Tangalooma Island Resort - Moreton Bay

Australia has many outstanding and treasured islands, but non as well-kept and interesting as Moreton Island. 
What makes Moreton Island so special is that it has one of the least polluted and least disturbed coastal environments along the Queensland-New South Wales coastline, and is the third largest sand island in the world with a list of very unique and protected wildlife. 

Aerial View of Tangalooma Island Resort

If you are looking for the perfect stay to experience this natural dime, then Tangalooma Island Resort is where to take yourself. Tangalooma Island Resort is located on Moreton Island, approximately 40 kilometres off the coast from Brisbane, Queensland. 

The resort nestles on Moreton Bay Marine Park, which was established in 1993 to protect the ecologically significant habitats of Moreton Bay. Moreton Bay Marine Park is the only place in the world where significant populations of dugongs and turtles can still be found close to a major metropolitan centre. 

Tangalooma Island Resort has over 80 tours and activities, the most popular being its whale watching cruises, where you are 100% guaranteed to see a whale or you get your money back! Encounter the majestic humpback whales and their playful calves as they breach and play in the winter waters of the bay between June and October. 

Whale watching

Tangalooma also has Dolphin viewing and feeding tours, where you can get up close and personal and feed the wild bottlenose dolphin’s that come ashore to Tangalooma each evening at sunset.

If Tangalooma’s abundant wildlife can’t keep you busy enough, then the resort has many other activities on offer such as beach volleyball, ATV quad bike touring, catamaran hire, kayak hire, guided snorkelling tours of the Tangalooma wrecks, parasailing, desert safari tour, sand boarding on the desert, helicopter joy flights, archery, banana boating, beach cricket, putt putt golf, segways and plenty more.  

Sand tobogganing

Bound by perfect waters and untouched national parks, Tangalooma Island Resort is the perfect destination for your next escape.

Right now you can experience Tangalooma Island Resort for the hot price of $399 per person twin share. The package includes 2 nights in a Hotel Room, buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, return launch transfers and dolphin feeding on one night of the stay. Valid for sale and travel until 21 September 2012. To book click here or call 13 88 33.

Our Staff share their favourite Australian Holiday Experience

The staff at Sunlover Holidays have travelled extensively around Australia and are full of travel ideas, making them the perfect people to share with us their 'favourite Aussie holiday experience'.

Monique from Reservations

“Tangalooma Island Resort is one of my favourite ‘best kept secrets’!  Each time I go there I’m always amazed that this piece of paradise is just off the coast of Brisbane. I always feel as though I am in the Whitsundays!  Crystal clear water and perfect white sand. A unique highlight is the nightly feeding of the wild dolphins!”



Tangalooma Island Resort, Moreton Island via Brisbane 



Daniel from Sales

“I love Byron Bay in Northern NSW. It offers an eclectic blend of beach culture, rural farming, with the modern conveniences found in a thriving town. The people are the binding element to this area, from the characters you will meet at the Byron farmers market to the international visitors that are drawn here from all over the globe. Just in case you have not been tempted enough, the sheer natural beauty of Byron’s coastline and beaches will leave you feeling refreshed, inspired and wanting a taste for more.”

Lourdes from Sales Support

“My favourite holiday experience was Tasmania; Cradle Mountain in particularly, the place was simply out of this world, totally in tune with nature, the accommodation, the animals and just the general ambiance fantastic!”

Cradle Mountain - Tasmania



Breeze from Reservations

“The Whitsundays is my favourite holiday spot. From the pristine white sand that covers Whitehaven beach to one of the 74 magical islands, they all offer a different adventure to be had or a hammock to laze away your days.”

Whitehaven Beach

Julie from Sales

“I love Sydney! It is such a beautiful place to visit with so much on offer. Whether it be festivals, markets, shopping, dining or touring activities. You can either do as much or as little as you like. Did I mention the choice of accommodation options? Where do you begin? From budget to 5 star the choice is yours.”



