Lady Elliot Island Day Tour Review.

Northwest off the shores of Bundaberg, a tiny island sits all by its lonesome some 46 nautical miles from the coastline. Capping off the southernmost point of the Great Barrier Reef, Lady Elliot Island sits distantly off the Australian coastline between Bundaberg and Gladstone. Thanks to its shallow lagoon, the tiny island is a spectacular destination for experiencing this iconic underwater ecosystem.

1. Ways To Experience Lady Elliot Island.

If you don’t have a boat to head out to Lady Elliot Island on your own, there remains only one way to get to the beautiful island for the vast majority of visitors: by plane.

Unlike its neighbourino, Lady Musgrave Island, a pristine wilderness island under QWPS, Lady Elliot Island comes under private ownership, meaning they have exclusive access rights. They’ve made it, so the only way you can get there without a vessel of your own is by a spectacular scenic flight in a small aircraft. Departure points are Bundaberg, Hervey Bay, Brisbane & Agnes Waters/ 1770.

As for experiencing the island itself, there’s a day trip available, but you can also extend your stay by sleeping on the island’s lovely eco-resort.

2. Reasons I Chose The Lady Elliot Island Day Trip.

With COVID-19 well into its second year of wreaking havoc on the human population, Queensland Tourism introduced Holiday Dollars to stimulate the tourism industry in the state while the domestic and international borders were closed off. As part of the scheme, they had $100 off participating tours and the Lady Elliot Island Day Trip was one of them. They also had a special already ongoing for that particular trip, so it meant that it was even more affordable.

The day trip was also more appealing to me not just because of the sale and the tourism dollars but because staying on the island would be considerably more expensive. And when it comes to these kinds of experiences, I prefer them to be less organised and wilder, which is why I choose a week-long camping trip to Lady Musgrave Island and to visit Lady Elliot Island for only a day.

3. Experience.

Outgoing Journey.

Check-In.

The Lady Elliot Island Day Tour started with the beautiful Bundaberg Regional Airport. The QANTAS building where the passengers needed to meet 15 mins before the 8.00 am flight was empty. Uh, this is the correct place? Right?

The two ladies who came in not long after also seemed a little confused as there were no signs about flights to Lady Elliot Island, even on the Departures/Arrivals TV. They went inside the departure lounge then came out shortly after with a worker, so I assumed they asked him what was happening before I decided to and sat back down in the original check-in building.

Not long after, more and more parties arrived before the check-in guys came out. The process was super quick and easy, although a little behind schedule if I recall correctly, but not alarmingly so. They didn’t weigh or security check our stuff either. It was straight through to the departure lounge after showing confirmation documents and checking into the Airport and Lady Elliot Island on the Queensland COVID Check-In App, then shazam, “Go right on through.” I love a painless process.

There wasn’t much of a wait between relaxing in the departure lounge and when the pilot came into the room to announce it was time to leave, which is great except if you’re contemplating whether you need to pee or not. The answer is don’t contemplate. Go pee. Do your wee. Otherwise, you’ll see there’s no pee station on the plane, and you don’t want to be holding everyone up with a last-second dash to the loo.

Flight.

After a quick safety briefing, it was time to take to the skies for the approximately 30-minute flight across to Lady Elliot Island. The clouds earlier in the morning looked pretty glum and like an impending storm was going to roll through. I thought the trip might get cancelled if the shit decided to hit the fan, but it wasn’t. Anyway, into the small 12-seater.

While there was still some threatening, heavy rainfall looking clouds hanging around, the pilot told us we’d fly around it, but there might be a bit of turbulence. Boy, he wasn’t wrong.

Views From Up Above.

The take-off was lovely, and the aerial view of the landscape was magnificent, but it wasn’t long before the atmospheric conditions meant the plane was rattling around like a toy in a cereal box shaken by a little kid. It was fun for the most part. I love turbulence, but there were a couple of times where the plane was shaking roughly for a bit too long that it was marginally concerning. 

Helping to calm my reservations about whether the plane could handle this amount of shuddering was that we weren’t plummeting to the earth. Or stalling or nose-diving. I mean, I enjoy all those things, but you know, when it’s done artfully with no ill intentions or fear of death impending. 

Eventually, the pilot skillfully navigated the fringes of the threatening cloud system, and the beautiful dark puffs of clouds thinned until we reached nothing but blue sky and a stable atmosphere. While it was less adventurous and less scenic, it was still lovely to view the oceanic expanse from the sky. 

Approach.

