Visiting Gheebulum Kunungai (Moreton Island) safely

Cape Moreton lighthouse.

Photo credit: Queensland Government

Getting there and getting around

• Moreton Island National Park map (PDF, 447.7KB)

Mulgumpin (Moreton Island) is 40km offshore from Brisbane. The island can be reached by ferry, barge or boat. Barges and ferries for vehicles and passengers run daily. Extra services operate in school holidays and on long weekends. Bookings are essential. See tourism information links for details.

Private boat access

Mulgumpin (Moreton Island) is in exposed waters. Large seas can be experienced between Mulgumpin (Moreton Island) and the mainland. Consider your experience and the suitability of your vessel, and take into account currents and predicted weather and sea conditions when planning your trip. No public moorings are available at Mulgumpin (Moreton Island). Weather forecasts are available from the Bureau of Meteorology.

Vessels, anchors and ropes should not restrict the safe thoroughfare of four-wheel drives or pedestrians between the high and low water mark on Mulgumpin (Moreton Island) beaches.

Four-wheel-drive access

Four-wheel-drive (4WD) vehicles are essential for driving on the island. Four-wheel-drive vehicles with high clearance and low range function are strongly recommended. All-wheel drive vehicles without true 4WD function and vehicles with low clearance will have difficulty along inland tracks and in soft sand, and are therefore not suitable on Mulgumpin (Moreton Island). All vehicles should be equipped with essential recovery gear (tyre pressure gauge, shovel, snatch strap, towrope or traction pads). A private vehicle recovery service operates on Mulgumpin (Moreton Island). See Tourism information links for details.

All vehicles must be registered and have a valid Moreton Island Recreation Area vehicle access permit (VAP). Fees apply. Drivers must be licensed and all Queensland road rules apply.

VAPs will not be issued for unregistered vehicles, or for registered vehicles (including conditionally registered) including but not limited to quads, trikes and trail bikes, except to island landholders and residents satisfying police permit and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) requirements.

All vehicles are required to stay on designated roads, beaches and vehicle tracks, and must not be driven on or over vegetation including that of the foredunes. Drivers must obey all speed limits, signs and barriers.

Please read driving on sand and driving safely before you drive on Mulgumpin (Moreton Island). The driving safely section also lists driving times between major features on the island.

Wheelchair accessibility

There are no areas accessible by wheelchair in Gheebulum Kunungai (Moreton Island) National Park or in the Moreton Island Recreation Area.

Staying safe

Read all information

Many safety and regulatory signs warn visitors of dangers, rules and regulations and ways to help conserve Mulgumpin's (Moreton Island's) special features. Walking track entrances, campgrounds and day-use areas have information and orientation signs including site-specific interpretive materials. For your safety, please read and heed signs.

Walking safely

• Always carry a map, first-aid kit, and sufficient food and water.
• Supervise children at all times, especially around water and beach roads.
• Stay on formed walking tracks and do not shortcut.
• Wear sturdy footwear, not thongs.
• Walk in groups.
• Avoid walking in the hottest part of the day.
• Protect yourself from the sun.
• Obey all danger and warning signs.
• Maintain an awareness of any fire restrictions during the fire season (September – March).
• Do not climb on the shipwrecks at Tangalooma or Bulwer.
• Supervise children when visiting the historic WWII relics at Rous Battery and Cowan Cowan.
• Bring personal insect repellent to avoid mosquito and sand fly bites.

Pig safety

Feral pigs may carry diseases that can be transmitted to humans. They may become aggressive if their young are threatened. Feral pigs digging for food damage natural ecosystems. Mulgumpin (Moreton Island) rangers are undertaking a feral animal management program on the island focussing on feral pigs.

Please tell the rangers about any feral pigs you see around the island. In particular, note the location, time of day and number of pigs.

Ensure your camp site is pig safe

Pigs learn to scavenge for food. They easily find and scatter rubbish and eat anything including bread and biscuits. Do not encourage them into camp sites.

