If youโre looking for the ultimate day out with the family, look no further than Tangalooma Island Resort on Brisbaneโs doorstep. Moreton Island is only a 75 minute ferry ride away from Brisbane, however youโll be forgiven if you think you have taken an overseas trip with Tangaloomaโs tropical palms and white beaches. The entire family had such a great time experiencing the array of activities on display and we canโt wait to head back across the Bay!
What to Expect on a Tangalooma Island Resort Day Cruise
You can expect island life at its best! Beautiful beaches, gorgeous views, amazing wildlife, delicious food and lots of fun island activities the whole family can enjoy together. All Day Cruises include return transfers, resort access, lunch voucher, Eco Ranger experiences, free resort activities and a beverage voucher (for use during the boat transfer to or from the resort). Of course, there is also access to the beautiful golden sand beaches that lineย the shores of theย Resort,ย so the whole family can hang out on the beach, make sandcastles and swim in the crystal clear waters.
All of the above inclusions you get on a Beach Day Cruise, however if youโre after something a little more choose to upgrade to one of Tangaloomaโs several Day Cruise Packages. By choosing a Classic Day Cruise you can try one of their signature activities โ which include the ATV Quad Bike Tour, 4WD Desert Safari Tour with sand tobogganing, Wrecks Snorkel Tour, Marine Discovery Cruise, the Aquatic Adventure Day Cruise, the Afternoon Escape Day Cruise, and a Whale Watching Cruise, if you choose to go during whale watch season (June โ October).
All signature activities are expertly guided by Tangalooma Island Resort staff and guaranteed to bring smiles to the whole family. For the thrillseekers, the ATV Quad Bike and 4WD Desert Safari Tours are the perfect choice! Tear up Tangaloomaโs purpose-built quad tracks and sand bowls, or choose to climb the steep sand dune at the Tangalooma Desert and race back down on a toboggan at speeds of up to 40km per hour โ not before taking in the marvellous view at the top however!
If youโre wanting to see the aquatic side of the island, choose the Wrecks Snorkel Tour,ย Marine Discovery Cruise, or Whale Watching Cruise. Experience the iconic Tangalooma Shipwrecks from beneath, as you snorkel between the ships spotting all kinds of marine life that call this coral haven home. If you would rather stay dry, try theirย Marine Discovery Cruise, which takes you out to the wrecks on the search for dolphins, dugongs, green sea turtles, sea cucumbers, rays and more with full commentary provided by expert Eco Rangers to explain the habitats and behaviours of local marine life.
If you are thinking of heading over for the day during whale watching season (June โ October), you will have the option ofย searching for the majestic humpback whale as they make their way through Moreton Bayโs โHumpback Highwayโ, aboard a Tangaloomaย Whale Watching Cruise.
After more?
Tangaloomaโs NEW Day Cruise upgrades now give families even more choice on their day out at Tangalooma, with all upgrades including a signature activity plus extras! The new Sunset Cocktails upgrade includes a cocktail (or mocktail for the littlies!) voucher, which can be enjoyed with a beautiful Tangalooma sunset over the water from the best seat in the house, atop the Wheelhouse Deck. Then, watch the wild dolphins play in the shallows by the jetty as they wait to be fed , before catching the late boat back to Brisbane.
For guests wanting a more premium experience, Tangalooma is now excited to offer the โSea to Skyโ package. Those opting for this package will enjoy all the inclusions of the Sunset Cocktails package, with the addition of a 12-minute helicopter tour โ the perfect way to see Moreton Island and all it has to offer.
The new Day Cruise packages join the most popular day cruise is the well-known and iconic wild dolphin feeding upgrade, which offers the bucket-list activity of feeding the wild dolphins at sunset plus a signature activity.
When to go on a Tangalooma Island Resort Day Cruise
The whole family can choose to go over to Tangalooma Island Resort any time throughout the year. Of course, if you wanted to include whale watching in your day trip then you would need to visit between June and October. Tangaloomaโs year-round tropical warmth means you can visit at any time of year and still enjoy the perfect beach day.
How much is a Tangalooma Island Resort Day Cruise?
The cost of a day cruise depends on the package chosen. Tangalooma Island Resort offers five Day Cruise packages, including:
Beach Day Cruise
Includes return transfers, resort access, lunch voucher, Eco Ranger experiences, free resort activities and a beverage voucher (for use during the boat transfer to or from the resort).
- $99 per adult
- $69 per child
Marine Discovery Day Cruise / 4WD Desert Safari Day Cruise / Whale Watching Day Cruise / Aquatic Adventure Day Cruise
All inclusions of a Beach Day Cruise PLUS a choice of signature activity (Whale Watching June โ October only).
- From $155 per adult (dependent on activity chosen)
- From $115 per child
ATV Quad Bike Day Cruise / Snorkel the Wrecks
All inclusions of a Beach Day Cruise PLUS a choice of signature activity.
- From $169 per adult (dependent on activity chosen)
- From $139 per child
Sunset Cocktails Package
All inclusions of a Classic Day Cruise, plus a cocktail/mocktail voucher, day lounge access, and watch the dolphins from the jetty.
