks have many secrets to be discovered. Keep an eye out for the ornate crayfish, prolific in this area, and grey nurse sharks, who enjoy schooling up in the main gutter during the winter months. With reef fish darting among the kelp, other species of shark, including brown-banded catsharks and wobbegong, also frequent the area.
Mount Tempest Lookout Track, Moreton Island National Park and Recreation Area Logo and Images

Mount Tempest Lookout Track, Moreton Island National Park and Recreation Area

National Park, Moreton Island QLD 4009
Mount Tempest track is on Moreton Island National Park, which features crystal clear creeks and lagoons, coastal heath, rocky headlands, abundant wildflowers, tall sand dunes, an historic lighthouse, ruins of coastal forts and miles of sandy beaches. Tidal wetlands and waters around the island are protected as part of Moreton Bay Marine Park. Not for the faint-hearted, the Mount Tempest lookout track features a steep climb to a summit measuring 280 metres in elevation. Expect many steps. Seats are provided along the way and at the lookout. Hike through stands of gums and grasstrees to a mountain-top lookout, stopping to catch your breath along the way. After your steep climb, be rewarded with 360-degree views. Marvel at breathtaking panoramic views of the island and Moreton Bay Marine Park—on a clear day you can make out the volcanic peaks of the Glass House Mountains in the distance. Reflect upon the stories of the island’s Indigenous People and their unique connection with this landscape from signs at the lookout. Image credits: Leanne Siebuhr © Queensland Government...
Roberts Shoal Dive Site Logo and Images

Roberts Shoal Dive Site

38883 - Moreton Island QLD 4009
Roberts Shoal is located off the eastern side of Moreton Island and is another Brisbane dive site that is often overlooked. This rocky reef can only be dived when conditions are calm, with winter generally the best time to experience this brilliant dive site. Roberts Shoal is basically a jagged rocky reef rising from the sand at 30 metres and reaching within 12 metres of the surface. This rocky reef is very impressive, and riddled with ledges, swim throughs and one very large cave. There is not much hard coral to be seen, but the rocky walls and caves are coloured by beautiful black coral trees, gorgonians, soft corals, sea whips and tubastra corals. Commonly seen at Roberts Shoal are turtles, stingrays, wobbegongs, blue gropers, mackerel, batfish, brown-spotted gropers, schools of pelagic fish and the caves are often full of bullseyes....
Moreton Island Logo and Images

Moreton Island

39042 - Moreton Island QLD 4009
No island in Moreton Bay says 'fun' more than Moreton. Located in the northern part of the bay, you only need to take a short boat trip from Scarborough or Manly to discover the island's long list of bragging rights. As one of the world's largest sand islands, adrenaline seekers flock to Moreton for the unique experience of sand tobogganing down the world's tallest stabilised sand dune, Mt Tempest. Guided tours are available along with all the equipment you'll need for a headfirst, high-speed trip down the dune. Tangalooma Island Resort also offers quad-biking tours around the island - their fleet of bikes is one of the largest in the country. With mysterious shipwrecks and colourful coral reefs, the famous Tangalooma Wrecks provide some of the best diving and snorkelling on the east coast of Australia. The island's idyllic waters are primed for all manner of aquatic pursuits including swimming and surfing, which also happen to be world class on Moreton Island. Moreton is almost entirely National Park, making it an excellent destination for nature lovers. Tangalooma Island Resort is renowned as one of only a handful of places on the planet where you can hand feed dolphins in the wild. Towards the northern end of the island, the freshwater Blue Lagoon is home to a host of birdlife and wildflowers during spring. The area is perfect for bird watching and bushwalking, with several walking tracks established on the island. And let's not forget the oldest lighthouse in Queensland, which was first lit on February 14, 1857 and is still standing strong at Cape Moreton. All this is packed onto an island paradise located right on Brisbane's doorstep....
Flinders Reef Dive Site Logo and Images

Flinders Reef Dive Site

39899 - Moreton Island QLD 4009
Moreton Bay Marine Park is home to Brisbane’s only true coral reef and fully protected marine sanctuary, Flinders Reef. Scuba dive among an amazing array of marine life and coral, perfect for any diver. The walls, gutters, caves and pinnacles of this reef are covered in over one hundred coral species including staghorn, brain, plate and many others, as well as soft corals, gorgonians and sponges. On your dive, you’ll discover that Flinders Reef also hosts more than 175 species of reef fish, plus invertebrates, stingrays, wobbegong sharks and even the occasional manta ray. A special feature at Flinders Reef is the turtle cleaning station, where green turtles rest on the corals in the shallows to be cleaned by surgeonfish and cleaner wrasse....
Tangalooma Wild Dolphin Feeding Logo and Images

