Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort

Coral Sea, Queensland, Australia
££
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The place to come for stunning coral reefs and abundant marine life including giant manta rays and loggerhead turtles

Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort is a dream destination for nature lovers, eco-conscious travellers and anyone looking for a slice of paradise on the Great Barrier Reef. This coral cay island, located at the southern tip of the reef, is a sanctuary for over 1,200 species of marine life, including turtles, manta rays, reef sharks and colourful fish. The island is part of a highly protected green zone, which means that fishing and collecting are prohibited, and the reef is in pristine condition. The island is home to a diverse array of wildlife, including over 100 species of birds, such as terns, noddies, boobies and frigatebirds, and a large population of green and loggerhead turtles, which nest on the island from November to March. The island is also famous for its manta rays, which can be seen year-round, and its whale watching season, which runs from June to October. At Lady Elliot Island, you can snorkel or dive straight from the beach or join a glass bottom boat or kayak tour to see the reef from a different perspective. If you prefer to stay on land, you can explore the island on foot with a guided island walk, a bird watching tour, a lighthouse tour or a night tour, and discover the island’s history, flora and fauna.

  • Setting:
    • Beach or coast
  • Type of Property:
    • Tented camp
    • Cabin
  • Suitable For:
    • Family
  • Good For:
    • Nature
  • Activities:
    • Watersports
    • Diving
Highlights
  • Snorkelling or diving with manta rays, turtles and reef sharks in the clear water and colourful coral reef.
  • Joining a guided island walk and learning about the island’s history, flora and fauna, and spotting birds, lizards and crabs along the way.
  • Watching the sunrise or sunset from the beach, and enjoying the peace and tranquillity of the island.
Images
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Reef Unit Internal 770x529
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2017 05 05 Lagoon Turtle Sunset 2 Jeremy Sommerville 770x513
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Rooms
Accommodation is simple but comfortable, ranging from two-bedroom beachfront units to eco cabins and glamping
Food and Drink
Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort offered dining options focused on sustainability and fresh, locally sourced
Things to Do
- Snorkel and dive with turtles, manta rays, sharks and colourful fish in the clear water. You can join a guided snorkel tour, a snorkel safari or a dive course,
  • Room Capacity:
    • Up to 2
    • Up to 4
    • Up to 8
  • Activities:
    • Watersports
    • Diving
  • Facilities:
    • Gym
    • Spa
    • Pool
    • Private pool
    • Kids club
    • Restaurant
    • Bar
    • Wifi
    • Playground
    • Babysitting
Wider Region
- Visit the Southern Great Barrier Reef, which is one of the world's natural wonders, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and home to over 1,200 species of marine life, including
Sustainability
Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort is a world-leading, award-winning ecologically sustainable tourism operator dedicated to protecting and enhancing Lady Elliot Island, the Great Barrier Reef and surrounding communities. The resort is committed to sustainability and environmental protection, and has achieved the highest level of eco-certification in Australia. The resort runs on solar power, uses biodegradable cleaning products, recycles water and waste, and bans single-use plastics. The resort also supports various research and conservation projects, such as monitoring and tagging manta rays, turtles and seabirds, and planting coral to restore the reef. The resort also educates guests and staff about the reef and its challenges, and encourages them to take action to reduce their impact and contribute to its preservation.
Climate and Conservation

  • Reduces all energy use
  • Reduces all waste including food and water
  • Reduces consumption
  • Solar powered or renewable energy
  • Solid recycling
  • Water recycling
  • Low impact transport
  • Low impact activities
  • Zero plastic
  • Ecosystem preservation
  • Reforestation or restoration

Community and Culture

  • Employs local people
  • Ethical and inclusive labour
  • Employee wellbeing and development
  • Funds projects
  • Education
  • Community conservation

Commercial

  • Certification

Links to the Sustainable Development Goals

Find Out More
Peter Gash owns Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort and has held the lease from the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority to operate the resort since 2005 and has provided air charter services since 1995. Peter first visited the island in 1980 with his wife Julie and fell in love with the place. He saw the potential of the island as a nature-based destination that could operate with minimal impact on the environment. Since then, he has worked tirelessly with his family and team to transform the island from a forgotten former guano mine into a sustainable and thriving eco resort. He has implemented various sustainability initiatives and has won several awards and certifications for his eco-tourism business, such as the Order of Australia Medal, the Banksia Award, the Advanced Ecotourism Certification, the Climate Action Leader Certification, and the Green Travel Leader status. Peter is passionate about conservation and education, and loves to share his knowledge and experience with the visitors. He enjoys snorkelling and diving with the reef’s marine life, such as turtles, manta rays, sharks and fish. He also likes to watch the sunrise and sunset over the ocean, and the spectacular night sky as he lies on the airstrip and gazes at the stars.
Find Out More
Book for Stay
Location
Need to Know

The only way to get to the resort is by scenic flight from Bundaberg, Hervey Bay, Brisbane or Gold Coast. The flight takes between 25 and 80 minutes, depending on the departure point, and offers spectacular views of the reef and the island. The flights are operated by the resort’s own airline, and the fares are included in the package rates. The flights depart daily, and the schedule varies according to the season and the tide. The flights land on the island’s airstrip, which is a short walk from the resort. Flights to Lady Elliot Island are carbon neutral. The island offsets all their flights and guests are given the opportunity to pay a voluntary fee of $2 per flight, which contributes to the carbon offsetting company and helps the resort offset about $5,000 each month.

  • Gym
  • Spa
  • Pool
  • Private pool
  • Kids club
  • Restaurant
  • Bar
  • Wifi
  • Playground
  • Babysitting

The resort welcomes kids of all ages, and offers family rooms and baby cots.
Kids can:
– Snorkel and dive with turtles, manta rays, sharks and colourful fish in the clear water.
– Join the Reef Rangers program and learn about conservation and marine life in fun and educational activities.
– Play in the shaded playground with slides and climbing equipment.
– Explore the island and its history, wildlife and plants on guided tours.
– Watch the amazing sunrise and sunset over the ocean.

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