Guide to Lady Elliot Island
Lady Elliot Island is an easy-to-reach paradise on the Great Barrier Reef, famous for its manta ray population.
Lady Elliot Island has extraordinary marine life and glittering white beaches made entirely of crushed coral. Walk around the island and take in the lush surroundings, or go diving or snorkelling just off the beach. Lady Elliot Island is a sanctuary to over 1,200 species of marine life and known for its large populations of giant manta rays and turtles. It’s also known for a commitment to sustainability through its use of renewable energy, invasive species eradication and other notable initiatives.
Top things to do on Lady Elliot Island
Meet a manta ray
Lady Elliot is one of the top five destinations on Earth for diving with manta rays. You can snorkel or dive with manta rays all year round (though they congregate in larger numbers between May and September).
Explore the island trails
If you feel like exploring the island on foot there are two different walks; the Discovery Walking Trail; a historical tour of the island, and the Eco Walking Trail that will guide you through the varied ecosystems from the coast to the rainforest.
Take a turtle tour
Between November and February, green and loggerhead turtles return to the island to lay their eggs – a sight you can see by joining a guided tour. Or, visit between February and April to see the turtle hatchlings make their way down to the water.
Explore the reef on foot
Pull on reef shoes and follow the island's daily guided walk, which explores the lagoon's reef in fascinating detail. You'll see sea cucumbers, starfish, urchins, coral, clams and crabs, as well as plenty of technicoloured fish.
Go scuba diving in paradise
Feel like you're in the world's biggest aquarium while scuba diving the 20 sites near the island. The clear waters allow great visibility most of the year, meaning you won't miss out on seeing the giant manta rays or the turtles as they cruise past.
Stay at an eco resort
The Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort provides guests with a genuine eco-tourism experience. In keeping with the natural, eco-friendly lifestyle there are no telephones, television or radios, which allows you to relax and get back to nature.
See the reef come alive at night
It's one thing to see the reef during the day, but at night you can take glass-bottomed boat tours that offer a whole new perspective on what's happening underwater. The boat is fitted with UV lights to see marine life and the coral polyps awaken.
