Private charter vs Tangalooma day tour
A Tangalooma tour fits you into its day — fixed ferry times, a large resort, and about 30 minutes in the water with everyone else. A private charter on Moreton Bay gives you the whole boat, the whole bay, all day. Here's the honest difference.
| Sea La Vie — Private Charter | Tangalooma Day Tour | |
|---|---|---|
| The boat | Yours entirely — no strangers aboard | Shared with up to 200+ other guests |
| Who decides the schedule | You and Jeremy — built around your group | The ferry operator — fixed departure & return |
| Time in the water | As long as you want — all day if you like | ~30–45 minutes at Tangalooma Wrecks |
| Snorkelling quality | Tangalooma Wrecks, open sandbar reefs, Jeremy knows where the fish are | Tangalooma Wrecks only, in a large group |
| Dolphins | Encounter wild dolphins at sea en route | Evening hand-feeding (paid resort program) |
| Food & drinks | Gourmet catered lunch, champagne, full refreshments — included | Buy at the resort restaurant or bring your own |
| Destinations | Moreton Island, Amity Banks, Tangalooma Wrecks, Bulwer — Jeremy picks the best for the day | Tangalooma resort precinct only |
| Privacy | Just your group — sandbar, boat, bay | Full resort with hundreds of other guests |
| Price | From $1,390 for the whole boat (up to 7 people) | From ~$130–$180 per person (often $800–$1,200+ for a group) |
| Best for | Couples, families, special occasions, anyone who wants a real day | Budget solo travellers who want a resort day |
When a Tangalooma tour makes sense
A Tangalooma day tour is a perfectly good option if you're travelling solo or with one other person on a tight budget, and you mainly want to see the island and dolphins without the premium.
The resort is well-run, the wrecks are genuinely impressive, and the ferry is straightforward. You get Moreton Island — just with everyone else.
When a private charter is the obvious choice
If there are two or more of you — especially for a family, birthday, anniversary, proposal, or just people who like doing things properly — the maths and the experience both point firmly toward private.
Divided across a group of four, a Sea La Vie charter works out to roughly the same cost as four Tangalooma tickets — with full-day access, a gourmet lunch, champagne, all your gear, and a captain who actually takes you somewhere worth going.