Lady Elliot Island

Have you been dreaming of exploring one of the world’s seven natural wonders? Just a short, 40-minute scenic flight from Hervey Bay on the Fraser Coast is Lady Elliot Island, the southern gateway to the Great Barrier Reef.

Known as a coral cay, Lady Elliot Island is situated within a highly protected ‘Green Zone’ of the World Heritage-listed marine park. ‘Home of the Manta Ray’, Lady Elliot Island is a sanctuary for more than 1,200 species of marine life.

Step into the pristine waters and discover an underwater world bustling with unspoilt coral reef, endangered turtles, dolphins, manta rays, reef sharks and much more.

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Explore the Southern Great Barrier Reef

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Great Barrier Reef Day Trip to Lady Elliot Island
Great Barrier Reef Day Trip to Lady Elliot Island

Lady Elliot Island is now open and operating in compliance with an Industry COVID SAFE…

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Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort – Southern Great Barrier Reef

Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort is now open and operating in compliance with an Industry…

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The ultimate eco-experience

Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort is the ultimate success story of rehabilitation. A world-leading example of award-winning sustainable tourism, the family-run and operated eco-resort was established back in 2005 when Peter Gash, his family, along with several other partners became the official guardians of the island.

Almost 20 years later, enormous strides have been made to power and operate the nature-based island destination with little to no impact on the fragile ecosystem it inhabits. Lady Elliot Island was left severely degraded following guano mining operations in the 1800’s, with the removal of all topsoil and vegetation – leaving only bare rock. The island has been a project of love since past and present custodians took over, working tirelessly to restore the coral cay back to its former glory.

“When I first came out to LEI in the early 1990’s, it was kinda like the moon. For many years the people who lived on the Island started mining it and taking the whole top layer off the Island. Now the Island is just flourishing with grass, trees and bushes that were not here before” – Terri Irwin, Australia Zoo

With the target of 100% renewable in mind, the island boasts carbon neutral flights, no supplied electricity, mains water or wastewater. Operating completely single-use plastic-free, Lady Elliot Island is an active participant in various research projects including Project Manta and Reef Check Australia, to name a few.

The resort has claimed Advanced Ecotourism accreditation, as well as recognized as a Climate Action Leader and Green Travel Leader, picking up awards at the Australian and Queensland Tourism Awards alike. To find out more or to start booking your eco-adventure to the Southern Great Barrier Reef, click here

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    A range of comfortable accommodation options, including eco-units, tents and cabins
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    Lady Elliot Island Lighthouse, the third completed in Queensland
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    Lady Elliot is part of a 7-year Revegetation Program (2018-2025)

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Lover of diving?

You can enjoy the 25-meter plus visibility year-round, surrounding reef with a mix of hard and soft corals across more than 18 different diving sites, including wreck dives and a blowhole. If staying on top of the water is more your style – the Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort has introduced clear-bottom kayak tours to give you an entirely different view of the reef.

Top 5 facts from the Southern Great Barrier Reef

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Gateway to Southern Great Barrier Reef

Hervey Bay is the busiest access point to Lady Elliot Island, with x3 return flights carrying up to 19 passengers each day onboard a small aircraft chartered from Seair Pacific.
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Home of the Manta Ray

Lady Elliot is famous for being known as the ‘Home of the Manta Ray’. Seen year-round, the mantas frequent Lady Elliot’s waters in high numbers May – August.
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Fit for a King

Prince Charles and the Irwins visited Lady Elliot Island in 2018 for a Reef Roundtable, meeting leaders from industry and government to discuss the protection of the reef.

Image copyright of Reuters
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Best in the world

Lady Elliot Island has a number of accolades under its belt, including being voted #2 of Lonely Planet’s ‘7 best beached for snorkelling around the world’ in 2020.
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More than just marine life

Did you know? The island has the 2nd highest diversity of bird species on the Great Barrier Reef (up to 95 different species!).

Stories from the Home of the Manta Ray