Make sure you:

• Never feed pigs or leave food lying around.
• Keep food, bait and rubbish in strong lockable containers.
• Bury fish offal below the high tide mark to a depth of 50cm.
• Pack away food after you've finished eating.
• Keep your camp site tidy to make it boring and uninviting for pigs.

Water safety

People have suffered serious injuries in water-related accidents. There are no patrolled swimming areas on Mulgumpin (Moreton Island). Avoid tragedy.

• Always supervise children when near water.
• Avoid swimming in the ocean. It is not patrolled and there may be rips and sharks.
• Do not dive into water. Serious injuries have occurred.
• Stay away from beach rocks. Surf and swell can wash you away.
• Powerboats, personal motorised watercraft (e.g. jet skis) and vehicles are not permitted in lakes and streams.
• Swimming is prohibited in Mirapool Lagoon.

Driving safely

Sand driving can be difficult and dangerous. Take care and remember ALL road rules apply. For essential safety tips please view:

• driving on sand
• driving on sand video clip
• driving on sand safety guide (printable).

Obey all road rules

• All Queensland road rules apply on island tracks and beaches.
• All vehicles must be registered.
• Wear seatbelts at all times.
• Keep left of oncoming vehicles at all times.
• Use indicators only when overtaking or turning.
• All drivers or riders must hold the appropriate driver's licence.
• Never travel outside the vehicle or tow people behind the vehicle—it is illegal and people have been seriously injured this way.

Keep below the speed limit

• Speed limits on beaches and inland tracks apply (see below).
• Be aware of the speed limits at your location and obey all road signs.
• People driving too fast for the unexpected are more likely to have accidents.

Speed limits

The following speed limits are enforceable. Depending on conditions, safe travelling speeds could be much lower.

• All townships are 20km/hr.
• All inland tracks are 30km/hr.
• Beach driving is 60km/hr unless otherwise sign posted.

Speed limits 20km/hr

• Middle Road to Tangalooma on the west beach
• Bulwer beach.

Speed limits 30km/hr

• Ben-Ewa campground to Middle Rd
• Bulwer township to Comboyuro Pt
• Reeders Point barge landing area.

Beach CLOSED to vehicles in front of:

• Cowan Cowan settlement
• Tangalooma Island Resort,

No vehicle access

• To ensure pedestrian safety, vehicle access is prohibited on the beach at Tangalooma Island Resort and Cowan Cowan township. Use bypass roads where available.
• To reduce the disturbance of migratory shorebirds, vehicle access along the beach at Mirapool is prohibited 3 hrs either side of high tide, and a speed limit of 30 km/hr applies at all other times. Please use the Mirapool bypass road.

Limited access

• The western beach between Kooringal and Tangalooma is not always trafficable. Debris and shifting sand may make the beach impassable even at low tide.
• Middle, North Point and Bulwer–Blue Lagoon roads are narrow and can become very rough in dry weather. For this reason, caravans and camper trailers are not recommended on these roads.

Hazard areas

• Beach conditions are always changing and drivers need to maintain an awareness of hazards such as washouts and exposed rocks, particularly after heavy rain and rough seas.
• Accidents have happened due to reckless driving or silly pranks. Passengers have suffered serious spinal injuries in vehicles travelling too fast for the road or beach conditions.
• At times, creek crossings and exposed rocks make beaches impassable, especially after rough sea conditions.

Before heading off

• Ensure your vehicle is mechanically sound.
• Carry essential spares, extra fuel, water, tyre gauge, tyre pressure, pump, snatch strap, tow rope and a first-aid kit.
• Be familiar with your vehicle and correct driving techniques.
• Reduced tyre pressure improves traction when driving on sand.

Load your vehicle correctly

• Do not overload your vehicle.
• Load your vehicle evenly with heavy items stored low.
• Vehicles with too much stored on roof racks can overturn or become stuck.
• Remember the weight and balance of a 4WD is different to a normal car.

