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The Micat ferry to Moreton Island, and the other boat
Fast answer
The Micat ferry to Moreton Island leaves from 14 Howard Smith Dr in the Port of Brisbane, takes about 90 minutes and lands next to the Tangalooma Wrecks.
Ferry essentials
3 options compared
Crossings compared by price
Pick a party size and see the from price of each trip with a crossing.
- Our guided full dayCruise included · per person, from $126
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View - Ferry and activity passReturn ferry · per person, from $104
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View - Resort day cruise75-minute ferry · per person, from $119
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From-prices on GetYourGuide, shown at the ECB reference rate. Your exact price is confirmed during booking.
A pair of ferries links Brisbane with Moreton Island, from different terminals and to different beaches. Here is how each one runs, what to carry and how our day trip handles the crossing.
Editorial team, moretonislanddaytrip.com · Updated November 7, 2026 · 6 min of reading
In brief
- The MicatIt runs from 14 Howard Smith Dr, Port of Brisbane, takes about 90 minutes and lands next to the wrecks.1,2,3
- The launchThe Tangalooma passenger ferry leaves Holt Street Wharf, Pinkenba, and takes 75 minutes.4
- BookingBookings are essential on the Micat, and walk-on tickets are best booked a week ahead.5,6
- LuggageMicat walk-on passengers are limited to 3 pieces of luggage.7
- Our day tripThe listing gives a Brisbane meeting point, a 75-minute cruise and cash fees paid to the driver.
The Micat and the Tangalooma launch
The Brisbane to Moreton Island day trip can use one of two regular boats, and the park manager's own page tells them apart. The Micat runs from Port of Brisbane to the Tangalooma Wrecks and takes both pedestrians and vehicles. The daily passenger launch runs from Pinkenba to Tangalooma Resort, for pedestrians only, and it is meant for Tangalooma guests and day trippers.8 The choice of boat decides where you land, and the landing decides what you can do next.
Distances are quoted loosely. The park manager says the island is 40 km offshore from Brisbane.9 Visit Brisbane puts it only 25 km from Brisbane's shoreline, and describes it as just 75 minutes away.10,11 The sources quote different distances, so use the crossing times and not the kilometers when you plan your morning.
Another way across is a private or hired boat, which the park manager treats with caution. It says the island is in exposed waters, that large seas can be experienced between the island and the mainland, and that you should consider the experience of the skipper and the suitability of the vessel.12 For a day trip most visitors do better on a scheduled ferry, and the sections below cover both of them.
Both ferries
Micat and Tangalooma launch side by side
| Detail | Micat | Tangalooma launch |
|---|---|---|
| Leaves from | Port of Brisbane | Holt Street Wharf, Pinkenba.1,4 |
| Crossing | About 90 minutes | 75 minutes.2,4 |
| Carries | Pedestrians and vehicles | Pedestrians only.8 |
| Lands | Next to the wrecks | At the Tangalooma jetty.3,4 |
| Check-in | Gates open 1 hour before | At least 1 hour before.13,23 |
The operator's FAQ gives 30 minutes before departure for the Micat; use the earlier time.14
How the Micat works
The Micat to Moreton crossing is made by a vehicle ferry, and it departs from 14 Howard Smith Dr, Port of Brisbane.1 The operator says it takes approximately 90 minutes to reach Moreton Island.2 It lands on the western side near Middle Road, right next to the wrecks area, and the ferry drives directly onto the sand.3 From the drop-off point the wrecks are a short walk: the operator gives 5 minutes in one place and 2 minutes to the nearby beach in another.16,17
The timetable follows demand. In busy periods the Micat can run up to 5 times per day, while in quiet times it generally does not run on a Wednesday, runs once a day on most days and twice on Friday and Sunday.18,19 A full boat takes approximately 20 minutes to load and around 10 minutes to unload.15 Check the live timetable before you plan a day around it, since the departures change with the season.
Onboard, there are three decks: the vehicle deck, the saloon deck and the upper deck.20 The Micat is a fully licensed vessel and its bar opens at 9am.21 Toilets are provided at the ferry terminal, at the wrecks campground and on board.22 That list is useful on a long crossing, and it means families can travel without much planning.
How the Tangalooma launch works
The launch is a passenger-only ferry. Services depart from Holt Street Wharf in Pinkenba and arrive at the Tangalooma jetty, taking 75 minutes each way, with 4 services a day in each direction. The resort stresses that it is a passenger ferry, not a vehicle barge.4 Passengers cross on one of three high-speed catamarans.24 The operator does not say how many seats there are, so ask when you book.
