Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort

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Coral Sea, Queensland, Australia
The place to come for coral reefs and marine life including giant manta rays and loggerhead turtles
WildlifeWildlife
DivingDiving
WatersportsWatersports
CoastalCoastal
Family FriendlyFamily Friendly

Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort is a remote, low-key escape at the southern tip of the Great Barrier Reef, perfect for travellers seeking nature at its most unspoiled. Surrounded by a protected marine sanctuary, the island is home to over 1,200 marine species, including manta rays, turtles, reef sharks and tropical fish.

Green and loggerhead turtles nest here from November to March, while humpback whales pass by from June to October. Manta rays—one of the island’s stars—can be spotted year-round. Snorkelling and diving are exceptional, with easy access straight from the shore, or by glass-bottom boat and kayak.

On land, guided walks, birdwatching and night tours reveal the island’s rich biodiversity, including over 100 bird species. Accommodation is simple and eco-focused, with solar power, fresh rainwater and minimal impact on the fragile environment, allowing you to stay on the reef, not just visit it.

  • Setting: Beach or coast
  • Price range: ££
  • Type of property: Tented camp, Cabin
  • Room capacity: Up to 2, Up to 4, Up to 8
  • Facilities: Gym, Spa, Pool, Private pool, Kids club, Restaurant, Bar, Wifi, Playground, Babysitting
  • Activities: Watersports, Diving
  • Good for: Nature

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.
Rooms

Accommodation is simple but comfortable, ranging from two-bedroom beachfront units to eco cabins and glamping tents. All have private bathrooms, fridges, kettles and ceiling fans, and some have balconies with ocean views. The beachfront units are ideal for families or groups, while the eco cabins and glamping tents are perfect for couples or solo travellers. There are no TVs or phones in the rooms, so you can disconnect from the outside world and immerse yourself in nature.
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Food and drink

Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort offered dining options focused on sustainability and fresh, locally sourced ingredients.

Experiences and activities

– 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, or simply snorkel from the beach at your own pace.
– Tour the reef in a glass-bottomed boat and marvel at the coral formations and marine life below. You can also join a reef walking tour and learn about the reef ecology and conservation.
– Learn more about the island’s history, wildlife and plants on a guided island tour or a behind the scenes tour. You can also visit the Reef Education Centre and watch informative presentations on various topics such as turtles, sharks, manta rays and whales or go on a climate change trail which highlights the effects of global heating on the island.
– Watch the amazing sunrise and sunset over the ocean, or enjoy the spectacular night sky as you lie on the airstrip and gaze at the stars. You can also join a night tour and look for nocturnal animals such as ghost crabs, land hermit crabs, frogs and nesting or roosting sea birds.

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 turtles, manta rays, sharks, whales, dolphins and coral reefs.
– Before you head over to Lady Elliot Island, explore Bundaberg, a city on the Burnett River and the gateway to the Southern Great Barrier Reef, famous for its rum, sugar cane, turtles and aviation history or Hervey Bay, known for its whale watching, fishing, beaches and access to Fraser Island.

Sustainability

Climate and conservation
Climate and conservation

  • Solar powered or renewable energy
  • Solid recycling
  • Water recycling
  • Low impact transport
  • Low impact activities
  • Local or organic food

Culture and community
Community and culture

  • Employs local people
  • Employee wellbeing and development
  • Education
  • Promotes local businesses

Commercial
Commercial

  • Reinvests back into the community and or environment

SDG goals wheel
Sustainable Development Goals

  • Affordable and clean energy (SDG 7)
  • Decent work and economic growth (SDG 8)
  • Life below water (SDG 14)

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. Lady Elliot Island Eco 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. TLady Elliot Island Eco 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.

Need to know

Getting there
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.
Check in and out
Check in 1pm and check out 10am.
Best time to visit
Lady Elliot Island is a year-round destination, but the best time depends on your interests: May to October offers superior water visibility, whale sightings, and manta rays, while November to March is ideal for turtle nesting and hatching.
Families
The resort welcomes kids of all ages, and offers family rooms and baby cots.

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  • At Ethical Escapes, we believe travel should enrich both people and the planet. Every journey we share is chosen with care, focusing on conservation, community, climate and culture.

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    Best time to visit
    Lady Elliot Island is a year-round destination, but the best time depends on your interests: May to October offers superior water visibility, whale sightings, and manta rays, while November to March is ideal for turtle nesting and hatching.

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