Bundaberg is the gateway to the Southern Great Barrier Reef and home to the first two islands of the reef, Lady Elliot Island and Lady Musgrave Island. You can explore these islands by boat or plane on a day trip, overnight stay or week-long escape on your perfect next holiday to the Bundaberg region.
Discover how you can explore these magical coral cays here:
Snorkelling
One of the best ways to explore Lady Elliot and Lady Musgrave Island is by grabbing a snorkel and some flippers and diving in! You can spend hours snorkelling among vibrant fish, spotting different coral formations and getting up-close-and-personal with the friendly local turtles.
Snorkelling equipment hire is FREE with Lady Musgrave Experience and Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort.
Scuba Diving
Are you an experienced diver eager to don your suit and explore the depth of the deep blue? Or are you a first-timer wanting a little more time below the water? Lady Musgrave Experience and Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort both offer scuba diving training and packages giving you the opportunity to explore below the surface.
Island Tours
If you can drag yourself out of the water, the island themselves are a marvel of wildlife and natural flora. Take a guided island tour learning about this magnificent eco system and the ways in which we can help preserve it. Marine biologist lagoon tours are also available at Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort, just check with the team at the island for today’s times.
Glass Bottom Boat Experience
For those who aren’t the most confident swimmers, a glass bottom boat tour is a great way to experience the magic of the reef. Peek through the bottom to discover the world below, spot cruising turtles, colourful fish and see how many of the ‘great 8’ you can find!
Spot The Great 8
With the Great Barrier Reef stretches over 2,300 kilometres in length and takes in over 340,000 square kilometres of incredible marine eco-systems, adventurers can see how important it is to plan their reef visit! Like Africa has their top 10, we have our Great 8! Getting up close and personal with the Great 8 is the best way to take in the majesty of the Southern Great Barrier Reef. The Great 8 include: clownfish, giant clams, manta ray, maori wrasse, potato cod, sharks, turtles and whales.
Whale Watching
Every year from July to November, the waters off Bundaberg comes alive with majestic southern humpback whales migrating from Antarctica up the southern coastline of Australia. During the season Lady Musgrave Experience offers whale watching tours departing off the coast of Bundaberg. During the season some divers even report seeing whales in the distance and hearing their songs underwater at Lady Musgrave and Lady Elliot Island.
Sleep the Reef
From swiming alongside curious turtles and majestic manta rays to being captivated by mesmerising coral formations and spending a day soaking up the good life, choose to extend your stay and get a true taste of the Southern Great Barrier Reef with a few days or week-long stay. Whether sleeping under the stars aboard Lady Musgrave HQ in a Queen Glamping Tent waking 360 degree views of pure blue, or an island escape with Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort where you can roll out of your eco-accommodation and wake to views of this thriving island abode, both experiences offer a unique sleep-on-the-reef experience that will leave you breathless.