Helicopters and Dolphin Feeding...
Trip Start
Jun 03, 2010
1
3
8
Trip End
Jun 13, 2010
Where I stayed
Moreton Island, Queensland, Australia
Monday, June 7, 2010
We were able to spot Dugong's (manatees), loads of turtles and even a few sharks from the air on the ride in, a real treat.
We were greeted upon landing by Director of Sales, Craig McLaurin who would host us for the day, starting with a tour of the different accommodation options available in this unique resort. Whether you are looking for a hotel room, self catered apartment or luxury villa, there seems to be a room to suit your needs. Craig also gave some insight into the resorts past as the southern hemispheres largest whaling station up until the 1960s. Things couldn't be more different the days however, with conservation the theme of the resorts activities.
After lunch we all piled into the 4X4 bus which would take us out to the Tangalooma Desert! The Desert Safari is one of over 75 optional tours and activities available around the resort, you could spend several very full days here and not be still for a moment...or relax by the pool or the beach and be still most of the time if you like!
Getting on to the bus we were warned it would be a bouncy ride and he wasn't wrong, the track was made by American servicemen in WWII and not a lot has changed. Reaching the desert it was time for some adrenalin. Sand boarding on the massive dunes in the center of the Island was the plan and most of the group were brave enough to climb the sand wall and try hurtling down at least once. Tracy was our star slider and won the prize for longest run of the afternoon!
Upon returning to the resort complex we all sat in on a presentation by one of Tangalooma's marine biologists on family of wild dolphins who make the waters around the resort their home. For decades now, this pod of dolphins have made nightly visits to the beach in front of the resort to be hand fed by the guests, an amazing experience.
So after dinner in the resorts signature steak restaurant it was our turn to take part in the feeding. The dolphins arrived just on sunset to a welcome reception of resort guests waiting to take part in the experience. Marine biologists closely control the feeding to ensure the dolphins don't become reliant on the food and are impacted by people as little as possible. The dolphins see the feeding sessions as much as a social experience as for food, they even bring gifts for staff the recognize such as eels and octopuses they have collected, an amazing display of intelligence.
The return to the mainland was via the resorts ferry transfer and took just over an hour, we joined several of the day trippers from Brisbane who had come out for the day to experience Tangalooma as we did.
