Tangalooma Wrecks, Moreton Island: History, Snorkelling & How to Visit
On the western coastline of Moreton Island, the Tangalooma ship graveyard is a man-made harbour of fifteen deliberately sunken vessels. Scuttled between 1963 and 1984, the wrecks were placed along a sandbank by the government to create a safe anchorage for small boats. Today the rusting hulls are a stark, industrial contrast to the natural coastline, and one of Moreton Bay's best-known maritime landmarks. They're one of the places in our guide Hidden Gems Queensland.
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The Scuttled Vessels of Tangalooma
The artificial breakwater is made up of decommissioned government dredges, flatboats and barges, along with vessels such as the former HMAS Bermagui and HMAS Uki. Rather than being dismantled, these heavily engineered ships were stripped of valuable materials and scuttled in a line parallel to the beach. Their exposed iron frames, collapsing decks and crumbling superstructures are an unvarnished look at mid-20th-century maritime engineering, slowly being reclaimed by the ocean. Below the waterline, the wrecks have become a habitat for fish, turtles and wobbegongs.
How to See the Tangalooma Wrecks
Moreton Island is reached by ferry from Brisbane. The wrecks sit just north of Tangalooma Island Resort, and you can walk to them along the beach or paddle out by kayak or small boat. If you're driving on the island, you'll need a vehicle access permit.
The wrecks are a popular snorkelling spot and a busy anchorage, but the best view of the rusting hulks is from the shoreline or a kayak. There's no boardwalk or commercial infrastructure attached to the wrecks, leaving them raw and exposed.
Safety and Respect at the Wrecks
- Don't climb on or enter the wrecks: It isn't permitted, and the hulls are collapsing, jagged, rusting metal.
- Snorkel with care: Stay outside the hulls, keep an eye out for boats anchoring nearby, and don't touch the wrecks or the marine life living on them.
- Take nothing: Leave every piece of the wrecks where it lies.
Tangalooma Wrecks FAQs
How many ships are in the Tangalooma Wrecks?
Fifteen vessels, deliberately scuttled between 1963 and 1984 to create a sheltered anchorage for small boats.
Can you climb on the Tangalooma Wrecks?
No. Climbing on or entering the wrecks isn't permitted. View them from the beach, a kayak or the water around them.
How do you get to the Tangalooma Wrecks?
Catch the ferry from Brisbane to Moreton Island, then walk north along the beach from Tangalooma Island Resort. Vehicles on the island need a permit.
For more abandoned and heritage places across the state, pick up a copy of Hidden Gems Queensland.