Check-in is early. The resort says check-in at Holt Street Wharf is at least 1 hour before departure, and pre-booking is required.23 The wharf is about 10 minutes by car from Brisbane Airport and 15 minutes from the Brisbane CBD.25 There is a car park at the wharf at $20 per vehicle per day, and it cannot be pre-booked.26
The launch matters for who it carries. The park manager says it is for Tangalooma guests and day trippers only.8 A casual visitor on an unaffiliated tour is not allowed onto the resort grounds, and the resort adds that its day pass has been discontinued.27,28 If you want the resort side of the island, book a resort day. If you want the wrecks and the dunes without the resort, the Micat landing is the natural fit.
A short chooser
Which boat should you take
Say how you travel and see which ferry the facts support.
If I am bringing my own vehicle
Take the Micat
The Micat carries pedestrians and vehicles, and the launch is pedestrian only.8
If I want the resort and no car
Take the launch
The launch is for Tangalooma guests and day trippers.8
If I want the wrecks on arrival
Land with the Micat
The Micat lands right next to the famous wrecks area on the beach.3
If I want it all arranged
Book a guided day
Our listing includes a cruise and a meeting point in Brisbane.
If I want the shorter crossing
Choose a 75-minute boat
The Micat takes approximately 90 minutes, and the launch 75.2,4
Ways to cross
Pick a way across the bay
Luggage, food and drink on board
Pack light, and pack for a day of walking and swimming. The Micat operator limits walk-on passengers to 3 pieces of luggage, with a charge for extra items.7 The resort says day trip guests on its own boats are not permitted to take Burleigh wagons or large eskies.31 A single backpack with a towel, sunscreen and a water bottle goes a long way.
Alcohol rules differ by boat. On the Micat, passengers cannot drink their own alcohol during the crossing, though they may take it to the island for later.30 On the Tangalooma side, the resort says it is an offence to bring alcohol onto its premises or its boats.32 Do not rely on either boat for a bar tab if you are boarding early, since the Micat bar only opens at 9am.21
Food on the island is thin. The Micat operator says to bring enough food and water for the day, because there is no easy access to shops on the island.29 The Micat sells a limited range of refreshments, ice and supplies on board.33 The Castaways store at Bulwer is roughly a 20 minute drive north from the landing, which is no help on foot.34
A Micat morning in order
From the gate to the sand
Before
Book your passage
Bookings are essential, and walk-on tickets are best booked a week ahead.5,6
At the terminal
Arrive in good time
Gates open 1 hour before departure, though the FAQ says 30 minutes.13,14
Boarding
Load and settle in
Loading a full boat takes about 20 minutes.15
Crossing
Cross Moreton Bay
The crossing takes approximately 90 minutes.2
Landing
Drive onto the beach
The ferry lands next to the wrecks and drives directly onto the sand.3
On the sand
Walk to the wrecks
The wrecks are a short walk from the drop-off point.16
How our day trip crosses the bay
Our trip simplifies the crossing. The listing is a full-day trip from Brisbane with a 75-minute cruise, and guests are picked up from a meeting point. The meeting-point lines give the Port of Brisbane, 14 Howard Smith Dr, at 7:30 AM, and the Brisbane Coach Terminal at 7 AM, and say the meeting point may vary with the option booked. That Port of Brisbane address is the one the Micat operator gives for its terminal.1
The listing does not name the vessel, so we cannot say your boat is the Micat. We also note that the listing gives a 75-minute cruise, while the Micat operator gives approximately 90 minutes, so the two figures may describe different things.2 The exact departure time is given when you confirm the reservation, so wait for that message before you plan the morning.
Money on the crossing is the detail to read. At departure the listing has you hand the national park and ferry charges to the driver in cash, 85 AUD for an adult and 65 AUD for a child of 13 or under, with a 20 AUD peak surcharge on gazetted public holidays. The price from $126 is shown separately. A reviewer wished the ferry fees were folded into the tour price, so treat them as a real cost.
Video
The cheapest way to Moreton Island or Tangalooma from Brisbane
Aquarius Traveller on YouTube · The video stays unloaded until you press play.
The Micat lands on the western side of Moreton Island near Middle Road, right next to the famous wrecks area on the beach.
Before you board
A checklist for the crossing
Before you go3
In your bag3
Booking early, and what rough water means
Book ahead. The Micat operator says bookings are essential for both passengers and vehicles, and recommends booking walk-on tickets a week before travel, and earlier in school holidays.5,6 The terminal has secure parking from $20 per day, with only limited pre-booking.35 If you are not driving, a drop-off by car or ride share is simpler.
