Unfortunately, the last whale watch in Moreton Bay was October 31 and Linda arrived November 3rd. (Keep this in mind if you are planning your visit!) As an alternative Kevin and his mom decided we'd go to Tangalooma Resort on Moreton Island. I was very excited about this. On Tangalooma you get to
feed the dolphins!
Like everything so far, and I hope this doesn't discourage you, we needed to be up early to catch the 7 AM ferry across the bay to Moreton Island. I'm not sure if there were dolphins or whales to see while we crossed the bay. I fell asleep. We arrived just in time for the pelican feeding off the pier.
We stopped by the resort "fish pool" to "watch" the fish feeding. (I saw plenty of prawns and fish and squid being cut into pieces and tossed in the water but not so much eating or even fish. Ah, the trials of being under-tall.) However, it was at this experience where we learned something that would prove to be quite useful. Starfish have a tendency to wash up on shore. If they aren't the delicate legged "brittle stars", it is appropriate "to Frisbee" them back out into the water.
There are many activities at the resort - snorkeling, kayaking, jet skis, tobogganing down the dunes. We chose to go fish feeding out by the sunken ship reef. That, and feed the dolphins - but that is done at sundown. We aren't there yet. (See? Plenty of new fun activities you can make us try! Including archery. But we won't talk about that. Kevin might cry.)
After lunch we played in the water though not all of us were willing to get our hair wet. (Names withheld.)
Then, Kevin and I walked up the beach toward the dunes and the wrecked ships. This is when we experienced the in rushing of starfish onto the beach. Fling! Fling! Fling! We suspect there is currently under construction a starfish shrine in our honor.
Finally, as the sun dropped the dolphins started coming in. After getting our instructions we formed 5 lines and waited our turn. I expected I'd be knee deep in water, but I found that it was impossible to roll up my shorts high enough to avoid wet pants. I had a wet seat - but it was worth it! We were each given a small (dead) fish and instructed to hold it by the tail like an ice cream cone, shove it head first under the water, and LET GO when the dolphin grabbed it. Ah! A guide accompanied every guest and recited the instructions again. Then, reached into his bag and handed out more fish for us to feed. Photos were taken. Photos that I would
probably have paid $45 for - except that immediately upon completion of the feeding we were hustled back onto the ferry and setting out for home.
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