Lexi Webster
Lady Elliot Island is a coral cay located at the southern tip of Australia's Great Barrier Reef, 80km north-east of Bundaberg. The island is regarded as one of the best snorkelling and diving destinations on the Great Barrier Reef and is famous for its unspoilt coral reef and array of marine life, including turtles, manta rays, reef sharks and more. The island is also known for its lighthouse, which was placed on the Commonwealth Heritage List in 2004. Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort provides a range of accommodation options and guided activities on the island, including reef walking, glass-bottom boat trips, snorkel tours, island history tours, birdwatching tours and turtle treks.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Southern tip of Australia's Great Barrier Reef, 80 km north-east of Bundaberg |
| Transport | 25-minute flight from Bundaberg Airport |
| Activities | Reef walking, glass bottom boat trips, snorkel tours, island history tours, bird watching tours, turtle treks |
| Wildlife | Seabirds, manta rays, turtles, reef sharks, Lady Elliot Shrimp Goby, speckled carpetshark |
| Vegetation | Coral cay trees, plants, grasses |
| Resort | Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort, family-run eco-tourism business |
| Lighthouse | Lady Elliot Island Light, built in 1873, is on the National Heritage List |
| Conservation | Restoration of critical island habitats to protect ecosystems and vulnerable species |
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What You'll Learn
Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort
The island is regarded as one of the best snorkelling and diving destinations on the Great Barrier Reef and is famous for its unspoiled coral reef and amazing array of spectacular marine life, including turtles, manta rays, reef sharks, dolphins, humpback whales, and a large variety of coral and fish. Lady Elliot Island is also known as the "home of the manta ray", with consistently more mantas than anywhere else on the Great Barrier Reef. The resort offers a range of low-key accommodation options, including 2BR Beachfront Units, Eco Cabins, and Glamping Tents. The overnight rate includes a buffet dinner and breakfast daily, a free glass-bottom boat/guided snorkel tour per person, free use of snorkel equipment, a snorkel lesson if required, a range of guided island activities/tours, and an environmental management charge.
The resort caters to different budgets, providing simple yet comfortable stays. It is worth noting that not all options may be ideal for elderly guests. The resort's exceptional cleanliness shines through, from communal areas to the glamping accommodations. Guests appreciate the tranquil atmosphere fostered by the resort's commitment to conservation. In addition to snorkelling and diving, guests can also enjoy guided reef walks, strolls to deserted beaches, and birdwatching. More than 50,000 birds nest on the island during the summer, and sea turtles, including the endangered Loggerhead Turtle, also nest on the island from November to January. Baby turtle hatchlings can be seen making their way to the ocean from January until April.
The resort has placed Gold for Ecotourism at the Queensland Tourism Awards and will represent Queensland at the Australian Tourism Awards in March 2025. The resort has also made significant strides in introducing sustainable initiatives and converting to renewable energy, with the goal of being 100% renewable by 2020. As a remote eco-resort, Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort operates fully self-sufficiently, and guests are asked to read and commit to a Sustainability Pledge to protect the island.
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The island's history
Lady Elliot Island is a small coral cay located within the Southern Great Barrier Reef, approximately 80 kilometres northeast of Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia. The island is situated within the 'coral sea islands territory', a group of small islands and reefs in the Coral Sea, off the coast of Queensland.
Lady Elliot Island has a rich history that dates back thousands of years. The island was originally formed over millions of years through the growth and development of a coral reef. The reef provided a habitat for a diverse range of marine life and also played a significant role in the lives of the indigenous people of the region.
The original custodians of Lady Elliot Island were the Gurang and Gooreng Gooreng people, who have a deep spiritual connection to the land and sea. They were seafaring people, skilled at utilizing the resources the ocean provided. They had a vast knowledge of the marine environment, including the movements of turtles, which they hunted for food and used for other resources. The island played a significant role in their Dreamtime stories, with the creation story of their people originating from the island.
In 1816, the island was named after the wife of the then-Governor of New South Wales, Lady Rachel Elliot, by Captain Thomas Stuart, who was the first European to discover the island. It was then, in 1873, that the island was leased, along with other cays in the region, for the collection of guano, which was used for fertilizer. This industry continued until the early 20th century.
In 1969, the island was purchased by Don Adams, a conservationist, and it became a tourist destination with the construction of basic accommodation facilities. The focus was on showcasing the natural beauty of the island and providing an opportunity for visitors to experience the unique ecosystem. In 1977, Lady Elliot became part of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, and in 2005, the island was included in the Southern Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. Today, the island is a popular eco-tourism destination, with a strong focus on sustainability and environmental education.