Coming into Lady Elliot Island, though, was breathtaking. As the only visible landscape in a vast, open seascape, it was relieving knowing if we were to plunge from the sky to a potential watery grave, help wouldn’t be far away. Wait, do they have the capacity to do that? Anyway! Jokes aside, seeing the island for the first time by plane was stunning.

Not only were the aerial views of the only landmass in the visible ocean beautiful, but the circular lagoon surrounding its shores made it even more so with the incredible azure colours associated with shallow reefs framing the gorgeous island.

As we circumnavigated Lady Elliot Island for the final approach, the eco-resort, the runway, and the lighthouse became increasingly visible as we descended, allowing for prolonged views of the stunning coral cay.

Finally touching the ground, the landing was rough! The airstrip, which runs the length of the island through the middle, was unpaved, with short grass and bald spots making up the landing strip. And with the bouncy ride down the runway completing the scenic but unintentionally adventurous flight, it was time to explore this isolated offshore paradise. 

Lady Elliot Island.

Orientation.

Before we could get on with the exciting stuff on the Lady Elliot Island Day Tour, all passengers first had an orientation to get our bearings straight so we’d somewhat know what we were doing and what was happening and how to not get hit by incoming planes.

The young, blonde lady from New Zealand who we had was fantastic. She was clear and informative but also super fun, light-hearted and welcoming. Her energy was joyous, and I could tell her appreciation of her enviable position on this beautiful island. She was also kind, laid back and felt very approachable if you needed to ask her something. AKA, she was perfect for the job. 

We also got introductory mocktails, keys for our lockers, a towel, reef shoes, a flexible itinerary and a voucher for lunch, all of which is inclusive. 

Activities.

After completing the formalities, the orientation guide let us go on our way to do whatever we pleased. The itinerary they set for the activities throughout the day was optional, depending on what you wanted to do. You could do a tour with them at an allotted time, or you could go your own way.

Glass Bottom Boat & Snorkelling Tour. 

Glass Bottom Boat.

The first activity I joined was the Glass Bottom Boat and Snorkelling Tour. After getting some snorkelling equipment at the shack and asking us some questions about how experienced and comfortable we felt wild swimming and snorkelling, it was off to the other side of the island in an oversized custom built trailer. It was a short trip where we crossed over the runway and to the lighthouse side of the island where the glass bottom boat was waiting. 

Snorkelling.

After a pleasant, laid-back session of observing what lurked beneath the surface of the water from the safety of the boat, it was time to float facedown with the fishies. There was a quick briefing about where we could snorkel and how to use the anchored rope before they let us loose in the ocean. 

While some of the new-to-snorkelling folks received help from noodles or the friendly tour guides, the rest of us moved to the outer side of the boat, where a grate allowed us to sit with our legs dangling in the water as we put the snorkel gear on. 

Was the water cold? Yes. Look, I’m a little fragile when it comes to cold water, okay? Can I crunch on ice all day and eat icy blocks all winter long. Yes. Hell Yes. But subjecting my body to frigid, external temperatures, that’s a whole other ball game. But on this grate, you were either in the water or out of it, and I didn’t want to waste too much snorkelling time adjusting, so after a brief chat with some friendly, young women, I slid into the icy abyss. Hey, it wasn’t that bad after all. 

Exploring the world underneath felt so foreign, as does the sensation of having one’s head underwater for an extended time with clear vision and breathability. The inability to vocalise thoughts and interact with others while face down in the water allowed the experience to be even more captivating and otherworldly. 

From breathtaking ultra-complex coral systems to the abundance of fish, the landscape beneath the sea was astounding in every direction. With the multitude of marine species seen, from tiny, colourful fish and larger ones less so populating the waters like an aquarium, snorkelling the waters off Lady Elliot Island elegantly magical. 

But for the duration of the face-down-in-the-water adventure, something was missing. We were in turtle town, but I’d yet to see a turtle whilst snorkelling. Hey turtle, come out, come wherever you are. C’mon, man.

Then boom! A Hawkesbury turtle gracefully appeared, and despair turned to joy. 

Fixated on the majestic marine creature I hoped to see, I followed it like a predator without the intent to kill. As I did, an actual predator appeared. One that does like to kill. A freaking shark! Luckily, it was a reef shark, a human-friendly sharp tooth, so there was no need to worry about there being a reenactment of a JAWS scene. Switching my attention from the turtle to the shark, I tried following it too, but that bugger moved way too fast for my ill-equipped-for-water body to keep up.

