Moreton Island lies 58 kilometres (36 mi) northeast of the Queensland capital, Brisbane.

98% of the island is contained within a national park and a popular destination for day trippers, four wheel driving, camping, recreational angling and whale watching and a 75-minute ferry ride from Brisbane.

All residential areas are located on the western coast of the island facing Moreton Bay.

[9] It was named Cape Morton by Captain James Cook in May 1770, and was at that time assumed to be part of the mainland.

Approximately 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) further south lies the private Tangalooma Island Resort.

This former whaling station features the Tangalooma Marine Education and Conservation Centre (TMECC) and is known for its dolphin feeding and wreck diving.

Tangalooma is the main access point to the island with regular passenger ferry and vehicular barge services.

This township has its own 500 metres (1,600 ft) airstrip and was serviced by a vehicular barge that ran to Amity Point on North Stradbroke Island until April 2009 when the barge was sold off due to limited business and high operation costs.

Moreton Island experiences a marine-moderated humid subtropical climate (Köppen: Cfa with very warm, muggy summers and mild, pleasant winters.

[10] While James Cook named the main headland on the island Cape Morton on the 17 May 1770,[5] due to a clerical error those that came after him mistakenly used "Moreton".

In one sortie arranged by Captain Clunie of the 17th Regiment, a score of Ngugi, surprised by a dawn ambush, were shot down at a fresh water lagoon near the southern end of Moreton Island.

Their purpose was to protect the approaches to the port of Brisbane and at its peak 900 troops were stationed on the island.

In 1989, then Premier of Queensland, Wayne Goss halted mining of the island and compensated the companies involved.

On 11 March 2009 the container ship MV Pacific Adventurer lost bunker oil and cargo north of Moreton Island during heavy seas that were generated by Tropical Cyclone Hamish.

The ship reportedly lost 31 containers of ammonium nitrate and as much as 230 tonnes of bunker oil.

Later, the company said a diver's inspection of the hull had led it to conclude the amount of spilled bunk oil was "significantly more" than that, but did not give a replacement figure.

Joint management of the national park gives responsibility for camping book to the Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation[25] Moreton Island has a number of heritage-listed sites, including: The island was also listed in 1981 on the now-defunct Register of the National Estate.

[32] This plan includes a new camping booking system, designated routes for quads, trikes and trail bikes and other zoning which defines rules for access and recreational opportunities.

The Combie Trader barge service from Scarborough in Redcliffe City to Bulwer no longer operates.

Tours and taxi transfers by four wheel drive (off-road) vehicles operate from Bulwer.

[3] Four wheel drive (off-road) vehicles are necessary as roads are unsealed and often sandy tracks beyond resort areas.