SEQLD- Moreton Island Trip Report - Oct 2012

[gumboot Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close gumboot]

We just got back from a week over at Moreton Island and what a great holiday it was. We were lucky and had perfect weather for the week. We took the MICat over which takes about 60mins. You rock up an hour before, they load you up and you air down on the barge. The MICat although comfortable and fast, is expensive as they have the market cornered going to Moreton but a tip is if you book via RACQ you can get 10% off.



About 50 mins later


We stayed in one of the villas attached to Tangalooma resort this time as we had the whole family. These are down the right hand end of the resort. These can be booked through the resort, but we booked directly through ray white as many of these are privately owned and it is again a fair amount cheaper this way. I can’t say enough about Pam at Ray White, she got us an excellent villa and thanks to Sunshine a fellow PP member who put me on to them. The villa was two story, spacious, 2 showers, slept up to 8, dishwasher, fully decked out kitchen, dryer, BBQ on the deck, looking straight over the beach. You can also use the Resort facilities, pool etc and you can also park right out front of the villa. Highly recommended.
Alternatively, if you wish to camp (we decided not to this time), there are some stunning places on the island to do so, remember to bring your own firewood as you cant collect any on the island.

We generally explored all over the island as well as a lot of time just swimming and playing on the beach with the kids near the wrecks. A top place to snorkel



Cont

[gumboot Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close gumboot]

The sand was pretty soft on the island and fairly cut up due to the lack of rain and tour buses . The Mickey Thomson Baja ATZ’s performed brilliantly on the soft stuff once again. I ran them at ~16psi in High 2 or 3 with centre diff locked for the week and we did not get stuck once even in the softest sand unlike a lot of others we saw. As an experiment I did do some with the centre diff lock unlocked and I found in the really soft stuff the traction control constantly kicking in and the light on the dash lighting up. With the centre diff locked, not once did we have any traction issues. No need for the ARB locker in the sand.





We ran up to Bulwer for lunch, about 12km north of Tangalooma. There is a shop here where you can get basic provisions ( bread, milk, sausages, alcohol, jams but you will pay island prices…) It is also the only place to get fuel on the island, which they sell in 20litre jerry cans but it is hideously expensive. If you fill-up before you go, you won’t have an issue with fuel. The shop does a great fish and chip lunch and sometimes you just want an ice cream to placate the kids…. Then it is a nice drive up to the northern most point of Cape Moreton an associated great views



A forest of blackboys


Cont

[gumboot Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close gumboot]

The next day we spent it over the seaside of the island. Just north of the resort you, take “middle road” This is two one way tracks that join both sides of the island. This was very choppy and soft, although the Prado had no issues with it. The Eastern beach was almost deserted as school holidays had finished and we ran down to the Rous battery a WW2 bunker system with old gun emplacements. Then a nice return run back up the island to Blue Lagoon, when you can camp and relax etc. It is the largest freshwater lake on the island.





All the gear off the roofrack except maxtrax and shovel.


Cont

[gumboot Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close gumboot]

We saw a bunch of 4wds struggle to get back up middle road at the beach entry as it was extremely soft. I watched a patrol and Cruiser take a number attempts without success. The last one he had engaged warp factor 9 and attacked it with gusto, items bouncing around in the cab, passenger hollering but still no joy. I suggested tyre pressure was the issue. The look on their faces was priceless as the Prado just waltzed up the track.

We came across a nice chap in an 80 series cruiser towing a camper trailer that got stuck along middle road as well. He burnt his clutch out trying to get on one of the soft sand hills. He hooked his trailer up to his mates 4wd and then once that was out of the way, he was dragged over the soft stuff. I was surprised the 80 series could not make it initially but the trailer certainly added a lot of weight to his heavily laden cruiser.

At 6.30pm we walked down to the resort jetty where you can pick up a good coffee on the way to watch the dolphin feeding that is on every night. The jetty has lights and rows of seats to watch the wild dolphins play around right in front of you. Also visible were some large Tuna and Wobbegong sharks darting among the dolphins. Great for adults and kids alike.



The next day we spent the day out at “The Desert”. It is hot out there, take plenty of water. This is a large open area of very steep sand dunes just south of Tangalooma when you can do some Dune surfing on thin waxed boards. Remember to bring you own boards. It’s a short drive up middle road , then take the tuning that leads to the desert which is about 5kms down the road. You then park up, and walk out to the dunes as the area is fenced off from vehicles. Climb to the top and then slide down, and repeat…. You pick up a fair speed face first once inch off the sand. Fantastic and the kids loved it. But be warned the trek but up the sand hill is a leg killer. Trying doing it 8-10 times and your legs turn to jelly and are on fire and you find out how fit or unfit you really are… Better than any gym workout me thinks. The kids slept well that night as they were exhausted!



a long way to the top, over and over again....


Rest of the week was exploring, finding starfish, jellyfish, crabs, rock pools and swimming with the kids etc. Regretfully we didn’t get any fishing in this time but there were some good catches being had.



And with that our week was over way too soon, getting on the afternoon ferry, we were back in Brisbane just in time for peak hour and realised what a different world Moreton island is only 60 minutes away. I am already planning a return. Did some-one say PP camping long weekend…..

Cheers
Robert

[craigm Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close craigm]

Great report Robert. Moreton is still on my list of must see destinations. Just a pity it's so expensive for the budget conscious.