Arrive at the right time. The operator's own pages disagree: one says the gates open 1 hour before departure in Brisbane, and its FAQ says walk-ons and vehicles should arrive 30 minutes before departure, when check-in opens.13,14 When two official figures differ, use the earlier one and be at the terminal with time in hand.
Weather can change a crossing. The park manager says large seas can be experienced between the island and the mainland.12 If you are prone to seasickness, ask your operator about the sailing conditions on your date, and eat lightly before boarding. Our listing offers free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, which gives you a window to watch the forecast.
FAQ
Fast answers to common questions.
Where does the Micat leave from?
Where does the Micat land?
Next to the wrecks.
It lands on the western side near Middle Road, and the ferry drives directly onto the sand.3
Does the Micat run every day?
Not always.
In quiet periods it generally does not run on a Wednesday, and runs once a day on most other days.19
How long is the Tangalooma ferry?
75 minutes.
The passenger ferry leaves Holt Street Wharf, Pinkenba, with 4 services a day each way.4
How much luggage can I carry on the Micat?
3 pieces.
Walk-on passengers are limited to 3 pieces, with a charge for extra items.7
Can I bring alcohol on the Micat?
For later, not on board.
Passengers cannot drink their own alcohol during the trip but may take alcohol to the island.30
Is there parking at the terminal?
Do I pay ferry fees on our day trip?
Yes, in cash to the driver.
The listing says national park and ferry fees are paid in cash to the driver on departure.
Sources
- Moreton Island Adventures (operator of the Micat ferry, official site) · Micat Moreton Island ferry ↩
- Moreton Island Adventures (operator of the Micat ferry, official site) · Micat Moreton Island ferry ↩
- Moreton Island Adventures (operator of the Micat ferry, official site) · Frequently asked questions ↩
- Tangalooma Island Resort (official site) · Ferry timetable ↩
- Moreton Island Adventures (operator of the Micat ferry, official site) · Micat Moreton Island ferry ↩
- Moreton Island Adventures (operator of the Micat ferry, official site) · Micat Moreton Island ferry ↩
- Moreton Island Adventures (operator of the Micat ferry, official site) · Frequently asked questions ↩
- Mulgumpin Camping (Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation, Moreton Island National Park permits) · Getting there ↩
- Mulgumpin Camping (Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation, Moreton Island National Park permits) · Getting there ↩
- Visit Brisbane (Brisbane tourism) · Moreton Island ↩
- Visit Brisbane (Brisbane tourism) · Moreton Island ↩
- Mulgumpin Camping (Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation, Moreton Island National Park permits) · Getting there ↩
- Moreton Island Adventures (operator of the Micat ferry, official site) · Micat Moreton Island ferry ↩
- Moreton Island Adventures (operator of the Micat ferry, official site) · Frequently asked questions ↩
- Moreton Island Adventures (operator of the Micat ferry, official site) · Micat Moreton Island ferry ↩
- Moreton Island Adventures (operator of the Micat ferry, official site) · DIY day tour ↩
- Moreton Island Adventures (operator of the Micat ferry, official site) · DIY day tour ↩
- Moreton Island Adventures (operator of the Micat ferry, official site) · Micat Moreton Island ferry ↩
- Moreton Island Adventures (operator of the Micat ferry, official site) · Micat Moreton Island ferry ↩
- Moreton Island Adventures (operator of the Micat ferry, official site) · Micat Moreton Island ferry ↩
- Moreton Island Adventures (operator of the Micat ferry, official site) · Micat Moreton Island ferry ↩
- Moreton Island Adventures (operator of the Micat ferry, official site) · DIY day tour ↩
- Tangalooma Island Resort (official site) · Ferry timetable ↩
- Tangalooma Island Resort (official site) · About the dolphin feeding ↩
- Tangalooma Island Resort (official site) · Brisbane departure wharf ↩
- Tangalooma Island Resort (official site) · Brisbane departure wharf ↩
- Tangalooma Island Resort (official site) · Casual visitor restrictions ↩
- Tangalooma Island Resort (official site) · Casual visitor restrictions ↩
- Moreton Island Adventures (operator of the Micat ferry, official site) · DIY day tour ↩
- Moreton Island Adventures (operator of the Micat ferry, official site) · Frequently asked questions ↩
- Tangalooma Island Resort (official site) · Luggage restrictions ↩
- Tangalooma Island Resort (official site) · Luggage restrictions ↩
- Tangalooma Island Resort (official site) · Casual visitor restrictions ↩
- Moreton Island Adventures (operator of the Micat ferry, official site) · DIY day tour ↩
- Moreton Island Adventures (operator of the Micat ferry, official site) · Micat Moreton Island ferry ↩
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