Choose your Moreton Island ferry route
The Moreton Island ferry routes use different Brisbane terminals and different island arrival points. The vehicle ferry leaves from the Port of Brisbane and lands on the west-coast beach near Middle Road and The Wrecks. The passenger ferry leaves from Holt Street Wharf in Pinkenba and arrives at Tangalooma Jetty. Start with where you need to arrive, then decide how you will continue after leaving the boat.
A crossing reservation, a place to sleep and permission to drive or camp are separate parts of an independent visit. For a stay near the landing area, plan how you will carry your equipment. For a vehicle trip, arrange a suitable four-wheel drive and the required vehicle access permit. The getting there guide covers the mainland approach, while island accommodation areas help match your arrival to an overnight base.
Terminals, reservations and check-in
The vehicle ferry terminal is at 14 Howard Smith Drive, Port of Brisbane. Reservations are required for passengers and vehicles. Arrive and check in 30 minutes before departure; the terminal gate opens one hour before sailing. Gate opening and check-in are different stages, so allow time for parking, preparing luggage and following the terminal instructions.
For the passenger ferry, use Holt Street Wharf, 220 Holt Street, Pinkenba. Reserve ahead and check in at least one hour before departure. This route carries passengers rather than cars. Keep the terminal address with your reservation so that your mainland journey ends at the correct wharf. The sea-crossing time alone is not the total time needed to reach your island activity or accommodation.
Ferry and activity day pass
This activity package includes the return ferry and equipment hire for time on the island.
Hand-picked tours, booked through Viator. Prices are indicative starting prices in Australian dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
An activity day pass with return boat travel
This day pass combines return ferry transfers with kayak, snorkelling equipment and paddleboard hire, land activities and resort facilities. It is an activity package rather than a stand-alone ferry ticket.
What the landing point means for your day
The vehicle ferry lands directly on the sand near Middle Road and The Wrecks. Treat this as a beach arrival rather than a town-centre stop. Suitable island driving requires high ground clearance and low-range gearing; ordinary low-clearance vehicles and AWD cars are unsuitable. Read the national park and driving guide before choosing to take a vehicle. For rental vehicles, check the contract for sand driving, ferry travel and recovery arrangements.
Arrival at Tangalooma Jetty serves a different plan. Day visitors need an appropriate day product, and access to resort facilities depends on the package booked. A crossing on another service does not grant those facilities. The activity day pass includes return boat travel, equipment hire and facility use under its own terms; choose it for those activities rather than treating it as a basic transport fare.
Fares, parking and your return journey
Vehicle-ferry pricing depends on the travel date, departure, vehicle and trailer length, and passenger count. Use those details when obtaining a fare. The timetable follows demand, with quiet Wednesdays commonly without service. Select an actual outward and return sailing before fixing an overnight stay or mainland connection.
At the Port of Brisbane terminal, secured parking starts at AUD 20 per day, with limited spaces that can be reserved. At Holt Street, the published parking rates are AUD 20 per vehicle per day or AUD 80 per week, in a fenced area locked overnight. These are terminal-specific rates checked on 5 November 2026. Arrange parking at the terminal named on your booking.
The published passenger-ferry return fares of AUD 104 for adults and AUD 60 for children aged 3 to 14 apply specifically to accommodation guests. They include the fuel surcharge introduced on 1 June 2026 and are not general day-visitor fares. Use your reservation for the return departure rather than planning around a fixed late-evening sailing. For a visit built around organised activities, compare the day-trip arrangements before reserving transport separately.
Ferry planning questions
Which terminal should I use?
Use 14 Howard Smith Drive for the vehicle ferry. The passenger ferry uses Holt Street Wharf at 220 Holt Street, Pinkenba. Follow the address on your reservation.
How early should I arrive?
The vehicle service requires arrival and check-in 30 minutes before departure. The passenger service requires check-in at least one hour before departure.
Is the activity day pass just a ferry ticket?
It combines return crossings with equipment hire, land activities and use of resort facilities. An independent camping or driving visit needs its own transport and permit arrangements.
How should I choose my vehicle-ferry dates?
Plan from the current timetable. Service follows demand, and quiet Wednesdays commonly have no sailing. Reserve both directions around your intended island stay.