| Page Views: 1,582 Last Visit to Lady Elliott Island: October, 2002 | A must for the lover! by JustinJansen - last update: Aug 13, 2004 |
| Lady Elliot Island from the Sky! |
I spent a day on this island in October 2002. We departed by plane from Bundaberg (small 8 seater ore so) and landed an half hour later (while sighting a large Manta Ray from the plane) on the island.
In the centre of the Island is a large airstrip, and few building. But mainly it is still largely forestred and many sea-bird use this as nest site! For me as birdlover it was like heaven!
We also had a glassbottom tour, and saw very well the reef and his inhabits.
After a rough 8 hours we flew back, and smilled all over! This southerly island in the Great barrier Reef, is a must to get to..... |
Some facts Lady Elliot Island, a coral cay (42 hectares), is the first island on the southern tip of the Great Barrier Reef, approximately 80kms north-east of Bundaberg off the Queensland coast. It’s one of the top dive and snorkelling sites in the world where you can step off the beach and snorkel, swim or scuba dive in the world's richest marine eco-system, I didn’t do it here but I heard the story’s from many people over there. It's a true birdwatchers paradise as birds nest all over the island, also the spot is known for his Green and Loggerhead Turtle's and a good healthy population of Manta Rays.
From 1863 to 1969 the island was largely destroyed due vegetation destruction, harvesting sea-birds and introducing animals on the island. Since then all the goats where killed and revegetation programma's started. Now on small scale tourist are allowed on the island.
You can enjoy the reef experience with that includes snorkelling, scuba diving, reef walking and swimming.
Other activities include: bird watching - black-napped terns, crested terns, roseate terns, red-tailed Tropicbird, brown boobies, black & brown noddies, buff-banded rails, Eastern reef egrets and oyster-catchers. Whale watching is between June to October as they migrate north. Turtles use the island to nest during November to February. See the amazing coral spawning during November and December.
I really enjoyed my visit at end October 2002 here! And I can advise anyone to take a flight with Oz horizons from Bundaberg and Hervey Bay to here (luggage limit 10 kilos per person) and there are air links from Brisbane and other major cities to both towns, plus a fast Tilt Train link between Brisbane and Bundaberg. Hervey Bay is just over three hours drive north of Brisbane via the Bruce Highway and security vehicle storage is available there from around A$5 per day.! It cost about Aus Dollar $ 225 to get one day up and down!
You have to imagine that it is a small island with a airstrip cut the island in two, and there is scrub on both sides of the island, in this scrub there are some walking paths and here you can find all these tame and good behaving birds. Its not a cheap visit but it is unforgettable in the breeding season. Whales can also be seen passing by from June to October.
Green and loggerhead turtles come ashore between November and March and lay their eggs and after the incubation period - normally eight weeks - gives you the unique opportunity to see the turtles hatching scurrying to the ocean. |
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JustinJansen's Lady Elliott Island Travel Tips
 Comments for JustinJansen about Lady Elliott Island | | | | |
craic Mon May 19, 2008 11:13 UTC
what an enchanting place (btw we are neighbours on the rankings chart this week) | orlikins Wed Jul 26, 2006 15:47 UTC
what an amazing experience! | angela80 Mon Aug 16, 2004 05:38 UTC
Hey zie net dat je op Lady Elliott bent geweest!! Gaaf! Ben je ook op Musgrave geweest? Ga dit misschien ooit nog doen maar niet deze trip! x mij |
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