Diving
Even once you have seen all the beauty of Moreton Island, its sandy beaches and its blue waters, you still haven't experienced it all. Below the surface is another world. The reefs and waters around the Island are home to many species of fish and marine life. Flinders Reef and Smith Rock off Cape Moreton are two areas which attract divers. The beautiful coral formations are like many of those found along the Great Barrier Reef. Fish life here is prolific. Experienced divers will enjoy the extra bonus of exploring many of the wrecks around Moreton. Dating back well into the 1800's, vessels like the 'Venus' ' 'St Paul' ' 'Aarhus-' 'Grace Darling' and more recently the 'Rufus King' and the 'Marietta Dal', have sunk off the Island.
Old gravel barges, tug boats, concrete pipes, tyres, car bodies, two whale chasers and an old Brisbane tram are just some of the items which lie submerged in 20M of water off Cowan Cowan. The fascination of this artificial reef, known as the Curtain Reef, brings divers back time and again. It has become a major breeding ground for all kinds of fish including some rare reef species. Please leave your spear guns at home as the Bay side of Moreton Island is a marine sanctuary.
Fishing
Moreton's unspoilt beaches make it a fisherman's paradise. No matter what the season, there are always plenty of fish to catch. Most fishing spots can be reached with 'a 4WD vehicle. Alternatively, it is possible to arrange with the barge operators for you to be dropped at, and later collected from, your choice of spot.
In summer, whiting abound from Tangalooma to Yellow Patch in the north and Reeders Point to Long Point in the south. The best months for whiting are October through to March. The Long Point area also experiences a tremendous run of good fish for a couple of weeks around the full moon in late July and early August.
Flathead can be found in several spots around the Island's shores. Favourite haunts are the submerged logs and tide eddies near Tangalooma Point and Reeders Point and in the many surf gutters along the ocean beach.
Dart can be taken from the surf all year round. These fish provide great sport for anglers and in winter large schools of dart up to 7OOg are quite common. Winter is the season for tailor, bream and tarwhine. They are often caught in large numbers from the surf beaches or at the northern end from Comboyuro Point to Yellow Patch. An area always worth trying is the protected gutter running north from Long Point towards the start of the high beach dunes. The area south of White Rock, on the ocean beach is one of the best spots for bream. Tailor are found along the ocean beach anywhere north of Long Point. The best formations - a deep gutter with clear openings either end - are usually found between the start of the high beach dunes and Eagers Creek.
The rocks at North Point can produce good hauls of tailor, and this is a popular spot in strong south-easterlies, offering protection for both fish and fisherman. Care should be taken if fishing the rocky areas. Tailor catches from Moreton Island compare favourably with those from Fraser Island while the bream catches are probably larger and more consistent. Please conserve fish stocks by not taking more than you need and return all undersized fish to the water alive.
Driving
Moreton Island is a sand island and driving is only possible using a four wheel drive vehicle. The main tracks on the Island are signposted. Tracks with approximate distances are shown on the map. The ocean beach from Mirapool to Cape Moreton and the western beach from Bulwer to Tangalooma are trafficable at low tide. The beach between Tangalooma and Kooringal should be avoided - it can be difficult to travel due to tides and debris. Caution is also required on the beach at the northern end of the Island between Comboyuro Point and Heath Island which is often impassable because of lagoon overflow.
The beach in front of Cowan Cowan is closed to traffic - use the bypass road around the town. The lighthouse reserve at Cape Moreton is closed to through traffic. Use the track south of Blue Lagoon for access between Bulwer and the eastern beach. Vehicles are not permitted in The Desert or the Big and Little Sandhills areas, as tracks left on the dune face cause erosion as well as detract from the natural beauty.
Camping
One of the main attractions of Moreton Island is as a place to retreat and relax. Many visitors seek nothing more than to camp by the beach and enjoy a quiet holiday. There are five established camping areas controlled by the Queensland National Parks and Wildlife Service. Blue Lagoon and Eagers Creek camping areas are almost on the ocean beach with Comboyuro Point, Ben-ewa, and The Wrecks catering for those who prefer the quieter waters. All have water, toilets and showers. The camping areas can only accommodate limited numbers and bookings must be made with the park ranger or through National Parks in Brisbane. Permits are required to camp anywhere on the Island. These can be obtained from the barge operators or from the ranger on Moreton Island. A nominal fee is charged.
Camping is permitted along the beach outside of the established areas provided a campsite with an access already exists. Please observe the 'No Camping' areas which are defined by signs. Water is a valuable resource on the Island and should be used sensibly. Apart from the five National Park camping areas, fresh water is also available from Blue Lagoon, Eagers Creek and Spitfire Creek. These natural water bodies serve the entire Island and must not be polluted with soaps, human wastes or rubbish. The use of soaps, detergents and shampoos in or near any creek or lake will cause serious ecological damage.
Water is less plentiful in the southern areas and it is a good idea to always carry some with you. Water points are located at the Big Sandhills on the west coast and the Rous Battery on the east coast. The Island's vegetation is very susceptible to fire damage. Whenever possible use fuel or gas stoves in preference to an open fire. When an open fire is necessary, wood must be brought from the mainland - fire wood must not be collected on Moreton Island. Build only small camp fires and keep combustible materials, particularly tents, well clear of the fire. Please remember to extinguish your fire when finished, and never leave it unattended when burning.
Should a bush fire emergency arise, contact the National Park office. (Phone 3408 2710 or after hours on 015 731 183). There are three volunteer brigades located at Bulwer, Cowan Cowan or Kooringal.
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