TANGALOOMA ISLAND RESORT

Welcome to Tangalooma Island Resort 

Find your slice of paradise at the unique, refreshing and pristine haven that is Tangalooma Island Resort.

Nestled on the idyllic western shore of Moreton Island, just a 75-minute catamaran cruise from Brisbane, Tangalooma Island Resort offers a captivating blend of adventure and relaxation. Named among Lonely Planet’s 100 Best Beaches of the World, it’s a hidden gem right on Brisbane’s doorstep. Set amidst a protected and treasured natural playground, this family-owned resort promises an unforgettable experience, whether you’re seeking thrilling activities or a peaceful and relaxing retreat. Discover an idyllic island holiday destination, perfect for anyone seeking an understated yet unique adventure, educational encounter or nature-based experience. 

A leisurely cruise across Moreton Bay transports you to what feels like another world. As you approach, you may hear the laughter of children playing on the sandy shores, or the squarks of sea birds being fed by Eco Rangers on the beach nearby. The jetty, fringed by crystal-clear waters teeming with fish, leads to a cluster of large, lush palm trees, where a warm welcome awaits from the Tangalooma staff. Soon the stresses of daily life melt away, soothed by the soft sand underfoot and the lulling rhythm of the ocean.

The resort offers an amazing array of activities to help immerse your senses in the splendour that surrounds you. Imagine the thrill of hand-feeding wild bottlenose dolphins at sunset, or the adrenaline-pumping fun of tobogganing down towering sand dunes on a Desert Safari Tour. Whether you’d like to cruise the clear waters on a relaxing Marine Discovery Cruise, or charge along the beach and through the bushland on an ATV quad bike tour, Tangalooma invites you to choose your own adventure, with activities that allow you to pick your own pace and create memories to last a lifetime.

Relax, recharge, and immerse your senses in the splendour of nature with an unforgettable stay at Tangalooma Island Resort!

Accommodation Options 

Tangalooma Island Resort offers a diverse range of 3.5-to-4-star beachfront accommodation options, each designed to provide guests with the creature comforts they desire. You’ll be spoilt for choice, with hotel rooms, units, villas and apartments, each set amidst landscaped gardens and national park, with most featuring ocean views. Alternatively, take up residency in one of the exclusive Moreton Island holiday house rentals with million-dollar views over Moreton Bay.

Regardless of the chosen room type, all accommodation options feature an abundance of natural light, mini-fridges, air-conditioning, private balconies, and luxury ensuite bathrooms. Most room types also include the dolphin-feeding experience within the nightly rate, except our Run of House Budget Rooms. 

Our Hotel Standard and Deluxe Rooms are housed within the quiet and tranquil surrounds of Kookaburra Lodge, just 50 metres from the beach. Comfortable and spacious, these rooms are an excellent choice for couples and young families enjoying a short stay. Both room types accommodate up to four guests, with Deluxe Rooms offering some extra perks, including a guaranteed outlook over Moreton Bay.

Located only metres from the beach, our Resort Units are ideal for longer stays. The kitchenette and family area make for easy living, and the unit accommodates up to four guests. One-bedroom Family Suites are perfect for families, friends and groups of up to six guests, and feature a large living area and kitchenette for a comfortable stay. Beachfront villas accommodate up to eight guests, and are an ideal option for those wanting to stay as close as possible to the beach. 

If you’re craving a little extra indulgence, spoil yourself with Deep Blue luxury. Designed for modern living, these elegant apartments offer you an unforgettable experience and can accommodate from 6 to 16 guests. 

You'll never want to leave Tangalooma Island Resort’s Holiday Home Rentals! Spectacular views, multi-story living, and a spacious garden make for a fabulous family holiday, with options accommodating 8 to 16 guests.

Resort Facilities 

Picture yourself falling asleep to the sound of gentle waves washing the shore. Wake to a hearty buffet breakfast that you don’t have to cook. Spend your day relaxing poolside or beachside, caressed by the warm sunshine and refreshed by the scent of the salty sea breeze. Take advantage of our barbecue facilities to cook up a waterfront alfresco feast. Then, imagine enjoying a refreshing cocktail hour as the sun sinks behind the distant mountains across the sparkling sea. As day slips into evening, perhaps participate in a once-in-a-lifetime experience hand-feeding a pod of wild bottlenose dolphins. This is all possible at Tangalooma Island Resort. You’ll love spending time floating and swimming in our two large pools and soaking up some sun on the poolside deck chairs. If you visit on a day trip, also on offer is a day lounge with lockers and showers as well as a resort shop where you can purchase souvenirs to remind you of your incredible time away. As for dining, you’ll be spoilt for choice with three on-site restaurants, a cafe, a bar, a breakfast buffet, and a wheelhouse deck overlooking the beach with an upstairs bar serving up unbeatable oceanfront sunset views. Then it’s just a short stroll to your resort room, where you can fall asleep in the embrace of nature. 

Be educated and enlightened at our on-site Eco Centre where you will find information on the Dolphin Feeding program and other artefacts. Here there’s also the option to participate in daily activities like snorkelling, non-motorised water sports, boat cruises, quad bike riding, a desert safari, tennis and pickleball, helicopter rides and wild dolphin feeding to name a few. Your only difficult decision will be which one to try first!

