Moreton Island is one of the largest sand islands in the world and forms much of the eastern side of Moreton Bay. Situated only 40kms from Brisbane, the island is 38km long, 9km across at its widest point and covers 185 sq. km.
The island consists entirely of sand apart from a small area of sandstone and rhyolite at Cape Moreton. Several different dune types, of differing ages are recognised by their form and soil development, including Mt. Tempest which is considered the highest coastal sand dune in the world at 285m.
Moreton Island supports a number of habitats - beach and dune communities, the rocky headland, lakes, streams, sedge and paperbark swamps, banksia heathlands, open woodlands, forests, mangroves and salt marshes. The island is also home to a variety of wildlife including birds such as the red-capped dotterell and thousands of waders which live along the beaches and in the wetlands and scrub.
