Moreton Island is a large sand island on the eastern side of Moreton Bay , on the coast of south-east Queensland, Australia . Moreton Island lies 58 kilometres northeast of the Queensland capital, Brisbane. The island is 98% National Park and a popular destination for four wheel driving, camping, recreational angling and whale watching.The island covers an area of approximately 170 square kilometres, and extends for 38 kilometres from north to south.
Cape Moreton, at the north eastern tip of the island, is the only rock outcrop on the island. It was named Cape Morton by Captain James Cook in May 1770, and was at that time assumed to be part of the mainland. The current spelling came about because of a clerical error later.
Originally a whaling station, Tangalooma is a resort township on the west side of Moreton Island in Queensland, Australia. It lies on Moreton Bay and is known for its accommodation, dolphin-feeding program, sand dunes and wreck diving. Swimming is popular along the white beaches. It has a population of over 300 and receives more than 3500 visitors every week as it is only about 70 minutes from Brisbane by express catamaran. Moreton Island is 98% national park though there are other small townships there, Bulwer, Kooringal and Cowan Cowan. The adjacent waters are protected as a marine national park.
The resort is well-known for the hand-feeding of wild dolphins. Every evening at sunset a pod of up to nine bottlenose dolphins swims to the beach in front of the resort where selected guests can feed them, an activity supervised by the TMECC. Apart from the dolphin feeding program, there are many tours and other activities on offer, including whale watching cruises. Accommodation consists of about 300 rooms, as a variety of hotel units, villas and apartments.
