Over 25,000 humpback whales pass through Moreton Bay Marine Park every year. Whale watchers can observe and immerse themselves in the incredible acrobatic performances on board Brisbane Whale Watching from 11 June through to October. These friendly giants migrate between their feeding grounds in the Southern Ocean and their breeding and calving habitats in northern tropical seas every winter as they pass through Moreton Bay. If you're lucky you might even spot one on board Dolphin Wild Island Cruises.
Moreton Bay Marine Park is the southernmost dugong habitat on Australia's east coast and is home to 600-800 of these friendly water critters. The dugongs of Moreton Bay are not entirely herbivorous, contrary to popular belief. According to research, they augment their seagrass diet with macro-invertebrates like as ascidians (or sea squirts). However, they prefer the abundance of seagrass available in the Moreton Bay Marine Park. Normally spotted alone or in pairs elsewhere, dugong in Moreton Bay Marine Park may be seen in herds of up to 100 animals.
Aboard River to Bay Cruises, Dolphin Wild Island Cruises, Brisbane Whale Watching , or by hitting the ocean and SUPing off the shores of Redcliffe!
Dolphins captivate us with their playful antics and make us smile with their welcoming faces, the Moreton Bay Marine Park is distinctive among Australia's other major areas for its quantity of dolphins within our local seas spotting them a mere kilometres from shore. Dolphins are classified into two species: bottlenose dolphins and Australian humpback dolphins. Moreton Bay has been identified as the eastern coast's southernmost limit for these species’ population, as they live and breed in the Moreton Bay because they rely heavily on the estuaries and the western part.
Aboard River to Bay Cruises, Dolphin Wild Island Cruises, Brisbane Whale Watching, or by hitting the ocean and SUPing off the shores of Redcliffe!
These tree-dwelling marsupials are unique to Australia and can be found in eastern Australia's eucalypt forests and woodlands, ranging from North Queensland to South Australia. The furry friends are spotted throughout Moreton Bay during their active mating season, which runs from July to December. Because of their mating habits, they become more visible throughout these months, which allows for more regular sightings of these cute critters across Moreton Bay.
Head to Lake Samsonvale, Osprey House or Kumbartcho Sanctuary.
More than 360 bird species have been recorded in the Moreton Bay Region, accounting for more than 40% of all species in Australia. Beaches, marshes, meadows, woods, heathland, rainforest, enormous freshwater lakes, and our subtropical location offer fantastic birding opportunities. Moreton Bay is home to thousands of birds and dozens of distinct species, with over 34 bird watching spots accessible to tourists. Each year, almost 20,000 migrating shorebirds of 24 distinct species visit Bribie Island, which is in Moreton Bay. This makes the Moreton Bay region very valuable to birdwatchers.
The region's birdwatchers' delights are Lake Eden North Lakes and Maiala National Park.
There are 21 species of stingrays in Queensland, with 13 of them found right here in Moreton Bay! This includes three that are unique to the globe! Most species are found on the seabed, on a sandy or muddy substrate, however, a few are found in open areas higher up in the water column. Stingrays follow the rising tide near the inshore looking to feed on yabbies, worms, tiny fish, and crabs. The presence of many circular depressions on tidal flats at low tide is a tell-tale indicator of ray feeding activity.
Aboard River to Bay Cruises, Dolphin Wild Island Cruises, Brisbane Whale Watching, or by hitting the ocean and SUPing off the shores of Redcliffe!