Tangalooma - Kooringal Road

The road

Tangalooma to Kooringal is the main 4WD beach route on Moreton Island - the second-largest sand island in the world after Fraser Island, sitting 40 kilometres east of Brisbane in Moreton Bay. The 10.5-kilometre track runs along the western beach between two of the island's three small communities. The tidal window is critical - at high tide sections of the beach are impassable and vehicles have been caught by rising water. At low tide with properly deflated tyres (20 psi, no exceptions), the surface is firm and a standard 4WD handles it well. The RRI of 6.64 is the highest on any Moreton route because the consequences of getting stuck in a tidal zone on an island are genuinely serious. Tangalooma was a whaling station until 1962 and the original processing infrastructure is partly visible. The deliberate wrecking of 15 vessels off Tangalooma created one of the most accessible artificial reef snorkelling sites in Queensland. Vehicle barge access from Scarborough or Lytton needs advance booking.

The region

Moreton Island is a large sand island 40km east of Brisbane in Moreton Bay - the second largest sand island in the world after Fraser Island. The island is mostly protected as a national park with three small communities. Tangalooma on the west side was a whaling station until 1962; the original whale processing infrastructure is partly visible and whale watching now replaces whaling as the main attraction. The island has some of the most accessible beach 4WD from Brisbane.

Before you go

Vehicle barge from Scarborough or Lytton - check barge schedules before planning, as last barges return in the afternoon. NPWS permit required. Deflate to 20psi before driving off barge. Tidal awareness is critical - check tide times for both outward and return legs. The beach crossings at each end can flood at king tide.

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