Recently, myself and two friends went on a day trip to Tangalooma to experience everything (well at least try to) the island resort has to offer.

The day could not have started off better. The previous few days had been over cast and raining, so we were a bit worried that our much anticipated day trip to Tangalooma would see us looking like drown rats, and walking around the island in the ever so fashionable poncho’s Queensland has to offer. Yet, luckily for us, we woke up to the type of day Queensland is famous for; perfect blue skies, with not a cloud in site.

We got the 10am Tangalooma ferry from Holt street, Pinkenba, over to the Island, hoping to see dolphins, turtles, and whales which are quite often sited within the bay, and had been seen throughout previous days. Unfortunately, we did not see any, yet we did see some of the most clear blue water we had ever seen before.

We arrived at the Island at around 11am, so the trip over was around 1 hour long, and we suddenly thought we were in paradise. The clarity of the water was like no other, you could see fish swimming near the jetty, and all we wanted to do was to jump right in. So, our first activity was of course, something that involved getting mildly wet (depending on who you asked) and getting into the crystal clear water; kayaking. We took the kayaks out for about 1 hour, went on a bit of an exploration, before we just got too tired, and exhausted, as to be honest, we aren’t exactly Olympic kayakers.

After that, we decided to have a complete change of scenery, and head to the scenic Moreton Island desert (and yes an island that is surrounded by water also has a desert). When we arrived there we dabbled in a bit if sand tobogganing, which was exhilarating, and so much fun. Yet, I feel it is important to give everyone who is reading this one important tip – KEEP YOUR MOUTH CLOSED. A few of us failed to do this, and needless to say, we had sand for lunch, and dinner...and dessert. Yet, even though we were covered in sand for the rest of the day, we would definitely do it all again, a little bit of sand is a small price to pay for such a rush.

We were still buzzing from the exhilarating rush we experienced from the sand tobogganing, and had a need for speed, so we then decided to go Quad bike riding. This, once again, is an experience to be had. The tour guide took us up into the hills overlooking Moreton Bay, and the sun was just starting to set over the ocean...I feel like I need to say no more.

Tangalooma is a place in which everyone needs to experience at some time. This was our first trip over there, and we will sure be returning for family beach holidays and even for another a day trip or 5.

Our day at Tangalooma included just too much for this one blog. So, stay tuned for our next “A day in Tangalooma Bay Part 2” Tangalooma blog.

It’s come to that time of year again, where the sun is shining, the humidity is increasing, and the temperature is rising in and outside of the water. So, it’s time to pull out the cosies, and head to the prestigious Queensland coast, in particular Tangalooma Island.

Tangalooma has so much to offer this coming summer, on and off land, such as; whale watching, sand tobogganing, snorkelling and so much more. One of the greatest attractions Tangalooma has to offer is their dolphin feeding. Every day and night a pod of dolphins swims into the bay to be fed by tourists and visitors who come to get up, close and personal with the dolphins.

Dolphins are one of the most friendly, attractive, and playful creatures of the sea, so it’s no wonder that Tangalooma’s dolphin feeding has become a must do for visitors to the island. So, if you’re planning a trip to Tangalooma with friends and/or family, don’t forget to book a dolphin feeding and experience the dolphins like nowhere else.

Yet, before you slip on your cosies, slop on your sunscreen, slap on your hat, and head on over to the dolphin feeding, we’d like to introduce you to our special pod of dolphins that you are likely to meet and feed, so when it’s your turn to meet the dolphins you’ll feel like you already know them.

Tangalooma Dolphins

One of the dolphins that you may be lucky enough to meet is, Tinkerbell. Tinkerbell is the most mature female of the pod, and has been coming to Tangalooma since 1992. She has three dazzling calves, which are also regulars at the island – Tangles, Storm, and Phoenix. So, how to spot Tinkerbell out among the others; she is the largest dolphin in the pod, sleek, is of a light grey colour, and her dorsal fin is almost perfectly curved, much like a cresting wave.

Another one of our dolphins is Echo. Echo first arrived in 1993 by himself, and is not related to any of the other dolphins. He arrived malnourished, and orphaned, so we automatically took him under our wing, and he is now considered part of the family, even if he isn’t related. Echo has some quite distinctive features which make him stand out from the others, such as the large shark bite wound on his dorsal fin. The shape of his fin also makes him easily identifiable, as it is not typically shaped.

Phoenix, daughter of Tinkerbell is another one of our dolphins who comes to Tangalooma. She is one of the youngest dolphins, being born in 2008. She is quite small in size compared to the other dolphins in the pod, making her easily identifiable.

These are only some of the dolphins in Qld that come to Tangalooma Island, there are just too many to name and tell you about in this one blog. So, when you are planning your next trip to Tangalooma Island, be sure to come on over to the dolphin feeding to meet Tinkerbell, Echo, Phoenix and all of the other dolphins, and test your knowledge and try to see if you can identify who each one is!