How Much Does a Trip to Moreton Island Cost? (2026)
The honest range is wide, because a guided day tour and a self-driven camping trip are barely comparable trips. Here's what each actually costs.
"How much does Moreton Island cost" doesn't have one answer, because a single-day guided tour and a self-driven, multi-night camping trip are entirely different budgets. Here's the real breakdown for each.
The quick answer
A guided day tour costs roughly $136-292 per person, all-inclusive of the ferry, activities and usually lunch. A self-driven day trip runs roughly $300-550+ once you add 4WD hire, fuel, the vehicle permit and the ferry fare. Camping adds a per-night permit fee on top of whichever transport option you choose.
Guided day tour costs
| Tour | From | What's typically included |
|---|---|---|
| Full-day island hopping experience | $136 | Ferry, wreck snorkel, sandboarding, kayaking |
| Kayak, snorkel, wrecks & sandboarding combo | $139 | Ferry, snorkeling, kayaking, sandboarding |
| Eco marine safari & snorkel experience | $143 | Ferry, wildlife-guided snorkel |
| Dolphin watching & Tangalooma snorkel cruise | $200 | Ferry, snorkel, buffet lunch, naturalist commentary |
| Private jetski island hopping | $219 | Jetski hire, guide, lunch stop |
| Quad bike & helicopter tour | $292 | Ferry, ATV ride, helicopter flight, lunch voucher |
These are starting, per-person prices; live pricing, seasonal surcharges and any optional add-ons show on each operator's own GetYourGuide or Viator listing at the time of booking. See our full comparison of what each tour actually includes if price alone isn't enough to decide between them.
DIY / self-drive costs
See our full Moreton Island ferry guide for the exact fare breakdown by passenger type and vehicle status.
| Item | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| MICAT ferry (vehicle + driver) | $80-120 return |
| 4WD hire (if you don't own one) | $150-300/day |
| Vehicle access permit | $50-70 |
| Fuel | $30-60 |
| Rough self-drive day total | $310-550+ |
Camping costs on top
Camping permits are booked per person, per night through the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service; check the current rate directly on their booking platform before you go, since it's reviewed periodically and not worth quoting a stale figure here. See our camping guide for how the zone and permit system works.
Recommended tours at the prices above
Brisbane to Moreton Island: Full-Day Island Hopping Experience
Ferry, wreck snorkel, sandboarding and kayaking. 12 hours.
Moreton Island Day Tour – Kayak, Snorkel Wrecks & Sandboarding Thrills
Ferry, snorkeling, kayaking and sandboarding. 14 hours.
Moreton Island Eco Marine Safari & Snorkel Experience
Ferry and a wildlife-guided snorkel. 8 hours.
Moreton Island Dolphin Watching & Tangalooma Snorkel Cruise
Ferry, snorkel, buffet lunch and naturalist commentary. 12 hours.
What extras should you budget for?
- Some full-day 4WD tours charge a separate cash park/ferry fee on the day (confirm with your specific operator, figures vary and are usually stated in the tour's own FAQ)
- Optional extras like premium drinks, souvenir photos or equipment upgrades, generally not included in the base tour price
- Gratuities, at your discretion, generally not included
- Travel insurance, generally not included and worth arranging separately
Is a tour or DIY cheaper overall?
For a single-day visit, a guided tour is frequently cheaper once every DIY cost is added up, and it removes the risk of an unplanned expense like a bogged vehicle. DIY starts to pay off mainly for larger groups splitting a 4WD hire, or multi-day trips where the fixed costs (permit, hire) spread across more days.
How does the cost change for a family of four?
For a family, per-person tour pricing adds up quickly, so it's worth comparing the total against a self-driven day split across the group. A family of four on the full-day island hopping tour at $136 per person runs to roughly $544; the same family self-driving, splitting a single 4WD hire and permit, could bring the total cost down closer to $500-650 depending on hire rates, before factoring in the added complexity and risk of self-driving with children in the vehicle.
What's the cheapest genuinely good way to experience Moreton Island?
The full-day island hopping tour, at the lowest starting price among the guided options while still covering the wrecks and sandboarding, is the strongest budget pick without compromising on the core experience. Travelling as a foot passenger without a tour and sticking to Tangalooma's walkable areas is technically cheaper still, but sacrifices the wrecks' full range and any interior activities.
Does the cost change much by season?
Yes, prices and ferry demand both rise through the December-February peak and ease off in the shoulder months. Booking a shoulder-season date (see our best time to visit guide) is one of the more reliable ways to reduce cost without reducing what you actually get to do.
Bottom line
Budget $136-292 per person for a guided day tour, or $300-550+ for a self-driven day once every cost is added up. If you're weighing the two options directly, our DIY vs tour comparison covers the fuller trade-off beyond just price.