Thrill-seekers are sorted in this playground, writes Shae McDonald.
There's something magical about shipwrecks. As a child I motored around Moreton Island's famed wrecks in a dinghy, while my grandmother hung on for dear life, hoping I wouldn't steer us into rusty metal.
But never in my life did I think I would have the opportunity to tour around the same wrecks at night, in a lit-up kayak.
It's a clear evening over on Tangalooma Island Resort, about 75 minutes by ferry from Brisbane, when our tour group takes off in illuminated glass-bottom boats.
As we head out towards the wrecks, fish of different shapes and sizes can be seen swimming beneath the vessels.
We pull up on the nearby beach, where we hop into our lit-up kayaks.
The boats looks so pretty - completely clear and lined around the rim by a strip of LED lights.
We push off the sand and head out towards the wrecks, travelling from the southernmost point to the north. The lights attached to our heads make it easier to see the sunken ships, as they peer out from the water.
As we make our way among the ships, the stillness is equal parts eerie and enchanting.
We see a few fish but unfortunately miss out on seeing the turtles that inhabit the area.
It doesn't matter though, because kayaking around the wrecks is an experience in itself. It feels I've been let in on a secret that few people know about and it's certainly something I won't forget.
Shae McDonald on a quadbike.
The stillness of my time on the water is in stark contrast to the adrenaline rush I feel the following day when I join one of the resort's popular quadbike tours.
My inner rev-head starts out wondering if I'll be able to reach speeds of 80km/h.
I quickly realise speed feels very different in the open air and I'm thrilled when I make it to 30km/h while still being able to manoeuvre the bike.
We make our way through a series of sand tracks perched up behind the resort. The views of the coastline below are breathtaking, but I have to be careful to look only for a few seconds before I turn my attention back to the sand in front of me.
When the one-hour tour comes to an end, I'm hot and sweaty and can think of nothing better than diving into the ocean to cool off.
Thankfully, the beach is just a stone's throw away.
For people looking for further thrill-seeking adventures, there is everything from sand tobogganing to parasailing and helicopter joy rides.
The sea scooter safari is also a relatively new addition to Tangalooma's water-based activities. Swimmers grab hold of a motorised underwater scooter, which is used to navigate through the wrecks.
The island is truly an adventure playground, with an array of opportunities for the young and the young at heart.
So while Queenstown may be known as the adventure capital of the world, Moreton Island has plenty of activities to get the heart racing.
FACT BOX
Getting there Qantas flies from Auckland to Brisbane, with return Economy Class fares from $562.
