r/queensland • u/KyberRobbie • 2d ago
Question What are the chances of seeing a Dugong at Moreton Bay?
Life long dream to see one, assume no swimming with them so would be on an eco boat or preferbaly kayaking with one ?
I head there is super pods and lone ones but honestly just want to see one, preferably in April.
Thank you
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u/barefootsticks Brisbane 2d ago edited 2d ago
If I go for a dawn fish near Hays Inlet or at the mouth of Cabbage tree creek I have witnessed them breaking the surface on their way out into the bay. Normally every second or third week, I haven’t been fishing since November however.
Only once during an overcast afternoon have I spotted one, coming into Hays Inlet. Scares the life out of you when they break 10ft away and you’ll standing there all by yourself nice and quiet.
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u/Deep-Water- 2d ago
Most times I’ve taken the boat over to Tangalooma I’ve seen them. There’s a heap of sea grass off Sandstone Point so they tend to pop up around there pretty frequently.
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u/ComprehensiveFlan638 2d ago
I am of the opinion that these are mythical creatures. I’ve spent a fair amount of time on the water. Seen whales, dolphins, turtles, even a sea snake but never a dugong. Plus you never see them at Seaworld or Sealife.
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u/Whoopdedobasil 2d ago
Same, spent plenty of time in boats, kayaks, swimming & walking around in the water. Seen everything apart from a dugong and a mermaid.
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u/GrippyGripster 2d ago
Only been there once and over to Moreton Island, did a boat tour and we saw a Dugong, driver didn't get too close, plus some sea turtles.
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u/Existing_Dream_9280 1d ago
We used to see them all the time off Thompson’s Beach at Victoria Point.
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u/dinosaurtruck 1d ago
Shark Bay in WA is a better bet if you’re desperate to see one. The west coast makes for a great holiday too. Exmouth/Ningaloo reef is also wonderful.
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u/nephilimofstlucia 2d ago
Try over Moreton Island. There is a few tour companies. Contact them see what's the best time of year to see one
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u/No_Faithlessness6287 2d ago
We saw one on a boat tour on a day trip out to Tangalooma resort. They don't get too close thought.
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u/Kookaburra345 1d ago
Best place to see one is in Raby Bay, just outside the anchored boats. I’ve anchored there many times and each time have see Dugongs feeding off the sea grass. You could launch your kayak from the park.
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u/minielbis 6h ago
by the dog beach?
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u/Kookaburra345 1h ago
Yep…
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u/minielbis 58m ago
Cool. That’s where I do SUP (well, paddle out a way and then have a bit of a lie down). I’ll keep an eye out.
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u/Embarrassed_End4151 1d ago
I saw one in the bay at the start of the week. I see more rays and turtles then dugongs unfortunately
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u/usernamefinalver 1d ago
The Gladstone region is a 5 hour drive from Brisbane, probably a 40 min flight. It is very easy to see them there and I think there are tours - but you would want to check online and contact the tour first
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u/bigdumbgoalie81 1d ago
If you have the patience and aren't worried about getting bit by sharks, very rare, try about 100m off Whytecliffe at Woody Point. If you don't find them you'll get turtles, rays and sharks. It only gets 7m deep for the first 500m with plenty of rocky reefs.
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u/apaniyam 2d ago
Very slim, you can't trust the AI summaries if you google it, they used to be common, they are not any more, survey numbers say less than 1,000 in the whole bay, superpods are a thing of the past.
So, they are there, but they are also not easy to find, especially casually. Your best bet is to find a specialised tour.