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Wildlife and conservation
Lady Elliot Island is a coral cay located at the southern tip of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef. It is one of 16 coral cays in the Capricornia section of the southern Great Barrier Reef. The island is regarded as one of the best destinations for snorkelling and diving due to its unspoiled reef and abundance of marine life. The surrounding waters are particularly rich in sea life because of a total ban on fishing or taking anything from them.
The island is a sanctuary for over 1,200 species of marine life, including manta rays, turtles, humpback whales, dolphins, sharks, and many other species of fish. It is known as the "Home of the Manta Ray," with more than 700 individuals identified in the surrounding waters. The speckled carpetshark is often observed in the waters, and the island is the only known locality home to the Lady Elliot Shrimp Goby (Tomiyamichthys elliotensis). The Great Barrier Reef is one of the most important sea turtle habitats in the world, and Lady Elliot Island is a key part of that habitat. Several species of turtle, including green and loggerhead turtles, come to the beaches to lay their eggs between November and March, and the hatchlings return to the ocean between February and May.
The island also features a mix of vegetation, including iconic coral cay species such as octopus bushes, cassuarinas, and pisonia, as well as various herb, shrub, and ornamental species. A pisonia forest in the southwest part of the island is associated with a large rookery of noddies, and sea eagles also frequent this part. The herblands and shrublands are home to numerous birds, such as buff-banded rails, ruddy turnstones, and silvereyes.
Lady Elliot Island has a history of guano mining and goat herding, which caused significant damage to the vegetation. However, since 1966, revegetation and conservation efforts have helped the island recover, and it is now a haven for seabirds and other wildlife. The island is committed to sustainability and renewable energy, with the Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort implementing various sustainable initiatives.
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The Great Barrier Reef
Lady Elliot Island is a coral cay located at the southern tip of the Great Barrier Reef. The Great Barrier Reef is a World Heritage Site, and Lady Elliot Island is one of 21 islands in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. The reef is one of the most important sea turtle habitats in the world, and the island is a key part of that habitat.
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How to get there
Lady Elliot Island is a private island located on the southern tip of the Great Barrier Reef, 80km north-east of Bundaberg, Queensland, and just to the north of K’gari (Fraser Island). The island is only accessible by small chartered aircraft from either Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast), Bundaberg, Brisbane, or the Gold Coast.
Getting to Hervey Bay/Fraser Coast
Hervey Bay/Fraser Coast is just over a 3-hour drive (289km) north of Brisbane via the Bruce Highway. Alternatively, Queensland Rail offers a train service between Brisbane and Maryborough. Qantas and Jetstar provide flights from Australia’s major cities to Hervey Bay Airport.
Getting to Bundaberg
Bundaberg is approximately a 4-hour drive (390km) north of Brisbane via the Bruce Highway. Queensland Rail offers a Tilt train service between Brisbane and Bundaberg. Qantas and Link Airways provide daily flights from Brisbane to Bundaberg Airport.
Getting to Brisbane
Flights to Brisbane Airport are available from various Australian cities.
Getting to the Gold Coast
The Gold Coast can be reached by air from Sydney and Australia’s major cities. Qantas, Jetstar, Virgin Australia, and Tigerair offer direct flights.
Flights to Lady Elliot Island
Flights to Lady Elliot Island are arranged by the reservations team at Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort when you book your accommodation. The flight from Hervey Bay/Fraser Coast takes approximately 40 minutes, while the flight from Bundaberg takes 30 minutes. The flight from Brisbane (Redcliffe) takes 80 minutes, and the flight from the Gold Coast (Coolangatta) takes 100 minutes. Passengers should check in 30 minutes prior to departure at Hervey Bay/Fraser Coast and Bundaberg, and 15 minutes prior to departure at the Gold Coast.
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Frequently asked questions
Lady Elliot Island is a coral cay located at the southern tip of Australia's Great Barrier Reef. It is about 80km north-east of Bundaberg and is regarded as one of the best snorkelling and diving destinations on the reef.
The island is known for its abundance of marine life, including manta rays, turtles, reef sharks, and an array of coral reef fish. The Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort provides guided activities on the island, including reef walking, glass-bottom boat trips, snorkel tours, island history tours, bird-watching tours, and turtle treks.
The island was once heavily mined for guano, which led to the removal of almost all the trees and topsoil. In 1966, a revegetation program was undertaken, and the island became a haven for seabirds once again. The original lighthouse, built in 1866, was destroyed by a cyclone and replaced in 1873. The island has been operated as an eco-resort since 2005, with a strong focus on sustainability and renewable energy.
