Wildlife of Moreton Island
Moreton Island (Mulgumpin) sits within the protected waters of Moreton Bay Marine Park, one of Australia’s most diverse marine environments and an extraordinary place to encounter wildlife just off the coast of Brisbane.
The bay’s sheltered waters, extensive seagrass meadows, reefs and sandy banks provide habitat for wild dolphins, dugongs, sea turtles, rays, fish and hundreds of other marine species.
On a See Moreton day tour, you’ll have opportunities to search for wildlife during our Marine Discovery Cruise and encounter the underwater world while snorkelling the wrecks. These are wild animals in their natural environment, so sightings can never be guaranteed, and that’s part of what makes every encounter special.
Into the world of Dolphins
Wild Dolphins on Moreton Island
Can you see dolphins at Moreton Island? Yes. Moreton Bay is home to resident dolphin populations, including Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins and Australian humpback dolphins.
Bottlenose dolphins are regularly encountered throughout Moreton Bay and may be seen travelling, feeding, socialising or riding the wake of our boats. Australian humpback dolphins favour shallower coastal waters, bays and estuaries and are generally less commonly encountered.
Our crew keep watch for dolphins throughout the day, with the dedicated Marine Discovery Cruise providing another opportunity to search for them in the waters surrounding Moreton Island.
Bottlenose Dolphins
The bottlenose dolphins around Tangalooma Wrecks are world famous for their friendly nature, deliberately seeking out human interaction. The clear water and gentle slope of the beach provides opportunities for rare glimpses of group pack hunting. These dolphins are not shy. They will approach us with their young and we have even on many occasion watched them mate. The conditions are so favorable towards dolphin encounters that marine biologists from around the world travel to Tangalooma Wrecks to watch and research them in their natural habitat.
Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphins
Cruising the bay we sometimes encounter the rare and threatened indo-pacific humpback dolphin. Their unique appearance and name derive from fatty tissue that accumulates on its back forming a narrow hump. Indo-pacific humpback dolphins can also be identified by their triangular dorsal fins. The World Wildlife Federation estimates that “Populations of the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin are thought to be small, numbering less than 100 individuals.” Marine biologists have reported that they will behave as subordinates to their larger “cousins”, the Bottlenose dolphin in feeding interactions.
Into the world of Dugongs
Can you see Dugongs on Moreton Island?
Moreton Bay is one of Australia’s important dugong habitats and is particularly special because Moreton Bay Marine Park is the southern limit for dugongs along Australia’s east coast. Queensland Parks also describes it as the only place in the world where dugongs occur this close to a major capital city.
Often called sea cows, dugongs spend much of their time feeding on seagrass. Moreton Bay’s extensive seagrass meadows provide important feeding habitat for these shy marine mammals. Spotting one requires a keen eye. Dugongs often appear as a large dark shape beneath the water before briefly surfacing to breathe.
Where can you see dugongs near Brisbane?
The shallow banks and seagrass habitats of Moreton Bay are among the best places to look. Queensland wildlife authorities specifically identify Moreton Bay as a dugong stronghold where they can be sighted from boats.
Protecting the Dugong
Dugongs can be found in herds of up to 300 individuals around Moreton Island (Mulgumpin) gently grazing on sea grass. It is estimated that 800 dugongs live around Moreton Island (Mulgumpin), the only herd of dugongs in the world close to a city. Despite these seemingly large numbers, dugongs are vulnerable to extinction.
Dugongs rely on a substantial diet of sea grass, a marine plant that can only thrive in crystal, clear water, as it requires sunlight to live. Intensive conservation efforts over the years have seen legislation and action aimed at preserving the pristine waters around Moreton Island (Mulgumpin) and protecting the Dugong. The Dolphins in Paradise management and crew are proud to have participated in these efforts over the years. We especially welcome the chance to showcase these amazing animals on our eco-cruise and suggest ways to help on our educative marine commentary.
Into the world of Turtles, Rays, & much more
Home on the Reef
Moreton Bay Marine Park is renowned for its abundance of life. The Tangalooma Wrecks in particular are teeming with sub-tropical sea creatures amongst an artificial reef featuring varieties of colourful corals. Nearby Flinders reef hosts the largest array of sub-tropical species of coral along Australia’s east coast.
Search the shipwrecks for glimpses of blue ringed octopus or the elusive wobbegong, a harmless and beautifully leopard-patterned species of shark.
Can I see Turtles at Moreton Island?
Moreton Bay is an important habitat for sea turtles, which can often be spotted surfacing to breathe or swimming through the clear shallow waters surrounding Moreton Island.
The site’s existing content identifies green, loggerhead and hawksbill turtles among those commonly encountered around the island. The wrecks, reefs and seagrass habitats around Moreton Island create opportunities to see turtles both from the vessel and while snorkelling.
Keep watch for smaller dark shapes moving beneath the surface, sometimes the first sign of a turtle swimming below.
Discover
Moreton Island
with See Moreton
Book a day tour and discover everything Moreton has to offer!
Book Your Moreton Island Tour NowContact Us
How do you see wildlife on a Moreton Island tour?
Wildlife isn’t confined to one part of your See Moreton day.
Marine Discovery Cruise
Our crew search the waters around Moreton Island for dolphins, dugongs, turtles and other marine life while sharing commentary about the animals and their environment.
Guided Wreck Snorkelling
Get below the surface and discover fish, rays and other marine life living around the wrecks.
Cruising Moreton Bay
Keep watch from the vessel throughout your journey. Wildlife encounters can happen when you least expect them.
Island Time
Even from the beach and paddle boards, it’s worth watching the clear shallow waters for turtles, rays and other marine life.
