By Carly Jones
I’m not going to lie. A big part of Tangalooma’s appeal is being able to take a day trip to an actual island. Just 1hr and 15 minutes by ferry from Brisbane’s Holt St Wharf, you’ll be far from city life and enjoying all that an island has to offer, including sparkling coastline as far as the eye can see. It’s the perfect day out for an adventure seeker or even someone who just wants to relax on the beach.
Tangalooma has awesome activities to suit all kinds of travellers, and we take a day to road test some of the best, with some of the activities organised through the resort. Hey, it’s a hard life, but somebody’s gotta do it 😉
Watersports
When we first arrive at beautiful Tangalooma, we head straight to the water for a swim. Mesmerising, tranquil, and refreshing, it’s the perfect activity for a beautiful day. While swimming, we see people stand-up paddle boarding and kayaking. In the distance, we also see parasailing. Joining the fun is easy – just rent equipment and book activities at the water sports kiosk. We don’t do any snorkelling; however, I’ve read about the Tangalooma shipwrecks, where there’s a variety of marine life and coral to see. You can snorkel to the wrecks from the beach – too easy!
Segway tours
We don’t get a chance to do one (alas, there’s only so much you can fit in a day), but we see the Segway tour groups coasting along the white sandy beach. It looks like a super fun way to see the island, providing you’ve got a good sense of balance.
Quad biking
Probably my fave activity of the day! The 45min adventure track is exhilarating, yet easy enough for all experience levels. The course is full of exciting obstacles and off-road terrain, plus there’s some amazing views when you get to the top of the sand dunes. It’s a great way to see the island, I’d definitely do it again.
Helicopter joy fight
When we finish our ATV tour, I spot one lucky couple boarding a helicopter for a joy flight. I’m sure the aerial views of the island were phenomenal! Maybe next time? 😉
Lunch at Copper Grill
Steak, ribs, seafood, salad, dessert… the list goes on. Copper Grill is Tangalooma Resort’s exclusive dining area for groups and functions. It’s located in the newly renovated resort centre and offers stunning beach views. We’re lucky enough to have lunch there and are spolit for choice.
Desert Sand Safari tour
We’re excited enough to be going sand tobogganing, but it turns out that getting to the sand dunes is half the fun. The Desert Sand Safari tour is epic in so many ways. Our charismatic driver regularly reminds us that “We’re not in Disneyland anymore, folks” as he navigates his custom German-built 4WD bus along extremely bumpy, steep, and narrow bush tracks. We hold on tight as our driver “reassures” us that “nobody dies on my watch” (eek!). Rollercoaster bus aside, the tour through the national park is fascinating, as our guide fires off fun facts about the island. On our way back to the resort (after the tobogganing), we discover that the bus ahead of us has actually gotten bogged in the sand. Our driver gets his shovel out and digs one of the tyres free while we all watch from the bus. It made for an entertaining trip, that’s for sure!
Sand tobogganing
When we arrive at the bottom of the tobogganing hill, the 35m sand dune is overwhelming to say the least. As you can see from the photos, we look like mere ants. And it feels like we’re in a different world, even though it’s just a 20 min bus ride from the beach. Before conquering the hill, we’re given a safety demonstration and tips on how to successfully toboggan down the sand dune. Be warned – the steep incline is not for the faint-hearted. It’s exhausting! When it’s my turn, I lay face down on a waxed Masonite board. Thankfully, the take-off is somewhat slow, which gives you a few seconds to get a feel for what’s happening. But about 15m down the hill, your speed gets up to 40km/h. Through sheer excitement, I forget to close my mouth, so I’m eating sand the whole way down. Once you come to a stop, you’re instructed to get off the track ASAP so the next person can go down. The whole thing is over in seconds. We’re told that Tangalooma’s current record for the most slides by one person is 12 times in an hour. Once is enough for me.
The bar
We want to go for one last dip before heading home, but the heavens open up for a complete downpour. Now, you may wonder “What’s the problem with getting wet when you’re already swimming?” Well, we’ve left all our belongings on the beach, so we have to make a mad dash to save them from getting completely drenched. On the upside, we use our leftover swimming time to have a cold cider at B&B Bar and watch the storm pass over the beach. It’s a great way to wrap up the day.
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