The Bulwer Wrecks are three steamers deliberately sunk off the beach at Bulwer, on the north-western corner of Moreton Island, to form a small-boat harbour. The Hopewell, a 337-ton steamer formerly owned by the Maryborough timber merchants Hyne & Son, was scuttled on 8 May 1933, and the 716-ton Mount Kembla followed two days later. The 646-ton Kallatina, a passenger and cargo ship that had run to the Gulf of Carpentaria, was added in September 1935. marinelife.org.au lists the three as the Kallatina (179 ft, built 1890), the Mount Kembla (180 ft, built 1885) and the Hopewell (145 ft, built 1900).

The scheme was never entirely successful: in a storm in July 1938 the 35 ft motor launch Achilles struck the half-sunken Mount Kembla and sank within 15 minutes, although all 12 crew were rescued. Today the rusting hulls sit in shallow water a short swim from the beach, partly exposed at low tide, and they are one of Moreton Island's best-known snorkelling spots after the Tangalooma Wrecks. The attraction is the combination of history and marine life in water only a few metres deep.

Plates and frames are coated in oysters, sponges and algae, and the wrecks shelter schools of baitfish, bream, trevally and other bay fish, with wobbegongs and small rays on the sand and occasional turtles and dolphins in the area. For scuba divers there is little depth, but the site works as a relaxed shallow dive or a snorkel on a camping trip to northern Moreton. It suits families and snorkellers who are confident with some current.

Take the MICAT vehicle barge from the Port of Brisbane (Lytton) to Moreton Island and drive north along the western beach to Bulwer (4WD only, QPWS vehicle access permit required; drive at lower tide levels). Park on the beach near the wrecks, gear up at the vehicle and walk or wade out; the hulls are a short swim from the sand and partly above water. Private boats from Scarborough, Bribie or Manly can anchor off the wrecks, keeping clear of the half-submerged structure.

There is no commercial ferry to Bulwer.

Tidal currents run along the western beach, so snorkel at slack high water for the best visibility and the least current. Westerly and north-westerly winds over about 15 knots put chop straight onto this beach. Visibility falls after heavy rain and on the ebb.

Summer brings occasional jellyfish in the bay.

Enter from the beach at slack high water, swim out to the nearest hull and work along each wreck in turn, keeping clear of jagged edges above and below the waterline. Return to the beach before the tide turns.

No regular dive operator; used by campers and 4WD visitors for snorkelling, and occasionally by clubs. Tour operators running Moreton 4WD day tours sometimes stop here.