Lady Elliot Island: The Island Stay To Swim With Manta Rays

Get up close and personal with extraordinary marine life in a paradise like no other.

Lady Elliot Island is one of the Great Barrier Reef’s best-kept secrets. A coral cay tucked away at its southern tip on the Fraser Coast, the waters surrounding this tiny island are home to over 1200 marine species, including turtles, reef sharks and seasonal humpback whales.

Nicknamed the ‘Home of the Manta Ray,’ researchers have identified over 700 individual manta rays in the nearby waters, making Lady Elliot Island one of the rare places where you can swim with these gentle giants.

Manta Ray in Lady Elliot Island — Get up close to manta rays when you visit Lady Elliot Island.

Location

Located 80 kilometres northeast off the coast of Bundaberg, this tiny 40-hectare island, composed of crushed coral and encircled by a reef, means access by boat is not possible. The only way to reach this secluded paradise is via a small aircraft that lands on an airstrip stretching the island’s length. But arriving is half the fun!

The flight is more than just a transfer; it’s a scenic experience. The plane circles the island twice, banking on both sides to offer passengers an aerial view of the island and reef. Flights depart from Hervey Bay (a 40-minute journey), Bundaberg, Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

Lady Elliot Island Views — See panoramic views of the island and reef from both sides of the plane.

Style and character

There’s only one resort on Lady Elliot , and as the plane touches down, you’ll see many of the staff waving a warm welcome from the side of the airstrip. This sets the tone for the island’s friendly, laid-back atmosphere, whereby, at the end of your visit, you’ll know staff by their first names.

The award-winning eco resort prides itself on its commitment to sustainability and exudes a relaxed, intimate charm, enhanced by the knowledge that only a few are sharing this unique experience with you – overnight guests are limited to 150.

The resort’s true luxury is its proximity to natural beauty. Amenities are simple and eco-friendly, offering a serene escape where nature takes centre stage.

Lady Elliot Island View — The award-winning eco resort exudes a relaxed, intimate charm.

Experiences

Endless adventures await you on this island paradise. Choose from various water-based activities, starting with snorkelling trails accessed directly off the beach or snorkelling tours with a master reef guide who will spot more marine life than you could spot on your own.

Glass boat in Lady Elliot Island — Endless adventures await you on this island paradise.

You can also glide over coral gardens in a glass-bottom boat , enjoy fish feeding in a shallow lagoon, kayaking, reef walks and sunset cruises . For those eager to swim with manta rays , PADI has listed the island as one of the top 12 locations in the world, and diving enthusiasts can explore over 20 dive sites.

On land, join guided discovery tours, bird watching or seasonal turtle treks. Several self-guided walks allow you to explore at your own pace, and with the entire island walkable in just 45 minutes, it’s impossible to get lost.

Lady Elliot Island Manta Ray — Enjoy a unique experience swimming with majestic manta rays.

Facilities

Enjoy a game of table tennis, a dip in the saltwater pool or beach volleyball. Expand your knowledge at the education centre or explore the resort’s library to identify creatures from your snorkels or walks. You can also find souvenirs or postcards at the gift shop.

The resort also seamlessly integrates impressive sustainable facilities. It generates electricity through a hybrid solar power system, desalinates its water and responsibly manages all waste.

Lady Elliot Island Solar Power System — Discover the island’s sustainability.

Flights to the island are carbon neutral and, instead of a concrete runway, the airstrip is a hard coral base covered with grass. Interestingly, this runway doubles as a recreational cricket pitch when not used by aircraft! And love it or hate it, there’s no mobile reception on the island, allowing you to truly disconnect and immerse yourself in nature.

Swim with the turtles in Lady Elliot Island — Disconnect and fully immerse yourself in the stunning beauty of Lady Elliot Island.

Rooms

Despite its compact size, the resort boasts a range of accommodation options to suit bucket-list adventurers, honeymooners, families with young kids and marine enthusiasts.

Accommodation includes eco-cabins with shared bathrooms, garden units with en suites, reef units near the lagoon, luxurious glamping tents and two-bedroom beachfront units.

Lady Elliot Island Glamping Tents — Unwind in a luxurious glamping tent.