Tangalooma Wild Dolphin Feeding

41314 - Moreton Island QLD 4009
The highlight of any visit to Tangalooma is the opportunity to hand feed one of the wild bottlenose dolphins that visit the shores each evening at sunset. Moreton Bay is home to approximately 600 bottlenose dolphins and each evening as the sun begins to set across the water, a small pod makes their way to the shores of Tangalooma Island Resort. Since 1992, Resort guests have had the opportunity to hand feed the dolphins as part of the Tangalooma wild dolphin feeding program. Currently up to 13 dolphins frequent the shores of Tangalooma each evening, hunting, surfing and playing with fellow pod members, each with their own distinctive and unique personalities. A dedicated Dolphin Care Team records the dolphins’ behaviour each evening, monitoring growth, behaviour and interactions. The Tangalooma Wild Dolphin Feeding Experience is included in selected accommodation and day cruise packages from Brisbane. Only official guests of the resort are able to participate in this program....
Cementco Dive Site Logo and Images

Cementco Dive Site

41612 - Moreton Island QLD 4009
The Cementco was a 67 metre long hopper barge that worked in Brisbane’s Moreton Bay for many years transporting fossilised coral to be used in cement production. In 1985 the retired ship was to be scuttled off Moreton Island as an artificial reef when it prematurely sank in rough weather, landing on the sea floor upside down in 25 metres of water. Today Cementco is a popular wreck dive, with divers able to safely enter the ship and explore the rusting hull. The shipwreck is sparsely covered in corals and home to reef fish, invertebrate species and also the odd groper. Pelagic fish often cruise around the wreck, including trevally, batfish, mackerel and barracuda....
Cape Moreton Lighthouse Logo and Images

Cape Moreton Lighthouse

Lighthouse, Moreton Island QLD 4009
Moreton Island Lighthouse was the first lighthouse built in Queensland. Built by tradesmen and convicts, the 23-metre high lighthouse was lit for the first time in 1857. Moreton Island is almost entirely sand, so the lighthouse is built on a rare rocky promontory and is constructed of island sandstone. It was built to cope with increased shipping movements and for a long time was the only light on the entire east coast of Australia. The large number of shipwrecks scattered around the entrance to Moreton Bay attest to the need for the light. Originally the light used an oil wick, which was converted to pressurised acetylene gas in 1930 then 110-volt electricity in 1937, 240-volt in 1967, and finally to solar power in 1997. In 1998 the lighthouse was made automatic and now has a laser beam that reaches up to 30-kilometress out to sea. The lighthouse is on the northern point of Moreton Island. It's a great spot to watch marine life including dolphins, turtles, manta rays and dugongs, plus migrating humpback whales during the winter months. In one of the old keeper's cottages is the Moreton Island National Park Information Centre with a great source of island history. ...
Smith Rock Dive Site Logo and Images

Smith Rock Dive Site

42571 - Moreton Island QLD 4009
Smith Rock is one of the most notorious reefs off Brisbane, as this jagged rocky outcrop has claimed three ships over the years. Located off the eastern side of Moreton Island, Smith Rock is also a wonderful dive site, but is often overlooked as it is a tricky site to anchor on. In depths from 3 metres to 20 metres divers at Smith Rock can explore caves, gutters and ledges coloured by soft corals, gorgonians, tubastra corals and hard corals. Painted crayfish are particularly common in the ledges here, which also accommodate banded boxer shrimps, squirrelfish, gropers and slipper crays. Also seen at Smith Rock are moray eels, wobbegongs, brown-banded bamboo sharks, turtles, batfish and a wide range of reef fish....
The Wrecks Dive Site at Moreton Island Logo and Images

