Mornington Island Airport (ONG)

Departures from Mornington Island Airport (ONG) at a glance

• 3flights a day69th busiest of 111 airports
• 2routes from here
• 1airline
• 10:00 – 16:40first and last00061218

Collected 12 October 2026. Not live — check with the airline before booking.

Mornington Island Airport (ONG) sits in Gununa, on Mornington Island in the Gulf of Carpentaria, Queensland. Mornington Shire Council owns and operates it, and the council's airport page says it is located in the Gununa township. The Queensland Government says the Mornington Shire is a restricted area for alcohol, with a limit set per person on foot, or per vehicle, boat or aircraft.

What is listed at Mornington Island Airport

Airservices Australia's aerodrome entry for Mornington Island (issue of 3 September 2026) names Mornington Shire Council as the operator. Its passenger facilities listing gives a public telephone, toilets and refreshments during scheduled operations, and a hire car with 24 hours' prior notice. The same entry lists Telstra fourth-generation (4G) mobile reception at the aerodrome and within the community.

Airservices' own key to these listings says that in many instances a hire car is not at the aerodrome itself and has to be contacted by telephone after arrival. It also says that where refreshments are listed there is usually some limit on the hours, and that what is offered may range from a full meal service to a drink vending machine. The council's airport page suggests dropping into the Gununa Café before your flight for a coffee or a light refreshment.

The entry lists the airport as a security controlled airport, with a sealed runway and runway edge lighting. It also says neither aviation gasoline (avgas) nor Jet A1 aircraft fuel is available.

The Australian Government's Remote Airstrip Upgrade Program lists, among its Round 8 approved projects, one for Mornington Shire Council at Mornington Island: to reduce safety hazards, complete drainage works, install aircraft tie downs, prepare a new aerodrome manual and train airport staff.

Direct domestic flights recorded from Mornington Island Airport

Direct domestic flights recorded from Mornington Island Airport go to the places below, each flown by Rex.

Destination	Airport	Airline recorded
Doomadgee	Doomadgee Airport (DMD)	Rex
Normanton	Normanton Airport (NTN)	Rex

Queensland Government regulation of the Rex service

Mornington Island is on one of the regional air routes that the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads regulates, and Rex operates it. The department says it regulates routes where demand is too low to be commercially viable for operators, and it has exercised an extension to the current contracts, which now expire on 31 December 2027. It also says its service delivery partners "control all operational matters, including check-in, boarding, in-flight services and baggage services".

Flying Rex from Mornington Island

Check-in, boarding and identification

Rex's check-in page says the airport check-in desk closes 30 minutes before scheduled departure at regional Queensland airports such as Mornington Island, and Rex recommends presenting checked bags 60 minutes before. The boarding gate closes 15 minutes before departure at regional airports, and a passenger not ready at the gate by then is excluded from boarding and forfeits the fare. Web check-in opens 48 hours and closes 60 minutes before scheduled departure, but passengers with special requirements must check in at the airport.

Rex's Travel Requirements page asks passengers aged 18 and over for an acceptable form of identification (ID), with the name matching the booking, and a passenger without photographic ID can show two forms of non-photographic ID instead. Passengers aged 17 or under need no ID when travelling with, or presented at check-in by, an identifiable guardian.

Baggage, stairs and the cabin

Rex states its regional allowances for services operated by the Saab 340 turboprop: 7 kg of carry-on baggage on all fares, and 15 kg checked on Community, Promo and Saver fares or 23 kg on Flex. Carry-on bags may be weighed and measured, and a bag over the limit at the gate is offloaded and sent on the next available flight, for you to collect at the airport. Check Rex's baggage page before you pack.

Rex's accessibility plan describes boarding the Saab 340 by the aircraft stairs, and Rex says its Saab 340 cargo compartment "has only a very limited capacity". Rex also reserves the right to offload checked bags within the allowance when the aircraft is restricted in the baggage it can carry.

