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Love seeing the Dolphins play? They’re not the only fins worth cheering for in Moreton Bay.
Beyond the footy field ("Phins Up!"), the region’s waters are home to dolphins, dugongs, turtles and, during migration season, humpback whales.
Keep your eyes on the water and your fins up. Here’s where to spot some of Moreton Bay’s marine life year-round.
Moreton Bay is best known for:
Dolphins are highly intelligent, warm-blooded marine mammals that love the company and playfulness of their pod friends. Moreton Bay is home to the resident Indo-Pacific Bottlenose and Australian Humpback dolphin species.
It's believed that Moreton Bay has one of the largest global populations of bottlenose species. Say less!
For a closer look, grab your adventurous buddies and book a personalised tour departing from Newport Marina to explore the blue waters of Moreton Bay and its frolicsome dolphins. Dolphin Wild Island Cruises are your ultimate eco-adventure guides to take you out for sightseeing or swimming tours. While swimming directly with dolphins is prohibited in Queensland to protect the marine life and their natural routines, a guided tour will provide a potential close encounter where you might see dolphins playfully jumping along the bow of the boat.
As with any wildlife encounter, sightings are up to nature, which makes spotting that first energetic leap above the water even more exciting. Tours are year-round, but check with operators on the dates and times to suit your itinerary.
Local tip: If you’re lucky, you might also spot a dolphin or two off the Redcliffe Jetty and in Scarborough.
Want to see the biggest fins of them all? Come and see the next generation of humpbacks follow a well-worn migration route through the sheltered waters of Queensland. Moreton Bay Marine Park is home to humpback whales for part of the year as they take their epic 6,000km migration from the Antarctic to Queensland’s warm shores.
The protected waters between the Redcliffe Peninsula and Moreton Island give calves a safe place to rest, learn essential survival skills, and build strength before the long swim home to Antarctica.
Each year between June to October, Brisbane Whale Watching takes awe-inspired visitors out on the aptly named boat, Eye Spy, with hopes of observing mighty humpback whales during migration.
Once you’re out on the water, keep watch for telltale blows, tails disappearing beneath the surface. The thrill of being close to one of the world’s largest animals while it swims and breaches so near the boat is an experience you’ll want to share with friends and family. The best part is this whale watching experience is just a short drive north from Brisbane.
While looking for fins, you may see some flippers. The ever-so slow and hungry dugongs, affectionately named sea cows, are generally found in a shallow, protected marine environment. According to Queensland Parks, the Moreton Bay Marine Park is home to approximately 600-800 of these gentle, flippered giants. Dolphin Wild Island Cruises is your best bet for spotting sea cows from September to November each year. If you do spot a dugong while swimming, remember to keep your distance as they are a vulnerable and protected species.
Equally as majestic and elusive along our shores and in the clear ocean waters are turtles, with their flippers (not quite fins) gliding beneath the surface. Time your Bribie Island adventure with turtle hatching season between October and April and you might be lucky enough to spot tiny hatchlings making their dash for the ocean. Explore the island with G’Day Adventure Tours and, if the timing’s right, you may even encounter some of Bribie’s local turtle residents along the way.
Make a turtle encounter extra-special and hop a scenic flight from Moreton Bay to the most southern tip of the Great Barrier Reef, Lady Elliott Island. During this fully-guided day tour, you can pop on a pair of your own fins and snorkel in the protected coral gardens that are home to some beloved ocean life such as turtles, reef sharks, more dolphins and manta rays.
Yes. Moreton Bay is home to year-round playful encounters of pods of dolphins. They are best seen offshore, which is accessible by boat or on a coordinated boat tour.
Located just north of Brisbane, Moreton Bay stretches from Bribie Island and the Redcliffe Peninsula to the rainforest-covered hinterland.
While marine life spotting is never a guarantee, there are year-round opportunities to spot turtles, humpback whales, dugongs, reef sharks (off Lady Elliott Island), dolphins, and other fishy, finned wildlife.
Discover the hidden gems and sun-soaked adventures waiting for you in Moreton Bay. Just up the road from Brisbane, our region is where the coast meets hinterland adventure, and the laid-back Queensland lifestyle takes centre stage.