The Wrecks Dive Site at Moreton Island

The Wrecks, Moreton Island QLD 4009
Situated on the western side of Moreton Island, The Wrecks comprises 17 vessels deliberately sunk to not only form a breakwall for small boats but also, to create a unique and exciting wreck dive and snorkel site. The Wrecks provide great diving in depths from 2 to 10 metres. The shallow water of the site attracts an amazing array of marine life, including wobbegongs, trevally, kingfish, yellowtail and lots of tropical fish. Each wreck tells a different story, with the hulls of each waiting to be explored. The Wrecks are a casual swim off the beach for those who want an easily accessible dive, but be careful of the currents between the shore and the wrecks....
Curtin Artificial Reef Dive Site Logo and Images

Curtin Artificial Reef Dive Site

43996 - Moreton Island QLD 4009
Curtin Artificial Reef is a popular dive site in Moreton Bay and is easily accessible from Brisbane. Since 1968, the Underwater Research Group of Queensland has been sinking large vessels, cars, tires and pontoons at this site to create a haven for the local tropical fish, gropers, trevally, abundant wobbegongs, rays and other schooling fish. This great underwater wrecking yard features 32 sunken vessels, the largest being former 50 metre coal barge the Bremer, which – like most of the other wrecks – has been cleared of obstructions so divers can safely enter and explore these impressive playground submerged in depths from 12 to 28 metres....
Aarhus Dive Site Logo and Images

Aarhus Dive Site

44984 - Moreton Island QLD 4009
North of Moreton Island lies the Aarhus, a 50 metre iron barque. The three-mast sail ship sank in 1894 after a 122-day sail from New York, and is considered one of Australia’s first major oil spills. The Aarhus carried a cargo of kerosene, glassware, wire bails and alarm clocks, with some of those timber artifacts under the sand still preserved by the kerosene they were drenched in. Only accessible with a permit, this is a site for advanced divers – but is worth the extra effort, with a lot of colourful pufferfish, sweetlips, wobbegongs, stingrays, lionfish, gropers and schools of cardinalfish waiting to greet you....
The Pines Dive Site Logo and Images

The Pines Dive Site

45318 - Moreton Island QLD 4009
One of the more unusual dive sites off Brisbane, The Pines is a coffee rock reef, or in other words a dirt boulder reef. Now a dirt boulder reef might not sound very exciting but cut with ledges and caves these dirt boulders are home to a surprising amount of marine life. The Pines in located on the inner side of Moreton Island and varies in depth from three to 30 metres. This site is a great place to see turtles, stingrays, batfish, wobbegongs, moray eels and a rich variety of reef fish and pelagic fish. But divers should also look out for unusual species like pineapplefish, leaf scorpionfish, nudibranchs, octopus, cuttlefish and pipefish....
Hutchinson Shoal Dive Site Logo and Images

Hutchinson Shoal Dive Site

45827 - Moreton Island QLD 4009
Hutchinson Shoal is the largest reef system off Brisbane and also one of the least dived. Located north of Moreton Island, Hutchinson Shoal is washed by strong currents and offers no protection in rough weather. But what is does offer is a rocky terrain with countless caves, ledges, overhangs, gutters and pinnacles in depths from 10 metres to 38 metres. Exploring this rocky reef, divers will find black coral trees, gorgonian fans, soft corals, sponges and lovely tubastra corals. Diving anywhere on this large reef divers will encounter reef fish, pelagic fish, turtles, moray eels, crayfish, eagle rays, wobbegongs, stingrays and gropers. This site also has a large admiralty anchor, over 3 metres long, whose history is unknown....
Marietta Dal Shipwreck Dive Site Logo and Images

Marietta Dal Shipwreck Dive Site

46625 - Moreton Island QLD 4009
The Marietta Dal was a 7500 tonne liberty ship built in the USA in 1944 and is one of the most interesting shipwrecks off Brisbane. On May 15 1950, the 140 metre long ship was carrying a cargo of sulphur, oil, tractors and other general cargo when it ran aground on Smith Rock. Any hopes of salvaging the ship and cargo were quickly abandoned when the vessel broke in two. Completely broken up, the remains of the Marietta Dal are now found in 10 metres to 18 metres and make for a fascinating dive. Scattered over a wide area of Smith Rock the main section of wreckage contains a twisted pile of plates, beams and the long prop shaft. However, the most interesting part of the wreck is the cargo of tractors, which look like small tanks with their caterpillar tracks. Even without the remains of the ship this is a wonderful dive as there are ledges, caves and gutters packed with marine life....