Special assistance

Rex says some airports in Queensland cannot cater for passengers who need its Disabled Passenger Lifter, and asks passengers who cannot climb the aircraft stairs to call its Customer Contact Centre on 13 17 13 before booking. It asks for special requirements at least 48 hours before departure. Wheelchair and mobility device passengers at Queensland regional airports such as Mornington Island check in no later than 60 minutes before departure.

When Rex flights are disrupted

Rex's conditions of carriage name inclement weather among the events beyond its control, and say times of arrival and departure are not guaranteed. When Rex cancels, it may offer a seat on another flight that day or another day, other transport such as a bus, or a flight to the nearest alternative Rex port; if Rex changes or cancels the booked flight, the passenger may instead cancel the ticket for a full refund. Rex also warns that, with the limited facilities at some regional airports, refreshments may not always be available during a delay.

Commonwealth aviation security rules

Commonwealth screening rule for air services

The Cyber and Infrastructure Security Centre (CISC) says an air service that operates open charter or a regular public transport operation must be aviation security screened if it:

• uses aircraft with a seating capacity of 40 or more persons
• operates from an Australian designated, tier 1 or tier 2 security controlled airport
• uses any aircraft departing from the same apron as a screened air service operating at a designated airport

Home Affairs liquids, aerosols and gels restrictions

The Department of Home Affairs applies its liquids, aerosols and gels restrictions in these situations:

• when departing Australia
• when transiting through Australia from one country to another
• when travelling on the domestic leg of a flight departing from an Australian international terminal
• prior to boarding an inbound flight at its last point of departure before it reaches Australia

Where they apply, each container must be 100 mL or 100 g or less, and all containers must fit in one transparent, re-sealable plastic bag.

Alcohol rules on Mornington Island

The Queensland Government's Mornington Island alcohol restrictions page says the restricted area is the Mornington Shire, including all public and private places. That takes in all foreshores and the islands of the Wellesley, South Wellesley, Forsythe and Bountiful Island groups and Sweers Island.

From 6 October 2023, the most alcohol a person can have in the restricted area is up to 11.25 litres (the equivalent of 30 cans of 375 ml) of any combination of beer and premixed spirits of up to and including 4% alcohol by volume. The page says: "This amount is per person on foot, or per vehicle, boat or aircraft regardless of the number of people in it." No homebrew or homebrew equipment is allowed in the restricted area.

The same page says it is an offence to attempt to bring alcohol into the restricted area, that vehicles found carrying alcohol there may be confiscated, and that the penalties apply to all people living in, travelling through, visiting or working in the restricted area. Airservices Australia's aerodrome entry adds that heavy penalties apply and that restrictions may vary from time to time.

The Queensland Government page and the council's Alcohol Management Plan page both say Sweers Island Resort is "the only licensed premise in the restricted area of Mornington Island", and both pages add that it is licensed to sell alcohol to residents and their guests only. The council's page gives two ways to source a carriage limit allowance, ordering through the council or through your own supplier, and both require purchases to be collected from the designated council depot in the carriage hours the council lists.

Gununa and Mornington Island

The council describes Mornington Island as the largest of the North Wellesley Islands in the Gulf of Carpentaria. Gununa was founded in 1914 and is where most of the shire's population lives. The island is about 125 km north-west of Burketown, 200 km west of Karumba and 444 km from Mount Isa, the council says.

Traditional Owners and native title

The council says the islands and surrounding seas are the traditional lands and waters of the Lardil, Yangkaal, Kaiadilt and Gangalidda peoples. It names the Lardil as the original custodians of Mornington Island and its largest tribal group, and says the Kaiadilt occupied the South Wellesley Islands, Bentinck and Sweers.

In 2008 the Federal Court determined that native title existed in the area, the council says. Native title is held by the Lardil, Yangkaal, Gangalidda and Kaiadilt people, with the Gulf Region Aboriginal Corporation as the prescribed body corporate.

