Tangaloma Island.

 This is day 3, February 20th and we are anchored off of Tangaloma Island, Australia. The Princess literature refereed to it as Moreton Island but it is often referred to as  Moreton Resort.

This is a large sand island with a large hotel complex. We could go there to visit natural treasures , see the lighthouse, enjoy the pools and other amenities of the resort. The visit to the resort was free. The excursion costs would be paid to Princes and the cost of food and drink etc would be paid to the resort using cash or a credit card. So it was sort of like Princess Cay without the free food or swimming. It is a tender port and there are ferries from Brisane to take you there. Cruise ship passengers are strictly forbidden to take that ferry.This s not a proclaimed port as per Australian Border Force regulations.

Because of what are called Stingers, a type of jellyfish , you must use a wet suit to enter the water. Excursions mainly inolve 4 wheel drives, sand tobogganing, or sandune boards. (It is like surfing but on sand.)

The tender ride would be about 20 minutes in the early part of the day but because of expected bad weather the return would be longer.

Because of the rough tender ride, the possibility of sea sickness and a not deep love of sand etc we decided to stay on board and enjoy our own yacht. 

With the help of Mr Google I learned this and much more. You can check it out if you are interested.

Tangalooma and Moreton Island, have a rich history dating back to the native Aboriginals and early European settlement.

Aboriginal History

Moorgumpin meaning 'place of sandhills' is the Aboriginal name for Moreton Island. The Indigenous people of Moorgumpin are known as the Ngugi. Moorgumpin lies within the area referred to as Quandamooka. Quandamooka is commonly defined as the Moreton Bay region.

Extensive site surveys have established that the Ngugi people lived permanently on the Island, maintaining a marine-based lifestyle for over 2000 years.

It wasn't until 1823 that the first 'white visitors' arrived on Moreton Island. The last of the Ngugi people were forced to relocate to Stradbroke Island in 1850, where their descendants still live today.

In 1963 the Tangalooma Whaling Station was sold to a syndicate of Gold Coast businessmen and in 1980 the resort was purchased by the Osborne family, who still currently own and operate the resort and the wild dolphin feeding program.