Moreton Island

Moreton Island (Mulgumpin) is an island off the coast of South East Queensland, Australia, on the eastern side of Moreton Bay. It is the world's third largest sand island. Moreton Island, along with Fraser Island, makes up the world's largest sand structure. Before colonization, it was the traditional homeland of the Ngugi.

Moreton Island is the world's third largest sand island, but it's much more than sand on this adventurer's slice of paradise, which is nestled in Brisbane's backyard. You can be snorkeling among a swarm of rainbow-colored fish, zooming down a sand dune, basking in a blue lagoon, or hand-feeding wild dolphins in just 75 minutes by ferry from Brisbane. The Moreton National Park, which spans 95 percent of the island, sits in the center, while the island's coastline features pristine beaches with both quiet and surfable waves.

Moreton Island, which is located south of Fraser Island, has a similar form to Fraser Island. Unlike Fraser, the beaches here are great for swimming, sandboarding, and viewing dolphins. From Base Brisbane, day boat cruises can be arranged. If you need to get away from Brisbane after a long week at work, Moreton Island is the ideal getaway.

Here you may even feed wild dolphins by hand. Snorkel among the Tangalooma Wrecks' sunken ships, a man-made dive site now home to fish, dolphins, and dugongs. Take a Desert Safari excursion to toboggan down the golden dunes; you can't stay on the sand island without a little sand adventure. There are numerous walking and hiking trails to choose from, ranging from the easy Blue Lagoon to the more strenuous but rewarding Mount Tempest Lookout hike.

Area: 186 km²

Location: on the eastern side of Moreton Bay on the coast of South East Queensland, Australia. (40 kilometers north-east of Brisbane)