Mirndiyan Gununa and the Cultural Awareness Program

Mirndiyan Gununa Aboriginal Corporation (Mornington Island Art) describes itself as one of the longest established art and cultural organisations in Aboriginal Australia, fully owned and controlled by an Indigenous Board. Its purpose is to maintain and develop the cultures of the Lardil and Kaiadilt people, and its artists work in painting, music, dance and storytelling. The council encourages visitors to drop in to Mirndiyan Gununa to learn about the history of Mornington Island, its traditional custodians and their culture.

The Cultural Awareness Program was developed in 2007 as an interactive information session for visitors to Mornington Island. The council has endorsed it as mandatory for all visitors working or providing a service on the island, with Mirndiyan Gununa delivering it, and gives 0418 224 953 as the contact.

Burial sites, outstations and sacred ground

The council says walking along the beaches on the windward, southern side of the island, near the council building, is permissible, and asks walkers to take care not to disturb any burial sites they come across. It also says some areas of the island are traditional homelands with outstations owned by local families, and that a sacred Bora Ground is located just outside Gununa.

Crocodiles and the sea

The council warns that the waters around Mornington Island are inhabited by saltwater crocodiles and swimming is not advised, and that this includes letting dogs into the water. Fishing from the jetty is allowed, but the council recommends caution, as sharks, crocodiles and sea snakes have been sighted.

Wet and dry seasons

The council describes two seasons on Mornington Island. The wet season, December to May, can start early in November and bring heavy rain and cyclones, while the dry season, May to November, can bring wind gusts of up to 40 km/h and days and weeks when temperatures fall below 20 degrees Celsius. Cyclones can occur at any time in the wet season and into the early months of the dry, the council says, and it points visitors to the Bureau of Meteorology.

Money, phones and shops in Gununa

The council's visitor notes say Mornington Island does not have a banking service. The general store, kiosk and butcher have electronic funds transfer at point of sale (EFTPOS), and there are automatic teller machines (ATMs) at the council office and the general store, but the council warns that they "can empty very quickly".

The council lists a supermarket, variety store, kiosk, butcher and a bakery that supplies the supermarket in the community, and Australia Post currently operates from the Gununamanda Supermarket. Phones run on the Telstra network, and the council's Community Wi-Fi service is available in public areas.

Carpentaria Freight runs a barge service to Mornington Island via Karumba, and the council stresses that it is not a passenger barge.

Where to stay in Gununa

The council runs the Mornington Council Motel Cabins and the Visitors Accommodation Centre for visitors, and its Accommodation Office, at 291 Kaiadilt Street, Gununa, is on 07 4745 7882. Check-in is strictly from 2pm to 4pm and check-out is by 10am, and the council says early check-in is in general not possible. Bookings can also be made online through the council.

Questions about Mornington Island Airport

Who runs Mornington Island Airport?

Mornington Shire Council owns and operates it. The council's phone number is 07 4745 7800, and Airservices Australia's aerodrome entry lists 07 4745 7811 as the operator's business-hours number.

Can you hire a car at Mornington Island Airport?

Airservices Australia's aerodrome entry lists a hire car at Mornington Island with 24 hours' prior notice. Airservices' key to that listing says that in many instances taxi or hire car are not available at the aerodrome itself and need to be contacted by telephone after arrival.

What is the alcohol limit on Mornington Island?

From 6 October 2023, the Queensland Government limit in the Mornington Island restricted area is up to 11.25 litres of any combination of beer and premixed spirits of up to and including 4% alcohol by volume. That amount is "per person on foot, or per vehicle, boat or aircraft regardless of the number of people in it".

Can you get cash on Mornington Island?

There are ATMs at the council office and the general store, but the council warns that they can empty very quickly. The council also says Mornington Island does not have a banking service.

Does Mornington Island observe daylight saving?

No. Queensland does not observe daylight saving, and neither do Western Australia or the Northern Territory. New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory do.