Lady Elliot Island

Nicknamed the “first lady of the reef”, the Great Barrier Reef’s most southern island Lady Elliot is world-renowned as the home of the manta ray for Australia, with more than 700 individual mantarays identified in the area offering visitors the opportunity to swim with the manta rays on a daily basis. The island also hosts nesting and hatching turtles, 57 species of bird, dolphins, and migrating humpback whales.

You’ll find 19 dive sights at this delightful island destination including Lighthouse Bommie, Coral Cardens, Moiri and Shark Pool, plus the shipwreck.

Lady Elliot Island was formed over a 3000-year period and offers a guided reef walk and informative displays at the Reef Education Centre. More than 50,000 birds nest here during summer and dolphins, manta rays and migrating whales adore its surrounding waters.

It’s also the ideal island on which to wet your feet, literally. Beginner snorkellers can enjoy the lagoon, while those more experienced can descend with the divers into the Coral Sea beyond. A fully-equipped dive centre on the island caters to all interests and abilities.

For those who simply can’t leave Lady Elliot after just one day, there’s a 41-room eco-resort on the beachfront which caters for just 100 guests. Best of all, there are no telephones, televisions or radios to distract you here. Indulge in night-time activities such as

• reef education talks;
• nocturnal animal walks;
• star gazing;
• a turtle tour;
• and even an evening glass bottom boat ride.

Getting to Lady Elliot Island

Explore the day tour options or overnight options on Lady Elliot Island for the ultimate eco island experience.  

Daily scenic flights depart from:-

• Hervey Bay
• Bundaberg
• Agnes Water/1770
• Brisbane (Redcliffe)
• Gold Coast (Coolangatta) airports. 
• Transfers are available to Brisbane and Gold Coast from accommodation and can be booked at time of booking. 
• Flights are to be booked inconjunction with your accommodation or day trip to Lady Elliot Island.

Read more about the Great Eight marine animals of the Great Barrier Reef you will see around Lady Elliot Island.  

Learn more about the Great Barrier Reef tours from our blogs.