Sydney City



Brooke from Reservations

“My favourite holiday experience in Australia would have to be Port Douglas. Not too big, not too small, great mix of fine dining and casual eating experiences. Four Mile Beach, backed by the beautiful Daintree Rainforest, is one of the jewels in Australia’s sandy crown! The Great Barrier Reef with its amazing marine life, pristine Cape Tribulation and the farmlands of the Atherton Tablelands are easy day trips from Port Douglas, all must-sees when you are in Topical North Queensland.”

Port Douglas

Hannah from Sales

“Last weekend I travelled to Broome which was incredible; the highlight being the day tour with Kimberley Wild, up the coast of Cape Leveque – stunning colours of the beache, red earth, white sand and blue skies of course! A must do for anyone travelling to Broome. Cable Beach Resort is excellent with fantastic facilities and I must say sipping cocktails watching that famous sunset was hardly tough work on a Saturday evening!”

Kimberly Wild Tour - Cape Leveque

Roylene from Reservations

"My favourite holiday destination in Australia is Palm Cove – no particular hotel, just the whole township. As soon as I drive in, along the Esplanade, I automatically feel like I’m on holidays and feel relaxed. The sea air, the relaxed feeling of the locals, the fact that it’s Australia’s Day Spa capital :) it just feels like holidays! The fact that it is so close to Cairns to restaurants and nightlife and also easily accessible to all day tours that operates in the fantastic Tropical North Queensland makes it the ideal holiday destination for me!"

Top 5 Day Tours from Brisbane

1. Story Bridge

Adventure Climb 

Experience Brisbane

from an 80 metre summit as you experience a soft adventure experience with a difference. The climb offers magnificent views of the city, the river, the mountains and Moreton Bay Islands. Hear about fascinating history and heritage of the bridge and the city from your trusty experienced climb leader. All together the experience lasts 2 hours and 30 minutes and departs daily from Kangaroo point. Now all you have to do is decide wether you would like a day climb, twilight climb or night climb for your experience of a lifetime. This climb experience is only one of three in the world. Price is between $99 and $130 and includes a climb suit, hat and safety briefing.

Story Bridge - Day Climb




2. Croc Express to Australia Zoo


Enjoy almost 6 hours at the iconic Australia Zoo which is home to an array of animals and the Irwin Family. You will see many shows and demonstrations including crocodile feeding and snake handling. There is so much to see and do with the zoo housing 1,000 native and exotic species including koalas, tigers, red pandas, rhinos and more. The croc express departs Brisbane Transit Centre daily at 8.45am. Price is $126 for adults and $82 for children and includes Admission, reserved setting at the Crocoseum and return transfers.  

Australia Zoo

3. Brisbane Whale Watching
 
From June to November the magnificent humpback whales come out to play. A purpose built luxury catamaran offers a perfect viewing experience of the whales as they frolic, blow and splash only metres away. On the day trip you will enjoy morning and afternoon tea and a delicious fresh seafood buffet lunch. The catamaran leaves daily from Redcliff Jetty at 9.30 am and return transfers from Brisbane accommodation are available. Prices for adults are $135 each and with transfer $165. The price is lower for concession and children and there are family packages available. 

Whale Watching


4. The Workshops Rail Museum

Located at the birthplace of rail in Queensland the tour is an interactive authentic heritage and cultural experience. There are over 15 interactive exhibits to explore including multi media encounters, colourful stories, huge steam locomotives and massive industrial machinery. Go behind the scenes and experience active railway workshops and see real restorations. The tour is located at North Street, North Ipswich and opens daily at 9.30am. Prices for adults are $57, concession $54 and children $42 this includes everything plus lunch and mementos.

Workshops Rail Museum

5. Dolphin Adventure Tour

Experience beautiful Moreton Bay Island with a full day tour at Tangalooma Island Resort. Enjoy exhilarating sand tobogganing on the Islands scenic desert sand dunes and finish you day by hand feeding playful wild bottlenose dolphins. There are 40 free activities on the Island for you to enjoy and unlimited use of the day lounge and resort in your spare time. The day tour leaves daily from Holt Street Wharf, Pinkenba at 7.30am or 10am and returns that evening.  Prices are $175 for adults $130 for children and includes everything even a delicious buffet lunch. Return coach transfers from Brisbane accommodation can be organised for an additional fee.