- From $209 per adult (dependent on activity chosen)
- From $159 per child
Wild Dolphin Feeding Package
All inclusions of a Classic Day Cruise, plus day lounge access, and a wild dolphin feeding experience.
- From $229 per adult (dependent on activity chosen)
- From $179 per child
Sea to Sky Package
All inclusions of a Classic Day Cruise plus a 12 minute scenic helicopter flight, cocktail/mocktail voucher, day lounge access, and watch the dolphins from the jetty.
- From $399 per adult (dependent on activity chosen)
- From $349 per child
Please note: these prices are based on the 2026 Day Cruise season and are subject to change at any time. To get up to date prices and tour details click here.
Go for a day or why not stay!
Visiting Tangalooma for the day is simple with the range of day packages available for you to fill your day with fun activities or simply enjoy the island, but with so much on offer, youโll be forgiven for wanting to stay longer! For those with more time to enjoy everything on offer, there are eight styles of accommodation to suit all tastes and budgets, from hotel rooms to fully furnished luxury apartments and hilltop homes. Family favourites include self-contained resort suites and beachfront villas, just metres from the white sandy beaches & perfect for families!
Getting to Tangalooma Island Resort
High speed launches depart regularly from Holt Street Wharf, Pinkenba, which is a short drive from Brisbane CBD or airport. Bus transfers from the airport and Gold Coast and Brisbane CBD hotels are also available at an extra fee. You can even take the vehicle barge to bring your 4WD, organise to moor your own boat or take a scenic helicopter flight across the bay.
Tangalooma Island Resort is a natural wonderland just waiting for you to explore!
For more information on Tangalooma Island Resort, to book cruises and accommodation and view current specials, visit tangalooma.com.
Tangalooma Island Resort Day Cruise Review (2019)
We arrived early, eager to start our adventure even though there was a bit of rain in Brisbane. As we arrived and handed over our Dolphin Feeding Day Cruise ticket, we were told that there is a certain magic that surrounds Moreton Island and while it maybe raining in Brisbane, the clouds part on the Island and the weather is beautiful.
So we boarded the 10am ferry to Tangalooma at the Holt Street Wharf, willing the grey clouds away. The cruise over to the Island was an experience in itself, as we went past the port, saw cranes, large cargo ships and jelly fish, before leaving the river where the clouds parted and we arrived at the picturesque and sunny Tangalooma Island Resort – it appears the magic of Moreton Island seems to be true!
After getting off the ferry we explored the Island and had fun making sandcastles and playing on the playground before we headed off to grab some lunch. There were so many restaurants to choose from, but we finally decided on the calamari while the kids had pizza and fish and chips all of which was included in our Day Cruise package. After eating our lunch with a view over the water, it was time to head over and get ready for the Desert Safari.
The Desert Safari was in Master 10’s words “so awesome!” Even the 4WD drive to the sand dunes is an adventure with lots of bumps, laugh and great commentary along the way. The sand tobogganing was so much fun but be warned…climbing the dunes is a big job but worth it once you get up the top and slide all the way down! ย Master 10 loved it and went up and down with me 5 times. Miss 8 on the other hand went up and down twice but was happy to play in the sand and have some drinks that are ย supplied as part of the tour. ย The pro’s are on hand to give you tips about getting down, which doesn’t mean you still won’t eat a lot of sand but it helps! There was even a 4 year old boy there taking on the challenge and he loved it!
Arriving back at Tangalooma Resort after another bumpy ride home, we used the Day Lounge to get refreshed and have a quick drink before going and making use of the free resort activities. We played croquet, tennis, ping pong and boccie before heading off to see the kookaburra feeding. Kookuburra feeding was awesome and it was fun to hear from the Eco Rangers all about these amazing birds and see them fight over the food they were given- lets just say it was tug-o-war kookuburra style and one matched lasted well over 3 minutes! The kids really enjoyed watching this wildlife experience.
Finally the highlight of our trip was the dolphin feeding. No words can describe how amazing an experience this is. The kids and I loved every minute of it even though it was a cold autumn night, you were unaware of the water temperature once the dolphins swim up to you and take the fish from your hand. You are not allowed to touch the dolphins, but you din’t need to- feeding them and watching them swim up close was truly magical!
On our ferry ride home, Miss 8 fell asleep with the rocking of the waves while Master 10 asked when we were coming back again. It is easy to forget the beautiful Island that is just a short boat trip away from Brisbane, how accessible it is and how much it has to offer. This was the perfect day trip to make memories with my Brisbane Kids!
If you would like to go on a Day Cruise with Tangalooma Island Resort, you can find out more atย http://www.tangalooma.com/brisbane-day-trip-cruise
Brisbane Kids thanks Tangalooma Island Resort for sponsoring our writer and her family on their Day Cruise to the lovely Tangalooma Island Resort and Moreton Island. Costs were covered. All the opinions stated in this article are true, honest and genuine with the sole aim of providing enough information for families to make an informed decision about future holidays to this wonderful local leisure destination.
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