Lady Elliot Island Manta Ray Walk
Fly to Lady Elliot Island at the southern tip of the Great Barrier Reef — a coral cay famous for resident manta rays, nesting sea turtles, and the closest reef to southern Queensland.
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Bundaberg or Hervey Bay Departure
Lady Elliot Island is reached by light aircraft from Bundaberg or Hervey Bay — the 30-minute flight provides an aerial introduction to the southern Great Barrier Reef before landing on the coral cay airstrip.
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Lady Elliot Island Arrival
Lady Elliot Island is the southern-most coral cay in the Great Barrier Reef — the island is surrounded by a rich fringing reef and is particularly famous for its manta ray and turtle populations.
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Manta Ray Snorkel Site
Manta rays are resident at Lady Elliot Island year-round — the cleaning stations on the reef edge where mantas hover to have parasites removed by smaller fish provide reliable viewing opportunities.
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Sea Turtle Nesting Beach
Green and loggerhead turtles nest on Lady Elliot Island's beaches from November to March — turtle research programs have operated here for decades and visitors can join guided night walks to observe nesting.
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Island Marine Reserve Dive
The Lady Elliot Island marine national park has some of the most pristine diving in the southern reef — the coral is in excellent condition and the fish biomass is exceptional compared to more heavily visited sections.
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Southern Reef View Point
From Lady Elliot Island, the Great Barrier Reef extends 2,000 kilometres to the north — a map in the resort shows the full scale of the reef system, which is the world's largest living structure visible from space.