Lady Musgrave Island

Untouched and rich with nature, Lady Musgrave Island is one of the southernmost coral cays of the Southern Great Barrier Reef, home to more than 3000 acres of thriving marine life and a pristine coral-filled lagoon just waiting to be explored. No matter if you’re a casual snorkeller looking to swim alongside curious turtles, or an adventure seeker wanting to explore the most remote areas of the reef, Lady Musgrave is the perfect starting point, and you can discover this slice of paradise with either a day trip or overnight stay. Now, if this sounds like your kind of holiday, here are a few tips on how to make the most out of your stay.

For the Overnighters

For the Day-trippers

Located just 50km off Bundaberg’s coastline, Lady Musgrave Island is one of the easiest ways to experience the Southern Great Barrier Reef. Your adventure begins aboard the luxury catamaran Reef Empress, departing from Bundaberg Port Marina before cruising across the sparkling waters to the island’s protected lagoon.

So, the only question is, what are you waiting for!

Lady Elliot Island

Famed as being home of the manta ray, Lady Elliot Island is a coral cay located at the Southern tip of the Great Barrier Reef. There are over 1200 species of marine life that call the waters of Lady Elliot home and its famous for manta rays, turtles and unspoilt coral. Just a quick 30 minute flight from Bundaberg, Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort is the perfect escape to paradise if you want to stay for a day or play for a while, with a variety of great accommodation options to suit all families. Glamping tents, eco cabins and units are on offer for a minimum of two nights (three in peak seasons) and trust us – it won’t feel long enough!

A true sleep on the reef experience with the lagoon literally meters away from most accommodation options, it feels surreal waking up and walking into the underwater paradise that awaits you. Starfish, sea cucumbers, turtles, rays, reef sharks and much more can be spotted as part of your underwater adventures.

For the Overnighters

For the Day-trippers

Want to wake up in your own bed, tick a must do off your bucket list and then cosy up under your own sheets? Then the Lady Elliot Island day trip might just be for you, including return flights from Bundaberg Airport, island orientation tour, glass bottom boat tour, snorkel equipment hire, hot and cold buffet lunch, island shoes/sunscreen and use of day guest facilities – what more could you ask for?! There are 2 snorkelling trails, 20 dive sites and 2 dives per day to explore. Take it easy and explore the island at your leisure – whether on land or in the water. There are many island tours you can participate in – fish feeding, behind the scenes, bird watching, historical tour or water adventures to be had like advanced snorkel safari, reef walking and many more.

Kids are catered for here – with the lagoon side available at high tide not too deep and very accessible via walking off the beach. A noodle under the arms and snorkel makes it easy to discover a whole new world, under the surface, with abundant fish life, turtles, rays and even the odd reef shark! The ocean-side is for more advanced swimmers, but a line of buoys leads from one section of the beach creating an entry and exit of sorts and deep caverns and deeper water lends itself to a wide variety of marine life like manta rays, groupers, dolphins, and turtles in abundance. It is truly a life changing experience swimming with turtles – they are the ancient mariners of our seas and watching them navigate these waters is something special to behold.

Reef Within Reach

If you haven’t got time to squeeze in a trip to the Southern Great Barrier Reef but you still want a reef experience, then we’ve got you covered. Here in the Bundaberg region we are very fortunate to have abundant choice when it comes to immersing ourselves amongst the colourful and diverse marine environment in our natural area. Go rock hopping with the kids and discover crabs, soft corals, fish, sea cucumbers or snorkel off Barolin Rocks or simply feed the fish at the basin (perfect for families with little ones still learning to paddle and swim).

Barolin Rocks, Barolin Esplanade, Woongarra Marine Park, Bargara

Pack your snacks, water, sunscreen, snorkel and fins and adventure over the rocks (which look a bit hard to navigate to begin with but are actually OK) to the waters edge. Fringing corals, fish and other creatures such as turtles, dugongs, nudibranch, sea snakes and more have been sighted here and it makes for a nice meander along a coral fringe. Best enjoyed on a very calm day for perfect visibility.

Feed the fish at The Basin

The Basin is a safe and secure swimming area located at the Northern end of Kelly’s Beach by Christensen Park in Bargara. It’s a family friendly sheltered swimming area that is best enjoyed at high tide where you can find many varieties of fish seeking out their next bready snack! Hermit crabs and other life live in there too – the odd spotted ray has been sighted from time to time shovelling into the sand a bit further out toward sea. Take goggles or snorkel and a bit of bread to attract the fish. There are lots of cafes and eating options close by or you can pack a BBQ and use one of the areas provided.

Rockpool rambling – Elliott Heads, Oaks Beach, Mon Repos

Head to any of these beach locations at medium to low tide for some truly awesome rock pool hopping and wildlife spotting. The warmth of the black rocks under your feet makes you feel like you’re at a hot rock day spa, while exploring, turning and investigating our local beaches and the truly diverse and interesting wildlife that calls these rocks home. Rock pools are a microcosm of the fascinating world on the deeper rocky seabed. Often spotted along our shores are speckled sand crabs, swimmer crabs, soldier crabs, sea cucumbers, hermit crabs, green anemones, soft and hard corals, sea snails, worms and much more. While rock hopping you might enjoy a dip in one of the many patrolled beaches and enjoy the abundant bird life that dots the skies try to spot the rainbow honeyeater at Mon Repos and Ospreys and sand pipers at Elliott Heads.

Southern Great Barrier Reef Questions

How do I get to the Southern Great Barrier Reef from Bundaberg? Visitors can access the Southern Great Barrier Reef from Bundaberg via a scenic flight to Lady Elliot Island or by boat with Lady Musgrave Experience to Lady Musgrave Island.

Which reef destination is closer to Bundaberg? Lady Elliot Island is approximately a 30-minute scenic flight from Bundaberg, while Lady Musgrave Island can be reached by boat in around two hours from Bundaberg Port Marina.

What wildlife can I see on the Southern Great Barrier Reef? Depending on the season, visitors may encounter turtles, manta rays, reef sharks, colourful reef fish, dolphins, seabirds and migrating humpback whales.

Can I stay overnight on the Great Barrier Reef? Yes. Visitors can stay aboard Lady Musgrave HQ within the lagoon at Lady Musgrave Island or book accommodation at Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort.

When is the best time to visit the Southern Great Barrier Reef? The reef can be enjoyed year-round, with turtle encounters, manta rays, snorkelling, diving and seasonal whale watching experiences available throughout the year.

Can you visit the reef if you don’t want to snorkel? Absolutely. Glass-bottom boat tours, guided island walks, wildlife spotting and scenic flights allow visitors to experience the reef without entering the water.

Where else can I snorkel near Bundaberg? Popular snorkelling spots include Barolin Rocks, The Basin at Bargara and parts of the Woongarra Marine Park, where you may encounter reef fish, corals, turtles and other marine life.