Everything you need to know about glamping on Moreton Island

Fancy the idea of boating, camping and fishing on Moreton Island, but lack all the BCF-ing components? Concerned about how you’ll navigate the world’s third largest sand island (after Queensland’s other favourites K'gari and Minjerribah, or North Stradbroke) without a 4WD? We bring you the best on how you can enjoy it all glamping on Mulgumpin (Moreton Island). You just bring the fun.

Getting there

Perched 40km to the east of Brisbane, some city residents make the mistake of overlooking Moreton Island in search of more exotic climes. Our advice: don’t. Hop aboard Micat – the flagship vessel of Moreton Island – and in 90 minutes you’ll be planting your toes in the pure, white sand for which this destination is renowned.

Your adventure starts at the Port of Brisbane, near Lytton (Tip: don’t mistake this for the terminal for Tangalooma Island Resort nor the Brisbane International Cruise Terminal or Brisbane Cruise Terminal). While the stream of 4WDs line up for the 58-metre-long barge (it carries 52 big vehicles), you can skip the queue and park your car in secure parking. Then simply walk aboard, VIP style, to nab the best seat.

Note: walk-on passengers are allowed three pieces of luggage such as a backpack, esky/chair and water.

Micat boasts plush, Moreton Bay blue bench-style seats with tables, a small gift shop with shirts and snorkel gear, fast food (think meat pies and cakes) and even a bar with the likes of local craft beer from Brisbane’s Green Beacon Brewing Co.

Location

You’ll arrive just north of Tangalooma Island Resort, near the Tangalooma shipwrecks where you’ll be met onboard by a team member of Castaways Resort. From here, it’s a bright and bumpy 20-minute ride in a 4WD north to Bulwer along the sandy highway locals call home. While check-in at Castaways Store & Café is officially 2pm, if your tent is ready, you can simply swan on down and get your glamp on.

All you’ll need here are your flip flops, sarong, shorts, singlet and swimmers.

The accommodation

The 11 glamping sites are a mix of two-man and four-person glamp tents catering for everyone from adventurous singles to new parents with babies, older families with two children (in bunk beds), or couples.

Recently renovated, they boast timber floors, tin walls and canvas ceilings. While the bedrooms are on the smaller side, the beds are super comfortable. The bathrooms are a delicious mix of indoor/outdoor with a half-exposed shower ceiling enabling fresh air while you bathe in hot water and feature a sink and flushing toilet. There’s a small deck attached to the front replete with outdoor chairs and table.

You’ll sleep under crisp, white sheets (and plush blankets for cooler nights), in your fully-screened bedroom (keep the bathroom door closed after night to avoid bugs through the open-air shower). Bath towels and soap are provided.

Tip: bring your beach towel, toiletries and any prescription medication.

There’s no power points in your glamping tent, but you can charge your devices in the communal kitchen. Wifi is patchy on the island, and while the best spot to pick up a signal is on the beach, we recommend a digital detox.

Food and drinks

The communal camp kitchen in the centre of the glamping ground is not only a great place to barbecue your breakfast, lunch and dinner, but also to meet fellow like-minded travellers. (You know, people like you who fancy the idea of camping on Moreton Island but don’t exactly want to rough it). While you can bring as much of your own food as you like – you are allocated a shelf on the fridge and in the door for your goodies – there are also other options.

Castaways Café & Restaurant is open every day (except for Wednesdays) and serves breakfast and lunch until last orders at 2pm and dinner (reservations only) on Friday nights. The menu is reasonable with prices at around the $20 mark for fish, chips and salad freshly prepared by the friendly staff. You can also buy basic foodstuff such as chips and biscuits, and there’s even a rudimentary bottle shop with wine, beer and spirits. A third option, and popular with the glamping set, is to prebook a daily breakfast and dinner pack which is delivered to your fridge shelf each day for you to cook at your leisure.

Tip: It’s not advised to drink the bore water on the island, so bring enough drinking water to last your adventure, usually around 1.5-2 litres per adult, per day. There’s a rainwater tank near glamp site 7 for refills, or you can buy bottled water from the café.

Things to do

No 4WD? No worries. At Bulwer, you are at one of the prettiest places on the island (possibly the earth). Even better, you are 100 metres from your glamp site to the beach. A firm favourite is snorkelling the Bulwer wrecks, a smaller version of the Tangalooma wrecks. On a good day you’ll see a harmless wobbegong shark, schools of silver bait fish, angel fish and other reef fish scooting in and out of the shipwreck remnants. On a great day, you’ll snorkel with turtles and the odd ray.

Tip: Bring your own snorkel gear or buy it on the barge and wait for the turn of the tide for your best snorkelling conditions.

There’s some lovely shady spots on this white, sandy beach from which to pull up a perch with a great book and while away the hours, occasionally raising your gaze to look at the tiramisu ocean and wave at the parade of passing 4WDs.

You may also wish to bring a handline or small fishing rod and join the fishermen and women along the beach.

Return to the beach around sunset as its western-facing aspect turns on spectacular shows, while you look at the horizon and the Brisbane city skyline to your left and the Glass House Mountains' silhouette to your right. Castaways has even built a rudimentary beach bar for your BYO drinks.

Tip: Bring you camera. At dusk you can spot pods of dolphins in the shallows.

After dark, bring marshmallows and sit around the Castaways fire pit for some old-fashioned fun. 

Tours

If you do feel the urge to splurge and explore more of this paradise, Australian Sunset Safaris has a range of island tours running from Thursdays to Sundays, including night kayaking around the Tangalooma shipwrecks.

Looking for some more great glamping around Queensland? Check out these great sites.