Tangalooma is a resort area on Moreton Island in Queensland's Moreton Bay. It what once a whaling station, the largest land based whaling station in the Southern hemisphere which is quite a feat as it was only open 10 years. Today, Tangalooma is more famous for its beauty and the sea life you can view and learn about. Find out what are the top 5 marine animals you might see on a trip to Tangalooma.
When you leave Brisbane on the boat launch to Tangalooma, it is hard to imagine what you are going to experience. Brisbane shores are not the most appealing. They are in sharp contrast to the sandy beaches of the Sunshine and Gold Coasts. So what could this barren looking bay offer?
My personal top 5 marine animals you could see at Tangalooma:
- Dugongs
- Inshore bottlenose dolphins (the wild dolphins)
- Whales in Winter
- Turtles
- Pelicans
Moreton Bay is deceptive on its coastal shore, but get out towards the islands Moreton and North Stradbroke Island and you will soon start to see that there is certainly more to this bay than at first meets the eye. Perhaps the secret lies in the sand?
North Stradbroke Island is the second largest sand island in the world behind Fraser Island (further north in Queensland) and Moreton Island is the 3rd largest. Immense amounts of white fine sand! They are not little outcrops in the bay, these are sizeable islands with hills and even buildings on the hills.
Towards the islands there are shallows where the sea grass grows and the dugongs graze. For me dugongs would have to be the top marine creatures to be seen in Moreton Bay. Dugongs are also referred to as sea cows and are related to manatees. The dugongs of Moreton Bay, according to the Tangalooma Eco Cruise guide, are unique in the world as they are the only dugongs that have been seen to herd. Usually dugongs are solitary animals, or so the researchers believe.
There are two other common marine mammals closely associated with Tangalooma. One is the inshore bottlenose dolphin. A pod of these wild dolphins is famous for their visits to Tangalooma. Resort guests are treated to a nightly dolphin feeding. These are wild dolphins so there are no guarantees that the dolphins will come visiting.
The other marine mammals that have a close association with Tangalooma are whales, more specifically humpback whales. Tangalooma was opened in 1952 as a land based whaling station, and had the dubious honour of being the largest in the southern hemisphere. After severe over hunting caused the whale population to decrease dramatically, in 1962 the whaling station at Tangalooma was closed. Tangalooma is an obvious choice for whale watching tours. During the Australian winter months humpback whales migrate north to the breeding grounds and pass by Moreton Island, some stopping off for a playful visit. From June to October whale watching tours are conducted by the Tangalooma resort.
Spotting turtles in Moreton Bay is really easy! One of the reasons is the incredibly clear blue green water and the white sand, making it so easy to see turtles. The first one I ever spotted in the water was here, and it was an impressive metre long!
Bringing up the rear in spot number 5 is the Australian Pelican. I know it is a bird, but it does spend a lot of time on the water and it eats fish, so I am counting it in. If you haven't seen a pelican up close, it is a very unsual animal. At Tangalooma there is often a good opportunity for a photo with the pelicans on the beach, a great souvenir of your trip.
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