Tangalooma Beach

Tangalooma Beach sits on the sheltered western side of Moreton Island, one of the world's largest sand islands. The bay-facing position keeps the water flat and calm, with no open-ocean swell getting through. You get clear, turquoise water and a sandy bottom suited to wading, swimming, and snorkelling. Being west-facing also means genuine over-water sunsets, something most east coast beaches can't give you.

Just offshore, 15 ships were deliberately scuttled between 1963 and 1984. The Tangalooma Wrecks are visible from the sand and easy to snorkel. Visibility peaks June to September. Take the guided tour rather than swimming out independently. A strong tidal current runs between the wrecks and the shore when the tide is running, and the rusted metal edges are sharp.

Every evening at dusk, wild bottlenose dolphins come to the jetty to be fed. You wade in waist-deep. Bring a change of clothes.

No lifeguards patrol. Getting here requires a resort catamaran from Pinkenba (roughly 75 minutes, around $94 return), and you'll need a day cruise or accommodation booking to access the beach.