Tangalooma Island Resort: where wild dolphins play

Feeding a dolphin in the wild is an amazing experience that is not easy to find, yet off the coast of Queensland, there is an island where the dolphins come in for a tasty fish treat and you get to feed it to them.

Moreton Island is the world’s third-largest sand island and is located a short 75-minute ferry ride from Queensland’s capital city of Brisbane.

You could be mistaken for thinking you have arrived in the South Pacific, with warm sunshine, beautiful calm blue waters, and palm trees swaying in the salty breeze. This is what greets you at Tangalooma Island Resort. It is not crowded, impersonal, or pretentious, it is paradise right on Brisbane’s doorstep.

Boarding the ferry at Holt Street Wharf, Brisbane, and it is a short trip across the bay before switching onto Island time. This island paradise is protected on the bayside which acts as nature’s theme park where amazing natural encounters are just part of the everyday experience.

The resort is best known for the wild dolphin experience where guests can hand-feed a pod of wild bottlenose dolphins. However, this is just the start of what Tangalooma Island Resort has to offer.

For travellers looking for that tropical island escape when they can’t get to the South Pacific, then Tangalooma Island Resort is the place to stay. With golden sands, palm trees lining the beach, water sports and activities and that kick off your shoes resort feeling, it is paradise on the doorstep of Brisbane. Couples will love the romantic beach escape and families will enjoy the activities to keep the kids occupied.

There is even an educational experience to be had with the wild dolphin feeding, pelican feeding and bird talks, whale watching, eco safaris and the informative Eco Centre. Your stay can take in as much as you like, or just relax on the beach and chill.

Staying at the resort

Tangalooma Island Resort – Credit – Kate Webster

Tangalooma Island Resort offers a wide range of accommodation options to suit all budgets and tastes, ranging from Hotel rooms, Units, Suites and Villas, to our premium modern apartments and holiday homes – all located with access to what has to be one of Australia’s best beaches.

The Deep Blue Apartments are a great choice if you want to have the option to self-cater and acts as a home away from home. They have a certain intimacy being away from the main part of the resort, however still allow guests to enjoy all the resort facilities and atmosphere. The apartments directly overlook the nightly dolphin feeding, and boast uninterrupted views across Moreton Bay, with the Glasshouse Mountains visible by day, picture-perfect evening sunsets and the glowing lights of Brisbane City by night.

For an island resort, Tangalooma offers an array of dining options, tailored to a laid-back and casual getaway for all guests. With both local and internationally inspired flavours on offer, Tangalooma Island Resort guests can enjoy a hot buffet breakfast in the morning, casual beach style takeaway for lunch and exotic sunset dining in the evening. Want to relax for the evening? Shoot a round of billiards on the resort pool tables all while enjoying live music, and a refreshing beverage from the resort bar.

Explore and play

Tangalooma Island Resort – Discovery Tour & Wrecks. Photo: Kate Webster

Tangalooma Island Resort is the jewel of Moreton Bay and the Island’s region, offering a number of tours and activities. With lots on offer and plenty of ways to discover and connect with the natural wildlife and environment of Moreton Island, it is not hard to see why Tangalooma is known as nature’s theme park. A great getaway for families and couples, this resort is full of fun, combining air, land and sea to give you a unique selection of tours and activities that let you experience the true beauty of Tangalooma and Moreton Island.

These range from the active ATV Quad Bike Tours, Marine Discovery Cruise, the Desert Safari tour including sand tobogganing and snorkelling sunken shipwrecks to relaxing beach walks, wildlife encounters and whale watching cruises. The star attraction at the resort is the unique guest activity of hand feeding a pod of wild bottlenose dolphins.