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[mickmac_42 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close mickmac_42]

A brilliant trip report. Looks like the weather really was perfect. I'm keen to go to Moreton but it the cost of the return trip seems too much for just a weekend. Still...

Mike

[Sunshine Member Find all posts View Profile Close Sunshine]

Glad you had a fantastic time, Robert. We (6 adults and 2 kids) will be over there in 2 weeks time, staying in a villa and driving the tracks as you have done. Maybe the rain in the last 2 days might harden the tracks a little. Great report and pix.

[gumboot Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close gumboot]

Well the down side after such a trip is cleaning... After crawling under the Prado, it was caked in sand, in all the nooks and crannys. Chassis rails, bash plates, sills, and i mean everywhere.
Hutch (thanks mate) prevously put me on to Downey Street Lubritoriaum in Geebung. So booked in there when I got back for the "after beach clean" . They put the Prado up on a hoist and steam pressure cleaned everything under the vehicle , including completly flushing out all the chasis rails, cleaned everywhere in the engine bay, and the everywhere outside and under the Prado.
Took about and hour and half of the guy working non stop with the machines and I could not believe the amount of sand that came out. It also got rid of off all the road grime etc. It is crystal clean now. Great service. Cost $90. I am not assocated with them in any way just a happy customer. More info go here.
http://www.rustproof.com.au/Truck-Cl...nd-Degreasing/

cheers
Robert

[Dakrol Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Dakrol]

Looks brilliant, heading up there for end of October and camping for the week with kids. Any recommendations on quiet camping spots, or east versus west sides for best camping?

cheers,

[gumboot Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close gumboot]

Looks brilliant, heading up there for end of October and camping for the week with kids. Any recommendations on quiet camping spots, or east versus west sides for best camping?

cheers,

Dakrol,
There are both established zones and remote beach camping depending on what you want.
A good list of the camp zones is here http://www.nprsr.qld.gov.au/parks/mo...d/camping.html
And a map of them is here http://www.nprsr.qld.gov.au/parks/mo...p-locality.pdf
Remember to take you own firewood as you cant collect it on the island

If you have kids and want sheltered water the western side is the place you want. There are more people here though as it is the side of the wrecks, bulwer and tangalooma. Generally the pick with kids. And it is only a short journey down to tangalooma and the wrecks etc
The east side is the surf side so proper waves, can be rather rough and feels much more remote. The water here is generally not little kid frendly.

cheers
Robert

[gumboot Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close gumboot]

Great report Robert. Moreton is still on my list of must see destinations. Just a pity it's so expensive for the budget conscious.

Hi Craig,
I know what you mean about the prices. The camping permit prices are fine but the MICAT is very expense and if take a camper trailer prepare to sit down.....

The cheapest way I have seen to get over there is to get a scoopon deal when they come up occasionally. This makes it a lot more affordable. Here was one from the past which is about half price
http://www.scoopon.com.au/deals/1453...nd-exploration.

Cheers
Robert

[Sunshine Member Find all posts View Profile Close Sunshine]

Robert, How did you get a clean for $90; he charges me $100 each time as I use him too.
But he does do a good job. He put all the bitumen/tar under my Prado a year or two ago.

[Fabes Member Find all posts View Profile Close Fabes]

Great trip report Robert, very envious sounds like the family had a ball.

I would be keen for a looooong weekend trip to Moreton. Give us a holla when thinking of heading back over.

On a side note I notice that you have a length of PVC tubing on the front of your roof rack, what do you normally put in it? Does it assist with getting the wind over the top of the rack? I noticed my fuel consumption went up about 1.5L/100klm when i fitted my roof rack.

Shane.

[gumboot Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close gumboot]

Robert, How did you get a clean for $90; he charges me $100 each time as I use him too.
But he does do a good job. He put all the bitumen/tar under my Prado a year or two ago.

Brian,
Speak to Cybil there, she will do it for $90. Tell them you are part of pradopoint and several of us get it done there.
Also get one of their loyalty cards , they give you the 6th one free then.
Cheers
Robert

[gumboot Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close gumboot]

Great trip report Robert, very envious sounds like the family had a ball.

I would be keen for a looooong weekend trip to Moreton. Give us a holla when thinking of heading back over.

On a side note I notice that you have a length of PVC tubing on the front of your roof rack, what do you normally put in it? Does it assist with getting the wind over the top of the rack? I noticed my fuel consumption went up about 1.5L/100klm when i fitted my roof rack.

Shane.

Well spoted Shane,
I run a foxwing. While they are great, the one design limitation of them, is that the poles for the awning dont store away in the awning cover. I have a cargo barrier with a centre divider and fridge in the rear, so they dont fit in my boot area either. They only fit in the second row of seats. But if the kids are there that doesnt work.
So on to my cunning plan, a 90mm piece of stormwater pipe justs fits between the top and bottom rail of the ARB alloy roofrack. (100mm doesnt). I cut a length that perfectly fits all my awning poles and ropes, cap one end and use a screw cap on the other and ues a couple of heavy duty zip ties ( it's so tight it wont move anyway though) If not using the awning, I can get a few breakdown rods in there.
Also I noticed it quitened the wind noise down slightly as I think the wind is deflected somewhat

Yes the rack does increase fuel consumption slightly, but I am not worried about that as the roofrack benefits far outweighs that for me.

Cheers
Robert