Stradbroke and Moreton Island car ferry with a hire car
North Stradbroke Island has a vehicle ferry from Cleveland, and a standard car can use the island's bitumen roads. Moreton Island is different: it is entirely sand, so only a genuine 4WD with low range suits the Micat barge. Hertz's terms prohibit driving on Moreton Island at all, and Avis requires written authority to take a vehicle to any island, so ask before you book either.
Updated
Key facts
- Stradbroke ferry route
- SeaLink vehicle ferry from Toondah Harbour, Cleveland (12 Emmett Drive) to Dunwich, about 45 to 50 minutes; bookings are required for vehicles
- Stradbroke car fares
- Priced by vehicle length (a standard car is up to 5.4 m, a large car 5.5 to 6.4 m); flexible fares change with the date and time of travel, and the driver and children aged 0 to 4 travel free
- Surcharge
- A 3% temporary fuel surcharge applies to all SeaLink vehicle ferry bookings
- Stradbroke roads
- Standard vehicles can use all bitumen roads on the island; beach driving needs a 4WD and a permit
- Stradbroke beach rule
- All-wheel-drive vehicles, motorbikes and quad bikes are not permitted on the beach; do not drive on Flinders Beach or Main Beach 2 hours either side of high tide
- Moreton Island ferry
- Micat vehicle barge from 14 Howard Smith Drive, Port of Brisbane, about 90 minutes; bookings are essential
- Moreton Island vehicles
- A genuine 4WD with low-range capability is recommended and the island is entirely sand
- Permits
- Vehicle access permits are required on Moreton Island (Mulgumpin) and North Stradbroke Island (Minjerribah) and are issued through the islands' own camping booking sites
Can you take a hire car to Stradbroke Island?
It depends on your rental agreement, and you should ask before you book. The Hertz Australia terms, for example, say vehicles may travel on certain ferries only with prior permission from Hertz, and they list driving on a beach among the situations they single out. The Avis Australia terms, for example, say you must not take the vehicle to any island off the coast of Australia unless Avis authorises it in writing. Hertz's prohibited list names South Stradbroke Island, not North Stradbroke.
If your agreement allows the ferry, a standard car can use the bitumen roads on North Stradbroke Island. What it cannot do is go on the beach. That needs a 4WD and a permit, and AWD vehicles are not permitted on the beach at all.
North Stradbroke Island car ferry: times and cost
SeaLink runs the vehicle ferry from Toondah Harbour at Cleveland to Dunwich, taking 45 to 50 minutes. The base timetable starts at 6:00am from Cleveland on weekdays, runs roughly hourly and has a last weekday Cleveland departure at 4:30pm, with extra services added at times. Check the booking page for your date, and arrive at least 30 minutes before departure.
Vehicle fares depend on the length of the vehicle, with a standard car up to 5.4 m and a large car 5.5 to 6.4 m, and flexible fares change with the date and time of travel, so off-peak sailings can cost less. A 3% temporary fuel surcharge applies to vehicle bookings. The driver and children aged 0 to 4 travel free, and SeaLink says bookings are required for vehicles.
Do you need a 4WD for Stradbroke Island?
Only for the beach. Standard vehicles can use all the bitumen roads. Beach driving is allowed on Flinders Beach between the Amity Point and Adder Rock entrances (40 km/h) and on Main Beach between George Nothling Drive and the southern surf beach (60 km/h), in a 4WD with a vehicle access permit from Minjerribah Camping.
Minjerribah Camping says not to drive on either beach within 2 hours of high tide, so plan around the tide table.
Moreton Island car ferry: Micat barge, permit and 4WD
The Micat vehicle barge leaves from 14 Howard Smith Drive at the Port of Brisbane and takes about 90 minutes to reach Moreton Island. It runs on a demand-based timetable, up to five services a day at busy times and fewer in quieter periods. Micat says bookings are essential for vehicles, and peak periods such as September, Easter and Christmas holidays can need booking up to six months ahead.
Moreton Island's rules call for a genuine 4WD with low-range capability because the island is entirely sand and road or AWD vehicles can become bogged. You need a vehicle access permit through the Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation, and Micat can book the permit as an agent when you book the barge. Petrol and diesel are sold at Castaways in Bulwer in returnable 20 litre containers, so arrive with a full tank.
Can you take a hire car to Moreton Island?
Only a genuine 4WD suits the island, and the rental agreement then decides. The Hertz terms, for example, list Moreton Island among the places where no vehicle should be driven at any time, and the Avis terms, for example, require written authorisation for any island off the coast. The Avis terms also list driving on beaches.
Standard hire cars are therefore not an option, and whether any 4WD hire vehicle is allowed on Moreton Island is something only the rental company can confirm in writing. Micat loads vehicles in a planned sequence based on size, weight and type, so give your vehicle's details accurately when booking the barge.
Where to hire for a Stradbroke day trip
Cleveland is on the Brisbane side, so pick up in Brisbane and drive to Toondah Harbour. Because the agreement may not allow the ferry, the alternative is to leave the car at the terminal and cross as a foot passenger, which SeaLink runs on a separate passenger ferry.
Compare cars at Brisbane Airport
Prices are shown in Australian dollars. Check the pickup point and what the agreement allows on the roads in this guide before you book.
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Questions people ask
How much is the North Stradbroke Island car ferry?
SeaLink prices a vehicle by its length, and flexible fares change with the date and time of travel, plus a 3% fuel surcharge. The driver and children aged 0 to 4 travel free. Check the SeaLink booking page for your sailing.
Can you take a hire car to Stradbroke Island?
It depends on the rental agreement. Hertz needs prior permission for ferries, and Avis needs written authority for islands. Both sets of terms also list driving on a beach.
Do you need a 4WD for Stradbroke Island?
Not for the bitumen roads. A 4WD and a vehicle access permit are needed to drive on Flinders Beach or Main Beach.
Do you need a permit to drive on Stradbroke Island?
Only for the designated beach and bush areas. A vehicle access permit is issued through Minjerribah Camping.
How much is the Moreton Island car ferry?
Check the Micat booking system for the fare on your date. The barge leaves from the Port of Brisbane and takes about 90 minutes.
Do you need a 4WD for Moreton Island?
Yes. A genuine 4WD with low-range capability is needed because the island is entirely sand, and you also need a vehicle access permit.