Moments later, the bell signalling us to head in rang. As we all clambered back aboard the glass bottom boat and signed our names off so we were accounted for, people chatted amongst themselves, delighted at the beautiful things they saw.

Buffet Lunch.

Back at the island (the same gentleman who helped me onboard helped me transition back to land), it was time to dine. After a quick dash back to the lockers to get the lunch voucher, I exchanged it for a plate and was let loose on the buffet. There weren’t as many options as I was expecting but at the same time, there was still plenty to choose from, including a handful of vegan options, which was delightful.  

During all this, those friendly ladies who talked to me on the grate on the Glass Bottom Boat kindly invited me to eat with them. It was fantastic chatting with them until I realised that the Reef Walk I put my name down for was starting soon. Crap, I hadn’t time to finish. It didn’t help that the Glass Boat and Snorkelling Tour arrived back late. Man, I was hungry. Damn it!

Reef Walk.

Heading out to the itinerary board where all tours were to meet, no one was there. Asking the cool, blonde New Zealand lady who did the orientation if this was the right place, she said it was but seemed a bit confused as to what was supposed to be happening too. But as more people gathered for the Reef Walk, she took it upon herself to lead the tour.

Taking some supplied supporting sticks with us so we wouldn’t topple over the uneven surface of the ocean onto the coral, we explored the shallows of the lagoon while the guide revealed the secrets of the reef.

Just like with the orientation, this lady was fantastic. Present and engaging, she had a great sense of humour and was fun, exuberant and approachable. While I admired her insuppressible passion and knowledge for the Great Barrier Reef and think she’s nothing but perfect for the job, this tour didn’t light my wick. 

It felt a little school excursion-y, and while it was interesting, it went for too long, and I had trouble focusing. It just wasn’t my thing, which is not a reflection on how it was run, which was great, but I think it’s more catered for younger, inquisitive minds just learning about the sea.

Solo Snorkelling.

After the Reef Tour, I headed back to the resort to buy some souvenirs before heading out for more snorkelling, this time by myself. I headed down to the other end of Lady Elliot to explore the reef at the end of the runway, but it was super shallow, and there were so many rocks that it didn’t seem like an easy place to access the deeper corals.

Instead, I walked back along the beach to the lighthouse area and went in there. Careful to head out when the Glass Bottom Boat had gone out, I went to the deeper channel where they pass as I’d seen other people doing earlier after unsuccessfully trying to get out away from the boat landing area. But another Glass Bottom Boat was heading in. What!? The tour guide who was taking the people out to catch that boat let me know, but she didn’t make me feel bad for doing so, and I appreciated it so. 

After they headed out and there were no more boats sneaking in, I was finally able to head out to the deeper water where the reef had dropped off, and the bigger creatures lurked. It was a bit choppy, and the clarity wasn’t great, so it wasn’t as pleasant a snorkelling experience. Because I went to the other end of the island, I didn’t have a lot of time to wild swim here, but through the somewhat murky water, I spied a groper making its way around the bottom of the ocean. 

Return Trip.

After heading back to reception to pick up my gear, return what I’d borrowed and pick up my ticket, I fell on my face. It was hilarious and ridiculous. I wished I’d caught it on camera. I wished it wasn’t where everyone returning to the mainland had gathered. Thankfully, one kindly helped my clumsy ass back up.

After saying my goodbyes to the island and the lovely people I had met on the trip, it was time to catch the small plane back to Bundaberg.

The take-off was bumpy just as the landing was, but the rest of the trip was smooth sailing, unlike the journey here. The views leaving Lady Elliot Island were gorgeous, and the sky and the ocean tides were stunning hues of vivid blue.

Coming it Bundaberg, the sky was a lot clearer, and the views of the landscape, the rivers, and the coastline were magnificent. It was the perfect way to cap off a beautiful trip exploring Bunaberg’s paradisical island and discover what makes the Great Barrier Reef so magical.

4. Review.

Lady Elliot Island is a gorgeous, paradisical coral cay that caps off the southern end of Australia’s iconic Great Barrier Reef. On it is a privately-owned resort that day-trippers can visit while exploring the world-renowned reef system, but is it worth the price tag.

Flight.

To get to Lady Elliot Island as a visitor san a personal watercraft, your only option is to catch the resorts-own 12-seater aircraft. It’s pretty tight in there, so if you’re a bit claustrophobic, that might be a point of contention, and for those who have a fear of flying, it might be a complete turn-off. But it’s only a short 30-min flight to the island, so for those who only have mild problems, it might be a manageable trip. There is, however, no loo on the tiny plane, so if your flying issues are generally relieved by a trip to the dunny, you’re out of luck. The landing is also pretty rough due to the runway being unpaved.

