Visiting Moreton Bay safely

Getting there and getting around

• Know your zones and designated areas – check maps and resources

Moreton Bay Marine Park can be reached from coastal towns between Caloundra on the Sunshine Coast to Runaway Bay on the Gold Coast. Check the Regulatory notices for restrictions on vehicle and vessel access.

The islands of Moreton Bay can be reached by private boat, barge or water taxi. Maritime Safety Queensland has a series of boating maps for Moreton Bay and surrounding areas to assist with navigation. For more information see the tourism information links.

Wheelchair accessibility

Some of the barge landings, boat ramps and commercially operated tours are wheelchair accessible. For more information see the tourism information links.

Staying safe

Plan your boating trips

Know the risks, know your equipment, know your responsibilities and know your boat.

• Check tide times and weather forecasts available from the Bureau of Meteorology.
• Check Maritime Safety Queensland's Weather Service.
• Register your EPIRB if not already done.
• Log your boat trip with your local volunteer rescue station.
• Seek local advice about strong currents and tidal influences.
• Know the safe distances to stay from whales and dolphins.
• Also see: Marine stinger warning notice (PDF, 53.3KB)

In a case of an accident or emergency

On a marine radio transmit a Distress or Urgency call on VHF Ch16.

On a phone, phone Triple Zero (000).

• Advise the location and nature of the emergency.
• Stay on the phone until you are told to hang up.

Deploy emergency apparatus like flares, a V sheet or an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB).

Before you visit

Moreton Bay Marine Park incorporates a number of zones and designated areas, with different activities permitted in different areas or zones.

Find out more information about the marine park’s management and zoning.

Essentials to bring

Make sure you have:

• checked the zones and designated areas maps and resources and Moreton Bay Marine Park User Guide (PDF, 13.6MB)
• navigational chart and boating maps
• a first-aid kit
• sufficient fuel
• Moreton Bay tide chart
• drinking water
• insect repellent
• sun protection
• a fuel stove and fuel, as fires and generators are not permitted at some campsites around the marine park.

Opening hours

The park is open 24 hours a day.

Quick guide to activities

Boating

Boating is largely unrestricted in the marine park, however boat operators must:

• adhere to rules in go slow and no anchoring areas (see designated areas (PDF, 1.1MB) )
• ensure they do not unreasonably disturb shorebirds anywhere in the marine park
• not discharge any waste, including treated or untreated sewage in marine national park (green) zones. For other restrictions refer to Maritime Safety Queensland vessel sewage discharge restriction maps.

Boating maps by Maritime Safety Queensland should be used as a guide for navigation.

Jet skis and other personal watercraft (PWC)

In the zoning plan jet skis are considered vessels and the same rules apply. Operators must:

• adhere to rules in go slow and no anchoring areas (see designated areas (PDF, 1.1MB) )
• ensure they do not unreasonably disturb shorebirds anywhere in the marine park
• ensure they adhere to the marine mammal approach distances specific to jet skis.

Motorised water sports

In the go slow areas for turtles and dugong and natural values, vessels (including PWC) cannot undertake motorised water sports. This includes:

• driving a vessel other than in a straight line; for example driving in circles, weaving, and surfing down or jumping over waves, swell or wash
• towing a person, such as for waterskiing, parasailing or wakeboarding
• the PWC not taking the most reasonable direct route between two places.

Time limits

Time limits apply on anchoring in the marine park—anchoring more than 14 consecutive days, or more than 30 days in any period of 60 days, in one area requires a permit.

Public moorings

A two hour time limit applies to public moorings in the marine park. In Moreton Bay Marine Park there are two Classes of public mooring:

A Class mooring – limits of use:

• Wind up to 24 knots
• Monohull 10 metres
• Multi-hull 9 metres
• 2 Hour limit
• Attach to bow only
• Single vessel use

C Class mooring – limits of use:

• Wind up to 24 knots
• Monohull 25 metres
• Multi-hull 22 metres
• 2 Hour limit
• Attach to bow only
• Single vessel use

Regulatory notice—limit of use for buoy moorings at Flinders Reef and Flat Rock (PDF, 46.0KB) .

Permits and fees

Marine park permits are important for the management of Moreton Bay Marine Park. Through the permit process the department can place conditions on certain activities, separate conflicting activities, limit the impacts on high-use and sensitive areas, collect data and encourage responsible behaviour. The zoning plan states activities that can occur without specific permission and those that require a permit. The Moreton Bay Marine Park entry and use provisions table outlines the activities that can be undertaken in different zone types. Marine park permits are required for most commercial or high impact activities (PDF, 581.4KB) including:

• commercial tourism
• collecting restricted marine plants or animals
• works considered consistent with the object of the zone
• constructing or installing a jetty, boat ramp or revetment wall
• dredging, material extraction and disposal
• aquaculture operations (not including the addition of feed)
• non-accredited research and educational activities
• vessel charter operations
• operation of a hovercraft
• conducting high impact firework events.

Firework disturbance on shorebirds in Moreton Bay Marine Park

In August 2020, the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service conducted a firework test event in Manly, Queensland to measure the disturbance effects on local shorebird populations. See report for results from this test event (PDF, 2.0MB) . The data collected from the test event has been used to develop a Low Impact Firework Event (LIFE) planner for firework event organisers proposing events within Moreton Bay Marine Park. To access the LIFE planner, determine whether you require a permit and discuss your proposed event with departmental officers, please contact parkaccess@des.qld.gov.au

Before undertaking any activity in the marine park check the zoning plan to determine whether a marine park permit is required. Issuing a permit is not automatic, each application is considered on its merits.

If in any doubt about whether a permit is required, contact Queensland Parks for assistance.

Apply for a marine park permit or learn more about the assessment process.

Pets in Moreton Bay Marine Park

Pets are allowed on vessels in the marine park, but are prohibited in all national parks. Dogs are prohibited on beaches and intertidal areas where a marine park is adjacent to a national park or where prohibited by a regulatory notice. In other areas dogs must be controlled or restrained so they do not disturb shorebirds. It is recommended that you leave pets at home or keep them aboard the boat.

Climate and weather

Moreton Bay Marine Park has a mild, subtropical climate. The average daily temperature range is 22 to 30°C in summer and 12 to 22°C in winter. For more information see the tourism information links. Weather forecasts are available from the Bureau of Meteorology.

Fuel and supplies

Fuel and supplies are available in coastal towns from Caloundra to the Gold Coast. For more information see the tourism information links.