Choose Your Adventure 

If you can drag yourself away from your comfortable accommodation and the exciting line-up of onsite facilities and activities, there is plenty to be enjoyed outside the resort on Moreton Island. Traditionally known as Mulgumpin (PRON: ‘Mul-gum-pin’), Moreton Island is the third largest sand island in the world and is home to the highest coastal sand dune in the world, Mount Tempest, which towers 285 metres above sea level. It’s also one of the least polluted and least disturbed coastal environments along the Queensland and New South Wales coast. With its pristine beaches, unspoilt coastline and spectacular scenery, this natural theme park certainly serves up plenty of heart-pounding fun for the whole family!

You can take a trip to the historic Cape Moreton Lighthouse or snorkel your way through the Tangalooma wrecks. If you are ready for the thrill of your life, you’ll want to take to the hills on a Desert Safari tour where you’ll have the unforgettable experience of tobogganing down the sand dunes. The wind carrying the sound of thrilled screams and the dynamic landscape shifting under your board creates a heart-pounding adventure to invigorate your senses. There are ample opportunities to explore this island paradise from sand, sea and sky, with quad bike tours, parasailing, kayaking and even scuba diving. 

For a slower, more relaxing pace of adventure, you can choose to discover the Champagne Pools, where the effervescent waters provide a sensory delight that is both cooling and invigorating. Alternatively, if you are interested in local wildlife, a visit to Blue Lagoon will leave you refreshed as you soak up the serenity of one of the largest freshwater lakes on the island. There are a variety of additional cruises and bus tours to choose from, from whale watching to fishing tours and everything in-between. If you are not sure where to start, feel free to consult our friendly staff once you arrive at Tangalooma Island Resort.

Tangalooma Island Resort has been creating magical holiday memories for quite some time. From 1977 to 1980, the Osborne Family visited Tangalooma as resort guests. During this time, they enjoyed watching the dolphins visit the resort jetty at night. Lights had recently been installed on the jetty, attracting bait fish for the dolphins to hunt. In December 1980, the Osborne family purchased the resort property, and over the ensuing years, have overseen its ongoing growth and success.

They were instrumental in establishing the resort’s Dolphin Care Protocols and had them approved by the Marine Park Authority. They installed better lighting on the jetty and in December 1992, they tentatively began allowing resort guests into the water to hand-feed the dolphins – an unforgettable and unique encounter which can be enjoyed by resort guests to this day. 

As for Moreton Island itself, you may be surprised to learn that it was once host to the largest land-based whaling station in the southern hemisphere. The first two humpback whales were harpooned here in 1952. In that same year, the whaling program killed and processed the then yearly quota of 600 whales, within just 124 days.  By 1961 the whales were becoming scarce and light planes were employed to spot them from the air. In August 1962, only 68 whales had been caught and the whaling station closed. 

As a result of the whaling program, humpback whales were placed on the Protected Species list in 1965. The flensing deck remains at Tangalooma Island Resort as a continual reminder of what can happen when over-hunting of wildlife is legal. 

Today, Tangalooma Island Resort is still owned and operated by the Osborne family, Brian, along with children Jeff, Kerry and Glenn. The irony is that Tangalooma was once used as a Whaling Station, yet today it’s one of Queensland's largest Whale Watching operators, with daily whale watching cruises between June and October every year. With over 1200 whales spotted annually, it’s a true testament to how careful conservation can create positive change!

Accessibility 

Tangalooma Island Resort is dedicated to ensuring that all guests have a positive, fulfilling, and inclusive experience. The resort team, well-trained in accessibility support, strives to make your stay as smooth and enjoyable as possible.

Tangalooma Island Resort is located on Moreton Island, just 40 kilometres (or a cruisy 75-minute ferry ride) northeast of Brisbane. Tangalooma Island Resort operates regular ferry services from Brisbane's Holt Street Wharf in Pinkenba. You can book tickets for your preferred ferry transfer in conjunction with your accommodation booking. The Pinkenba terminal is accessible via car or taxi, with parking available onsite. The ferry ride offers scenic views of pristine Moreton Bay, accompanied by informative audio commentary showcasing the history and fun facts about the area.  

The resort is wheelchair-friendly with ramp access available to most facilities, including restaurants and dining areas. Guests staying in Kookaburra Lodge can benefit from accessible rooms with wider doorways, hallways, and flat floor access to seated showers. All rooms are serviced by elevators. Please note that the Kookaburra Lodge is over 500 metres from the resort jetty. Our staff do their best to accommodate guest transfers with buggies for those that have limited mobility, however it is subject to availability.

For wheelchair users wanting to participate in the world-renowned wild dolphin feeding program, Tangalooma provides a fully submersible, all-terrain wheelchair. Beach wheelchairs and access mats are also available. If you would like to use one of these, the friendly resort team will be more than happy to assist. Please note that some other activities, such as the ATV Quad Bike Tour, are unfortunately not wheelchair accessible. 

Registered service dogs are welcome to accompany their handlers at the resort. There are plenty of grassy areas suitable for their toileting throughout the landscaped resort gardens. 

If you have any further questions about accessibility, please contact the friendly Tangalooma team by phoning 1300 652 250.