 

These tours can all be booked through Sunlover Holidays .There are other great day tours available from Brisbane, something to suit everyone.   

Queensland has an island to suit everyone

Queensland offers a range of island paradises, from coral cays to surf beaches, there is a holiday option to suit every traveller. To help you pick your island holiday we’ve put together the best island resorts across Queensland.

The family friendly islands offer great kids activities from adventure playgrounds, kids club, guided tours of reef and wildlife plus free beach activities the whole family can enjoy. 

The indulgent islands offer something special for couples. They are private resorts that offer fine dining, luxurious spa treatments and the highest quality service. Travel to the island can be via ferry or scenic flight. 

Casual islands are suited to both families and couples looking for a great Aussie getaway. The dress code is casual, with thongs (flip flops) allowed in restaurants in the evening and the accommodation ranges from 3 to 4 star. 

Action and Adventure resorts offer a large range of activities both on land and in the water including jet skis, kayaking, windsurfing, paddle skis, ATV 4WDs and  sand tobogganing.

Nature Lover's paradise is for those that want to get in touch with the Australian flora and fauna, to stay in unique natural environment where fish, dolphins, turtles and whales can be spotted. Each island offers a range of tours that allow you to get up close with these animals and learn more about their habitat.

Please continue reading for more information about each resort's facilities, activities, dining and wildlife..

The Tangalooma Dolphin Story

Dolphin Feeding Experience

In the 1980’s resort guests kept noticing that a wild dolphin visited the jetty area after dark. They named the dolphin Eric, but soon after she appeared with her new calf Bobo, they realised Eric was a girl and renamed her Beauty. The guests fishing on the jetty at night began throwing their reject fish to Beauty and she slowly began to accept them.

Feeding dolphins at Tangalooma Island Resort

In January 1992 staff took to the water to offer fish from their hands. She wasn’t afraid of the humans and accepted the outstretched fish. With time she encouraged her children Bobo and Tinkerbell to join the feeding. Poor lighting made the dolphins shy to approach the shore, so in 1992 better lighting was set up on the jetty and Resort Guests were first allowed into the water to feed the dolphins.

In 1995 Beauty was discovered to have an infectious tumour on her rostrum. It resulted in her being unable to swim fast enough to catch fish. Unfortunately nothing could be done for her, but her calf, Shadow was only 9 months old and a plan was put together to help her survive. In a break from protocol we lifted Beauty’s feeding allowance and started to encourage Shadow with small fish. Beauty’s last visit to the jetty was on Christmas eve 1995. Three days later, when Shadow arrived by herself, staff knew Beauty had passed.

Feeding dolphins

Beauty left wonderful memories and her 3 children, Bobo, Tinkerbell and Shadow, plus Tinkerbell’s 3 children, Tangles, Storm and Phoenix, and Shadow’s 2 children Silhouette and Zephyr. Each dolphin is gentle and well mannered just like their mother and grandmother Beauty. The group includes 5 females so there is hope that Beauty's descendents will continue to visit for many more generations.

Tangalooma Island Resort offers over 80 tours and activities to make each day of your holiday an exciting adventure. Don't miss:



Sand Tobogganing on Moreton Island



Desert Safari Tour 

Take a journey to the scenic Tangalooma Desert

region as part of this thrilling 4WD tour. Then try your hand at sand tobogganing, you can reach speeds of up to 40km rushing down the sand hills.

Quad Biking on Moreton Island

ATV Quad Bike Tour 

A thrilling rush, quad bike along the bush and through Moreton Island's bushland.

Marine Discovery Cruise

Journey along in a catamaran in search of dolphins, dugongs, turtles, stingrays and more.

Kayaking Tours to the Ship Wrecks

Spot marine life and explore the sunken wrecks - all without getting wet.

Segways 

The most fun way to cruise the white sandy beaches of Tangalooma.

Stand Up Paddle Boards 

Celebrities having been spotting doing this in Hawaii. Give it a go yourself on the calm waters of Moreton Bay.

Kayaking on Moreton Island

Then there is:

- Scuba Diving

- Motor Boat and catamaran hire

- Tennis

- Mini golf

- Surf Kayaks

plus much more!