Drive only when you are safe

• Do not drive when you are tired or under the influence of alcohol or medication.
• You need to be constantly alert and familiar with sand driving techniques—4WDs handle differently in sand.
• Police regularly visit the island with speed detectors and breathalyser units.

Give way to

• Pedestrians—they often cannot hear approaching vehicles above the sound of surf or strong winds. Slow down near people on the beach, especially around children.
• Seabirds and other wildlife—always go slow and go around flocks of birds.
• Other vehicles—most tracks are narrow and carry two-way traffic. Please take care when passing other vehicles as deep sand ruts can cause your vehicle to slide towards another vehicle. Passing bays are found along roads, do not create your own by driving over vegetation.
• Vehicles coming downhill, heavy vehicles and vehicles with trailers have right of way in any situation, as they are more difficult to handle.

When sand driving

• Always engage 4WD when driving on the island.
• Check your tyre pressure gauge works. Reduced tyre pressure helps maintain traction on inland tracks and soft sand. If you choose to reduce your tyre pressure, remember to re-inflate your tyres again to resume speed on harder sand or mainland driving.
• Avoid sharp turns and sudden braking with lowered tyre pressure.
• Select low gears for soft, dry sand.
• If your vehicle bogs, do not continue to drive in a forward direction, reverse out and try again.
• Stay on formed tracks. It is illegal to drive off-track on dunes.
• Be very careful when crossing creeks. Large volumes of water create steep creek banks.
• Before crossing any water, always check the depth of water and softness of sand.
• Never stop your vehicle midstream; your vehicle may sink or stall.

Watch the tides!

• The best time to travel is around low tide. Refer to the Mulgumpin (Moreton Island) conditions report. Avoid driving two hours either side of high tide and often for longer, as some areas are more affected by tidal activity and onshore winds than others.
• Beach travel is not always possible, even at low tide.
• Be prepared for delays, as you may need to wait for suitable beach conditions.
• Creeks flowing out onto beaches should be traversed with caution.
• Do not stop your vehicle in any creek bed—use low speed and check depth and sand softness before crossing.
• For safety, avoid travelling at night.

Tide variations

Always refer to the tide times for the location you are at. The Mulgumpin (Moreton Island) Conditions Report references the Tangalooma Point tide chart. The below variations need to be considered when travelling around the island:

• Eastern Beach (Eagers Creek) is 50mins earlier than Tangalooma Point.
• Kooringal is 15 mins earlier than Tangalooma Point.

Times will vary depending upon beach and weather conditions and tide height at time of travel. Inland track conditions deteriorate as sand dries out. After rain, track conditions often improve. But when dry, expect a slow bumpy trip!

In an emergency

• Dial 000 for fire, medical and police emergency assistance.
• Dial 106 for a text-only emergency service, for speech or hearing-impaired people.
• If calling from the ocean beach, advise 000 operator of your closest distance marker. These are located on the ocean beach at two kilometre intervals north and south of Middle Road.
• Carry a first-aid kit with you and know how to use it.

Stay with the injured person—keep them calm and protect them from the elements.

For further information please read the guidelines on safety in parks and forests.

Before you visit

Essentials to bring

First-aid kit and prescription medicines

There is no pharmacy or resident doctor on the island. The Queensland Ambulance Service operates an office at Tangalooma Island Resort and has trained paramedics available. Bring adequate supplies of any prescription medication you need and a well-equipped first-aid kit. It's always wise to have at least one person with a current first-aid certificate in your group.

Drinking water

Bring your own drinking water and containers. Water can be collected from the Big Sandhills on the western beach, the Rous Battery and Eagers Creek on the eastern beach, and also at all established campgrounds. Always treat water before drinking. Pack water treatment tablets or boil water for at least 10 minutes. Use water sparingly and consider other campers.

