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Gold Coast Island tours

Our most recommended Gold Coast Island tours

Moreton Island: Dolphin and Tangalooma Wrecks Day Cruise

1. Moreton Island: Dolphin and Tangalooma Wrecks Day Cruise

Discover Moreton Bay Marine Park and learn about marine life from an onboard marine naturalist on this cruise. Go on a guided snorkeling tour of the Tangalooma wrecks and keep an eye our for the dolphins, dugongs and sea turtles that call this glamour area home. Choose from a tour where you meet the boat at the Rivergate Marina or with pickup from the Gold Coast or Brisbane. Throw your swimwear into a bag and set sail to uncover miles of unspoiled white sand beaches. Departing daily from Brisbane, cruise in luxury to Moreton Bay Marine Park aboard the modern, air-conditioned catamaran Spirit of Migaloo II. Here enjoy the freedom to do as much or as little as you please with all activities included and no local fees. Dive in and snorkel the fifteen shipwrecks that have been deliberately sunk just off the coastline with an abundance of spectacular coral formations and colorful marine life that needs to be seen to be believed. No experience is required and all equipment and water safety items are provided. Afterwards, join our naturalist guides in a fish-feeding session with the 200 species that frequent the area. Satisfy your appetite with a gourmet tropical buffet featuring ocean king prawns, and quench your thirst with a glass of local wine, craft beer or frozen cocktail. Take the time to relax, enjoy free island time on the pristine white-sand beach. Kayak on sheltered crystal-clear waters, join a game with complimentary beach sporting equipment, or simply kick back and soak in the serenity. Watch out for some of Queensland’s best marine wildlife in this area that is home to one of the largest populations of bottlenose dolphins in Australia. Feel the joy of seeing them jump and play in turquoise waters. Search for six of the world’s seven species of sea turtles and herds of shy and gentle dugongs in one of the world’s remaining strongholds for this species. Get help from the onboard marine naturalists that have been working with these incredible animals for over a decade and have the experience to give you the closest wildlife encounters possible.

Gold Coast: Wave Break Island Kayaking & Snorkeling tour

2. Gold Coast: Wave Break Island Kayaking & Snorkeling tour

Depart from Gold Coast on a fun-filled guided kayaking tour to Wave Break Island where you can snorkel, enjoy a snack, and relax while admiring amazing city views away from the crowds. After passing the iconic Broadwater, your friendly tour guides will brief you on kayaking techniques. Cruise through spectacular waters, where you might have the chance to spot dolphins and stingrays. Paddle through beautiful sandbanks, offering a unique Gold Coast City view in the background, and arrive at the Northern side of Wave Break Island, where you will park your kayaks next to a scenic spot. Take a short bushwalk to Wave Break Island’s Eastern side to snorkel and explore the underwater beauty of this fantastic island.  Swim amongst the friendly rocky reef locals, diamond fish, and black bream, and discover many other species, from sea cucumbers, trumpet fish, and sergeant fish. You can even find Dory if you are lucky. Here, natural and man-made beauty are combined to create a picture-perfect background; the beautiful Gold Coast waterways with the city’s collection of skyscrapers on the horizon. As you get out of the water, a snack will be waiting for you. Savor it whilst admiring the amazing views, and get ready to return to the starting point.

From Brisbane or Gold Coast: Moreton Island Full-Day Trip

3. From Brisbane or Gold Coast: Moreton Island Full-Day Trip

Enjoy a day on Moreton Island on this full-day trip from Brisbane or the Gold Coast. Relax on the cruise on the way, enjoy a delicious lunch, then take part in fun outdoor activities like kayaking and sand tobogganing. Be picked up from a centrally-located meeting point in Brisbane or the Gold Coast. Sit back and relax on the air-conditioned drive to the boat's departure point. Board a spacious boat with an outdoor area and a covered seating area. Enjoy ocean views as you cruise across Moreton Bay. Discover a vibrant underwater world as you follow your guide on a snorkeling tour around shipwrecks. Have the chance to spot turtles, fish, and rays. Stop to savor a sandwich lunch on the beach before taking a guided tour in a glass-bottom kayak. View the underwater wonders of the Tangalooma Wrecks as you paddle over crystal-clear water. Explore the area on the island that is known as "The Desert." Ride in a rugged 4X4, and experience the exhilaration of sand tobogganing at speeds of over 40 miles per hour. Admire the Gheebulum Coonungai National Park that covers most of Moreton Island.

