Tangalooma Island Resort
In May I was invited to spend a few nights at Tangalooma Island Resort on Moreton Island which is just off the coast from Brisbane. From Brisbane airport it is only a 15 minute taxi ride and then the ferry to the island takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Moreton Island is the 3rd largest sand island in the world and Tangalooma is the only resort on the island. It has a wide range of accommodation to suit everyone, from large hotel rooms to suites, villas, luxury apartments and houses most with views of the water. There are also a few different restaurants, a casual dining café and a bar all located along the waterfront. The resort has three swimming pools and lots of activities for both adults and children such as bird and fish feeding, ATV quad bike tours, sand tobogganing, snorkelling, diving and other water sports. There is also a Marine Education and Conservation Centre and the Eco Rangers conduct tours and educational talks about the environment and wild life.
But the main attracting is the wild Dolphin feeding which happens every night at the Resort and guests can participate in this activity. It all started in 1992 when one Dolphin Beauty was able to be hand fed by the owners of the resort and over the years this has now grown to a pod of up to 12 Dolphins who come each night to be fed by guest of the resort.
This was truly an amazing experience to be able to get so close to a wild Dolphin. Not one that is held in captivity but one that chooses to come to the resort to be fed. The Dolphin I fed was called Nari and he is 18 years old and has had a lucky life after being rescued twice. Once for being caught in fishing lines and the other after a shark attack. He was just so beautiful and so gentle.
The resort allows you to the feed the Dolphin under strict guidance. You are not allowed to touch the animals, only place the fish under the water and let the Dolphin come to you and take the fish. Sometimes if you were a bit slow with the next fish you got a little nudge in the leg from your Dolphin. I cannot not rate this more highly as something everyone should experience. I came away with the biggest smile on my face and even more respect for these beautiful creatures.
There is also an abundance of friendly bird life that turn up for the daily bird feeding sessions. There are Pelican, Pied Cormorants, Whistling Kites and my favourite were the Striated Heron.
One of the best times to visit Tangalooma Island Resort is from June to October as the Humpback Whales are migrating pass the resort and daily whale watching cruises are operational.
I enjoyed my brief stay at Tangalooma Resort and would go back again next time for longer as there was so much more I did not get time to enjoy.