Rubbish

Bring your own garbage bags and sealable containers for rubbish including small containers for cigarette butts and bottle tops. Always extinguish cigarette butts. Don't discard the butts on the island, unless in a bin. 'Pack it in and pack it out'.

Gas or fuel stoves

Bring a gas or fuel stove and/or firewood. Open fires are not permitted at The Wrecks and North Point campgrounds. Test your stove before leaving on your trip. Never use them in confined spaces such as tents.

Vehicle recovery equipment

All vehicles must have rated shackles and the basic recovery equipment such as a tyre pressure gauge, shovel, towrope or traction pads. Recovery of bogged vehicles is the responsibility of the driver. A private vehicle recovery service operates on Mulgumpin (Moreton Island). See tourism information links for details.

Extra hints

• Sand pegs, tarpaulins, extra poles, ropes and torches come in handy.
• Mosquitoes and sandflies may be present in large numbers, so bring insect repellent with you. Remember to wash any repellent off before swimming in creeks or lakes as it is highly toxic to our endangered native fish, even in low quantities.
• Mobile phones may have limited range. Consult your service provider.
• Bring sealable containers for rubbish.
• Bring small sealable containers for cigarette butts. Always extinguish cigarette butts. Don't discard the butts on the island, unless in a bin.
• Don't bring firearms or fireworks; they are not permitted in the national park or recreation area.
• Don't bring chainsaws, they cannot be used.
• Generators are not permitted to be used in developed campgrounds, however they can be used in the five camping zones (PDF, 200.2KB) across the island. Only low decibel (dB) generators with a maximum of 60dB can be used between the hours of 8.00am and 7.00pm.

Opening hours

The park is open 24 hours a day.

Permits and fees

Vehicle permits

A vehicle access permit must be purchased and displayed on your vehicle windscreen before driving on the island. Fees apply.

Monthly and yearly permits are available and must be attached to the left side of the vehicle's windscreen. If the vehicle does not have a windscreen the permit must be displayed in another prominent position.

• Buy your vehicle access permit online.
• A QldParks-Wifi hotspot is available at The Wrecks camping area.
• Vehicle access permits can also be purchased from over-the-counter offices.

Camping permits

All campgrounds and camping zones within the national park and recreation area require a camping permit, which must be obtained before you arrive on the island (there is no self-registration on site). Fees apply. A camping tag with your booking number must be displayed at your camp site.

• To find out more about camping areas and to book your camp site visit Mulgumpin Camping.
• A QldParks-Wifi hotspot is available at The Wrecks camping area.

Permit refunds

For information on permit refunds please email enquiry@mulgumpincamping.net.au or phone (07) 3506 2371.

Pets

Domestic animals are not permitted in the national park or recreation area.

Climate and weather

Mulgumpin (Moreton Island) has a mild, subtropical climate. The average daily temperature range is 22–30°C in summer and 12–22°C in winter. For more information see the tourism information links.

Fuel and supplies

Castaways sells recovery equipment and unleaded fuel, available in 20L drums only. Contact Castaways prior to commencing your trip to ensure supplies are available. Visitors will need to ensure they carry adequate supplies of fuel from Brisbane. Please note that vehicle access permits are issued with a condition that restricts the amount of fuel that may be kept within a developed camping area to 50L.

General supplies are available at a few locations on Mulgumpin (Moreton Island). Not all shops are open every day. Contact the individual store for opening times and days.

Bulwer township

• Castaways stocks basic groceries, ice, firewood, recovery equipment and gas bottle exchange (9kg only). Pre-ordering recommended for bread and newspapers. Unleaded fuel is available in 20L drums only. Contact the store prior to commencing your trip to ensure fuel supplies are available.
• Bait and tackle store sells camping and fishing supplies.
• Castaways also offers an assortment of drinks, cakes and hamburgers.
• 4WD taxi and tour services are also available.

Contact the individual store for opening times and days.