On the Bay Animal Encounters

Escape Brisbane city for a day of Moreton Bay wildlife spotting basking in the sun and sea spray.

Moreton Bay Marine Park is one of the largest and most unique estuarine bays in Australia, home to a variety of both tropical and temperate Moreton Bay marine animals such as turtles, wobbegong sharks, stingrays, manta ray, gropers, tropical and reef fish, bottlenose dolphins, dugongs, and whales (during humpback migration season).

Dugongs in the Moreton Bay Marine Park

Dugongs are an import part of the Moreton Bay marine life, the world’s only fully vegetarian marine mammal and the only sea cow in Australian waters. Australian dugong habitats span from Shark Bay in Western Australia to our own Moreton Bay and also extend to north Queensland. It is believed there are 80,000 dugongs in Australian waters with approximately 14 000 off the coast of Queensland.

Dugongs are considered 'threatened' and are protected in the waters of Moreton Bay.

Looking for a dugong spotting experience?

• Dolphin Wild Island Cruises departing from Newport Marina (95% success rate of spotting dugongs, dolphins and turtles)
• Ferryman Cruises departing from Bribie Island

LEARN MORE ABOUT DUGONGS >

Humpback Whales

When the winter chill starts to merge on the southern hemisphere, over 25,000 humpback whales will make their way up the eastern coast of Australian in search for warmer waters. Making the annual migration all the way from Antarctica, each pod will follow the same path their entire life as they head north to breed.

Whale season usually kicks off around June and ends in October.

Whale Watching Tours in the Moreton Bay Region

• Brisbane Whale Watching departs from the Redcliffe Jetty (100% whale sightings guaranteed)

LEARN MORE ABOUT HUMPBACK WHALES >

Fishing in the Moreton Bay Marine Park

Moreton Bay Marine Park is a fishing enthusiasts paradise, perfect for throwing a line in, but before you venture out into our pristine waters on the hunt for the next ‘big one’, avoid a nasty fine by familiarising yourself with zoning restrictions, and the boating & fishing Moreton Bay guidelines.

Before hitting the water you should refer to the Moreton Bay Marine Park User Guide. If you need more detailed info check the Moreton Bay Zoning Plan 2008.

Places to hire a boat and fishing gear

• Bribie Island Boat Charters
• Boab Boats Bribie Island
• Boating Planet Redcliffe

LEARN MORE ABOUT FISHING IN MORETON BAY >

Pumicestone Passage

Pumicestone Passage, the channel which separates Bribie Island from the mainland, is part of the Moreton Bay Marine Park and acts as a rich habitat for a diversity of bird and marine life. The passage and the bay offer great opportunities for marine life spotting, including dolphins, dugongs and migratory birds.

From its northern mouth opening into the ocean off the Caloundra coastline, to its southern end filtering into Deception Bay - Pumicestone Passage is a 35 kilometre ecological marvel and a waterway wonderland of fun.

Get out on the water!

• Catch a Pumicestone Passage nature adventure with Ferryman Cruises.
• Paddle out on the water thanks to Bribie Island Hire Hut.
• Take it slow with a Bribie Island Gondola luxury cruise.
• Hire a BBQ boat from Bribie Island Boat Charters (no boat license necessary).
• Organise a jet-ski tour of Pumicestone Passage courtesy of Bribie’s Moreton Bay Jetski Hire & Ride.

LEARN MORE ABOUT PUMICESTONE PASSAGE >

Snorkeling at the Wrecks

Watch the video below from our local Marine Biologist, Mat Davis from Coastal Protection Core as he talks about the importance of the Wrecks at Moreton Island.

Book your snorkeling experience

• Dolphin Wild Island Cruises offers a Wrecks Snorkeling experience.
• Sunrover Tours for snorkeling and Moreton Island beach 4WD tours

With so many ways to explore Moreton Bay Marine Park why not give yourself more time to spy Moreton Bay marine animals by treating yourself to a Moreton Bay beach escape for a relaxed holiday or mini-break on Bribie Island or in Redcliffe.

Other wildlife encounters in the Moreton Bay Region

Hashtag your animal encounters near Brisbane on Insta #visitmoretonbayregion or tag us @visitmoretonbayregion on Facebook!

Looking for more things to do and see? Pop into one of the region's Accredited Visitor Information Centres, the volunteers have a wealth of local knowledge.