Lady Elliot Island

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The most special places on the Great Barrier Reef are the coral cays and Lady Elliot Island is one of these. A coral cay is formed when a coral reef grows right to the oceans surface and wind and wave action start to break down the coral. This sand and coral rubble washes to the lee side of the reef and builds up and eventually forms an island. The islands in turn start to grow vegetation and become havens for nesting seabirds and turtles. This type of island is common through tropical areas and creates the perfect environment for a holiday resort that is based around snorkeling, diving and studying the local wildlife.

Lady Elliot Island is one of three coral cays on the Great Barrier Reef that have resorts on them. The other two are Heron Island and Green Island. Lady Elliot Island caters for the budget end of the island resort market and only lays claim to having two and a half star accommodation. This attracts many younger tourists who are always watching their money. The accommodation ranges from free standing cabins located on the beach front through to permanent tent cabins with permanent timber floors. There is a restaurant complex, a research center and a dive shop and the island generates all its own power from a solar power installation.

Diving here is amongst the best on the Great Barrier Reef and the water visibility is usually more than 20 meters. There are twenty or so advertised dive locations, but you can just walk in off the beach and do your own thing. Sharks, turtles, reef fish and manta rays are commonly seen on dives here and the coral itself is reputed to be among the best displays on the entire reef system.

Access to Lady Elliot Island is only by air. Flights arrive daily from Bundaberg and Hervey Bay on the mainland and you can also do a day tour. Hervey Bay is only three hours drive north from Brisbane so it is the closest section of the reef to the south east corner of the state.