Gold Coast: Introductory SCUBA Diving Experience

4. Gold Coast: Introductory SCUBA Diving Experience

Explore the underwater world of the Gold Coast, Australia. This dive is purely for pleasure and no experience is necessary. You will be accompanied by a certified PADI instructor throughout the whole dive.  You will be picked up from your Gold Coast accommodation and then board the boat at Marina Mirage. You’ll travel approximately 10 minutes north by boat to the Wave Break Island. Leaving the boat, you’ll head to the island and get comfortable wearing & using the SCUBA equipment in calm, shallow waters before heading off on your underwater safari.  Besides seeing beautiful and fascinating aquatic creatures first hand, you’ll experience sensations unique to scuba diving, like the feeling of floating weightless like an astronaut in space. You will be swimming amongst the many different species of fish of the Gold Coast, with the opportunity to hand feed them too.  Once back to the boat, you can take off for a relaxing snorkel or simply lounge about on the boat enjoying some light refreshments. A certificate is awarded to every diver. At the end of the activity you will be dropped back to your hotel. The duration of the tour from pickup to drop-off is approximately 4 hours.

From Gold Coast: North Stradbroke Island Sunset Tour

5. From Gold Coast: North Stradbroke Island Sunset Tour

Spend the day on North Stradbroke Island with a guide. Enjoy scenic walks, beautiful lakes, and relaxing beaches as you learn about the island's history, culture, and wildlife. On the way back to the mainland watch as the sun sets into the sea. Start your morning with a departure from Gold Coast at 8:30 AM. After a 45-minute drive to the ferry port, have the chance to purchase breakfast at the port or on the ferry during the crossing. Arrive at North Stradbroke Island and deboard the ferry to head to your first stop, Brown Lake. On the way there your tour guide will talk about the island as well as the historic and cultural importance of the Quandamooka people. Refresh and reenergize with the fresh and beautiful water of the lake. From there and after a quick stop at Myora Springs, your guide will take you to the northwest side of the island, a perfect lookout spot to take pictures and go for a walk at Cylinder Beach. Then head for one of the main attractions of the day, the Gorge Walk. On this 40 - 45 minute walk, take in views of the Coral Sea and its incredibly rich marine life, from manta rays, turtles, to dolphins, and more. After the Gorge Walk, take a break to have lunch at Point Lookout. Following your lunch break, the tour will head to Amity Point. Your tour guide will take you on a walk to search for koalas in the wild. Optionally, if koala-spotting is not your thing, spend even more time at the beach instead. Conclude your day with a ferry ride back to the mainland in time to watch the sunset from the sea. Your expected arrival time in Gold Coast is about 7:30 PM. See less

Queensland: Cruise Though the Gold Coast Broadwater

6. Queensland: Cruise Though the Gold Coast Broadwater

Hop aboard the Spirit of Gold Coast for a journey through the Broadwater. Enjoy the Gold Coast from a unique vantage point while learning fun facts about the area from your guide. During this 2.5-hour journey, you will cruise through The Spit and see various islands including South Stradbroke Island, Wavebreak Island, Ephraim Island, and Hope Island. Get a glimpse of how the rich and famous live cruising past their multi-million dollar homes and super yachts. Enjoy complimentary coffee and biscuits on board as you ride or bring a picnic lunch if you wish.

Gold Coast: Self-Guided Eco Boat Rental From Isle of Capri

7. Gold Coast: Self-Guided Eco Boat Rental From Isle of Capri

Relax away from land on a small electric boat that fits you and seven other friends and pets. Take a zip around with a picnic on board, with a convenient table and cupholders, and bench seating for you and your crew. First, board the Danish-designed picnic boat constructed from fiberglass which uses recycled PET bottles. Be one with nature as you sail along the water with an electric motor to propel you. From here, you'll feel good knowing your ride is giving back to the community being on board a vessel that helps clean up the local waterways of trash. Set sail from the Isle of Capri, Gold Coast, and use your provided map to follow the waterway. Finally, take in the views from the water, and let the smell of the water wash over your senses as you sip on your cooler of drinks. Glide along with easy steering onboard, and controlled speed on the motor before wrapping up your tour with easy docking.

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What people are saying about Gold Coast

Overall rating

4.6 / 5

based on 101 reviews

From flinging ourselves down a sand dune with Dan after an exciting 4 x 4 bus ride to the desert to refuelling with a wonderful wrap and then kayaking in a clear kayak, watching them all swim under us and hand feeding them and finally ending our day with JetSki tow to snorkelling amongst the tangalooma wrecks - what a bloody good experience. All of the hosts were amazing, they supply everything you could possibly need and make one incredibly amazing day out. My British boyfriend had a whole day of firsts and even as an Aussie who grew up at the beach, I was beyond impressed.

The whole exp was great !! We were picked from Gold Coast on tym & the operator was so nice to talk . She was very polite & made our journey comfortable till we reached the cruise. The staff & captain were really nice & and understanding. The food was amazing& place was really clean . The snorkelling exp was great as we never did in deep water with tide. We were to spot dolphins to our way back.We really had a fun tym!!

An absolutely perfect day. The events were wonderful, food delicious and staff incredible. One of my top highlights of my Australia trip.

Long trip out to the island, but captain and crew made the time pass quickly, water life sightings were great!

The customer service was amazing. Instructions were clearly explained. Everyone was enjoying so much.