For folks who don’t mind taking to the air and bumpy landings, the views at the beginning and end of each flight are breathtaking. Flying in and out of Bundaberg, there were incredible visuals of the city, the country, the sugarcane fields, the snaking Burnett River and the endless rocky coastline where the landscape met the ocean. Over Lady Elliot Island, the gorgeous island and the incredible azure blue colours of the shallow lagoon surrounding it made arriving at the coral cay magnificent.

There are also different departure points from Bundaberg, Harvey Bay, 1770, Brisbane and the Gold Coast, making it more accessible for people visiting from various parts of Queensland.

Resort, Island & Reef.

While I didn’t get to spend a lot of time exploring the resort as I wasn’t staying overnight and there were plenty of things to keep me occupied elsewhere, I can’t comment on the whole place. But of what I did see, it was impeccably clean and beautifully presented, if a bit outdated. 

The island itself was also immaculately clean, but the unpaved runway right down the middle was an eyesore, both coming in to land on the island and traversing across it. 

The reef was also spotless and was enchanting and magical to explore. It was brimming with so much sea life that it delights and mesmerizes at every glance. Tiny, brightly coloured and patterned fishes, Hawkesbury turtles and a reef shark were some of the marine animals I was the most thrilled to swim alongside. 

Tours/Activities.

The Lady Musgrave Day Tour can be as laid back or as intensive as you like. You can chill and relax at the beaches or the resort, or you can do some activities on your own or join one of the included tours. Or you can mix it up. It’s up to you. It’s super flexible depending on what you like to do on the island and how you’d like to discover it. In terms of the inclusive activities, you can choose to do a Glass Bottom Boat & Snorkel Tour, Guided Reef Walk, an Island Discovery Tour and or Fish Feeding.

I did the combined Glass Bottom Boat & Snorkelling Tour and the Guided Reef Walk. The Glass Bottom Boat was relaxing but not the most engaging experience, whereas the snorkelling portion of the tour was outstanding. The Reef Walk, on the other hand, was led by a great guide, but it failed to keep my attention. Those kinds of slower, informative tours are not generally for me, so I think I got sidetracked by the “you need to put your name down” nature of the activity and saw it as something I shouldn’t miss out on. So I went for it but became uninterested quickly and regretted it. That’s not to say you won’t enjoy it, but as it wasn’t my type of thing, it was a low-light of the whole trip.

The other thing with the tours is that they ran a bit late. The Glass Bottom Boat and Snorkelling adventure ran overtime, then the Reef Walk started not that long later, which meant I didn’t have much time to enjoy lunch and chatting with the lovely ladies who invited me to sit with them. So that was unfortunate.

There was also no one there to take on the Reef Walk, as when I asked about it, the blonde lady seemed a bit confused as to why someone wasn’t there yet, while everyone was gathering, so she took it upon herself.

So while the organisation starting and finishing were a bit slack, the tours themselves were conducted professionally, and the staff who ran them did a great job making everyone feel safe and welcome.

Staff.

The staff on Lady Elliot Island were fantastic. Courteous, informative and friendly. The most outstanding person I interacted with was the young, blonde New Zealand woman. Not only was she all of the above, but she was so approachable, joyful and had such a fun-loving presence that was infectious. You couldn’t help but smile and enjoy the experience that much more when she was leading the rat pack. It was clear she was passionate about her job and relished every moment. She was a joy to be around and perfect for the gig. All in all, I felt well looked after.

Value For Money.

Although a day trip to Lady Elliot Island is expensive, you also get a lot of value for your money. From snorkelling with beautiful, colourful fish and majestic marine giants such as sea turtles and reef sharks to the return scenic flights with magnificent aerial views of the Bundaberg coastline and Lady Elliot Island, a day trip to this spectacular private island is a magical way to experience the incredible Great Barrier Reef. And with so many other things also included in the price, such fun and friendly staff, and so many magical experiences to have, a day trip to Lady Elliot Island more than pays for itself. 

Overall.

Just because Lady Elliot Island is the southernmost landmass in the Great Barrier Reef doesn’t mean it doesn’t have the goods. The world beneath the surface is enchanting and enthralling. You can observe many species of aquatic animals in such a short period. And with the beautiful resort available for you to use all day, numerous inclusions and accommodating staff, and a spectacular scenic flight to boot, Lady Elliot Island is an incredible destination island worth visiting.