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Moreton Island
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Moreton Island

Difficulty: Trek rating 3 of 5 - Click for detailsTrek rating 3 of 5 - Click for detailsTrek rating 3 of 5 - Click for details   Suitable for: 4WD 
Another fantastic day or weekend trek from Queensland's capital city, Brisbane. Only a short trip by ferry and you're surrounded by beautiful beaches, wonderful scenery and great beach driving. A true city escape.
StartClick to Reverse the Dynamic Map and Driving NotesCowan Cowan
Trek
FinishCowan Cowan
Distance113.95 kmMinimum Days1
Average Speed33.05 km/hrDriving Time3 hr 26 min
Article By: ExplorOz Team   Updated: 10 Dec 2007
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 Description

Moreton Bay Island is a real city escape, located off the coast of Brisbane and accessible by vehicular barge. It is 4WDer's heaven with no sealed roads and sand driving all the way. A great place to enjoy unspoilt beaches, fishing, swimming and an island that is still 98% national park.

 Interactive Route Map

Cowan CowanBulwerComboyuro PointBulwerEager BeachJason BeachToompani BeachSovereign BeachTangalooma PointTangaloomaCowan Cowan
Cowan Cowan
No description entered. Enter description or photos.
Features: Place Name
Position: 153.3672ºE   27.1246ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Bulwer
Distance: 5.58km
Average Speed: 32.89km/h
Bulwer
No description entered. Enter description or photos.
Features: Populated PlaceFuel Water Supply Toilet Food,Shopping Beach Camp Fee Medical Services Point of Interest
Position: 153.3683ºE   27.0750ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Comboyuro Point
Distance: 1.53km
Average Speed: 30.71km/h
Features: Cape,Headland,Point
Position: 153.3626ºE   27.0616ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Bulwer
Distance: 1.53km
Average Speed: 30.71km/h
Bulwer
No description entered. Enter description or photos.
Features: Populated PlaceFuel Water Supply Toilet Food,Shopping Beach Camp Fee Medical Services Point of Interest
Position: 153.3683ºE   27.0750ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Eager Beach
Distance: 18.36km
Average Speed: 29.02km/h
Eager Beach
No description entered. Enter description or photos.
Features: Beach
Position: 153.4329ºE   27.1401ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Jason Beach
Distance: 36.32km
Average Speed: 30.05km/h
Jason Beach
No description entered. Enter description or photos.
Features: Beach
Position: 153.4264ºE   27.1663ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Toompani Beach
Distance: 11.67km
Average Speed: 38.79km/h
Features: Beach
Position: 153.4178ºE   27.2547ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Sovereign Beach
Distance: 4.04km
Average Speed: 38.56km/h
Features: Beach
Position: 153.4213ºE   27.2909ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Tangalooma Point
Distance: 32.66km
Average Speed: 31.63km/h
Features: Cape,Headland,Point
Position: 153.3666ºE   27.1992ºS (GDA 94)
Next Place: Tangalooma
Distance: 2.25km
Average Speed: 35.06km/h
Tangalooma
No description entered. Enter description or photos.
Features: Populated PlaceWater Supply Toilet Food,Shopping Beach Camp Fee Resort,Motel Point of Interest
Position: 153.3745ºE   27.1786ºS (GDA 94)
Cowan Cowan
No description entered. Enter description or photos.
Features: Place Name
Position: 153.3672ºE   27.1246ºS (GDA 94)

Route Control

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 Permits

Vehicular permit - $32.60 per vehicle (valid for 1 month)
Camping fee of $4 per person/night or $16 per family/night (2 adults plus children)
Ferry/barge fees - the most popular is Moreton Island Ferries. Cost is $135 return per vehicle (trailers extra).
All permits/fees can be paid to the barge operators or the rangers on the island.

 Things to See & Do
Sand driving, fishing, swimming and great scenery

 Preparation

Fuel Supplies & Usage

Fuel SymbolBulwer Diesel4cyl 16 litres ULP4cyl 18 litres LPG4cyl 23 litres
6cyl 18 litres6cyl 21 litres6cyl 20 litres
8cyl 19 litres8cyl 19 litres
Usage is averaged from TrekFuel (* specific to trek) submissions and calculated based on trek distance.
There is also fuel available at Kooringal.

Best Time To Visit

Closest Climatic Station

Cape Moreton Lighthouse
Distance from Trek Mid Point 19.83km N
 JanFebMarAprMayJun JulAugSepOctNovDec
Mean Max. °C 26.826.726.024.2 21.719.618.919.7 21.423.024.626.0
Mean Min. °C 21.922.021.219.1 16.414.113.213.9 15.817.819.421.0
Mean Rain mm 151.0159.2181.6147.5 172.0138.0116.778.4 66.180.795.6129.0
    Best time to travel      Ok time to travel      Travel NOT recommended

Services & Supplies

The following locations have various services and supplies: Bulwer, Tangalooma
There is also supplies available at Kooringal.

 Camp Sites & Accomodation
Bulwer   
Populated Place Fuel Water Supply Toilet Food,Shopping Beach Camp Fee Medical Services Point of Interest
No description entered. Enter description or photos.
Tangalooma   
Populated Place Water Supply Toilet Food,Shopping Beach Camp Fee Resort,Motel Point of Interest
No description entered. Enter description or photos.

 Environment

It is also advisable to collect your own firewood beforehand as there is no firewood collection on the island for environmental reasons. Alternatively, carry a fuel stove.

 History

Moreton Bay Island has its fair share of history. Once occupied by the Ngugi Aboriginal people, European settlement began in 1848 with the building of a pilot station near Bulwer. This was followed by a lighthouse positioned on top of the cliffs at Cape Moreton, which is still standing and in operation today. During World Wars I and II, Moreton Island became an important part of protection for Brisbane from enemy ships. Ruins of the gun emplacements and fortifications built during the war can still be found at Cowan Cowan and Toompani Beach.

Queensland's only whaling station was also built on Moreton Island and remains of the station can still be found at Tangalooma Resort. Like Fraser Island, Moreton Bay was subject to sand mining (on a smaller scale), which ended in 1992 when the mining leases were added to the Moreton Island National Park.

 Driving Directions
Time
Direction
Distance
Cowan Cowan to Bulwer 5.58 km N 1° 10 min
Bulwer to Comboyuro Point 1.53 km N 339° 2 min
Comboyuro Point to Bulwer 1.53 km S 159° 2 min
Bulwer to Eager Beach 18.36 km SE 139° 37 min
Eager Beach to Jason Beach 36.32 km S 192° 1 hr 12 min
Jason Beach to Toompani Beach 11.67 km S 185° 18 min
Toompani Beach to Sovereign Beach 4.04 km S 175° 6 min
Sovereign Beach to Tangalooma Point 32.66 km NW 332° 1 hr 1 min
Tangalooma Point to Tangalooma 2.25 km N 19° 3 min
Cowan Cowan to Cowan Cowan 113.95 km     3 hr 26 min
Distance is GPS recorded driving distance (not straight line), Direction is straight line from start to end, Time is calculated from actual GPS driving data.

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Greater Brisbane Greater Brisbane
A suburban map for the Greater Brisbane area. It features all major and secondary roads and shows the national, state and metropolitan route numbers as well as present and future freeways.
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Natmap Raster 2005: Premium - DVD Natmap Raster 2005: Premium - DVD
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