Food and drink

The relaxed Beachfront Dining Room, the island’s sole restaurant, offers a full breakfast, lunch and dinner buffet and cafe-style lunch (day trip and overnight packages include pre-purchased dining options).

The Lagoon Bar, with its expansive deck overlooking the lagoon, serves drinks and snacks all day and offers antipasto platters at sundown – the perfect accompaniment to watching an island sunset.

Lady Elliot Island Food and drink — Savour drinks and snacks at The Lagoon Bar while watching the sunset over the island.

Access for guests with disabilities

The island’s remoteness adds to its unique charm but can impact accessibility. The resort offers wheelchair-accessible rooms and public bathrooms for day guests. Boating activities are boarded directly from the beach; at high tide, a ramp can sometimes be lowered onto the sand. For visually impaired guests, the resort offers audio recordings about the island.

Guests are encouraged to contact the reservations team to discuss individual needs.

Family-friendly

The resort caters to young adventurers with a Reef Rangers program during school holidays, offering fun, conservation-focused activities. Enjoy fish feeding, guided reef and turtle walks, a pool, a small games room and babysitting services.

Reef Walk in Lady Elliot Island — Embark on a guided reef walk.

Free learn-to-snorkel sessions in the pool ensure everyone is ready for the reef, and boogie boards with a see-through Perspex box are available so kids can see marine life without submerging their heads.

The resort’s library also has a selection of marine life books for curious young minds.

Snorkelling on the reef — Join complimentary learn-to-snorkel sessions and get ready to explore the reef.

Details

Jetstar offers direct flights to Hervey Bay from Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.

Lady Elliot Island flights depart from Hervey Bay, Bundaberg, Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

Adventure and refined Luxury combine at the stunning Rangelands Outback Camp.

Iconic Australian red dirt, ancient rocky landscapes and bursts of greenery and wildflowers all make the small town of Winton, and its surrounds, a sight to behold. Escape the ordinary and unwind in the Queensland outback, where ancient landscapes and off-grid luxury await at Rangelands Outback Camp.

cosy seats in Rangelands Outback Camp — Unwind in the ancient outback.

About Rangelands Outback Camp

Unforgettable 360-degree views of this 95-million-year-old land await at Rangelands; bathed in style and positioned on top of a jump-up (or mesa), your tented camp seamlessly blends into its outback setting.

Set on the 53,935-square-kilometre Rangelands Station – a working cattle property – the abundant wildlife are your only neighbours; kangaroos, echidnas, eagles and other birdlife all call Rangelands home.

Bathed in style, your tented camp seamlessly blends into its outback setting. Indulge with carefully curated menus, personalised service and supersized luxury tents that guarantee a private experience. This exclusive camp only has a maximum of 12 guests at a time.

Here, the aim is pampering. From tasty menus to supersized tents with all the creature comforts, to a range of guided tours around the property and beyond.

Guests are transferred from Winton or Longreach by a dedicated Rangelands driver.

aerial shot of Rangelands Outback Camp tent — Soak in 360-degree views.

Rangelands Outback Camp tours

Join small-group tours and enjoy exclusive access to the ancient Rangelands Rifts with your Rangelands hosts. These incredible rock formations were formed by millions of years of erosion, leaving dramatic channels through the rock. Or explore the surrounds with Rangeland’s touring partner, Red Dirt Tours .

Get sunset birds-eye views over dramatic mesa country in a helicopter, from Queensland’s own Three Sisters to Corey’s Range, stopping at the best lookouts along the way.

Get up close and personal with this rugged land on four wheels, with expert drivers and guides leading guests through famous Bladensburg National Park, visiting Gondwana Stars Observatory and more.

The Winton area is famous for its boulder opals (the second-rarest opal in the world, after black opals), and a stop at the mining community of Opalton sheds a fascinating light on the unique fossicking method used to find them.

A trip to dinosaur country is a must, as this is the place that ramped up Australia’s dino contribution after a fossilised footprint was found in 1962; after more exploration, the discovery of 3300 footprints made it clear this was the world’s only evidence of a dinosaur stampede. Those same footprints are still on display today at Lark Quarry Conservation Park , a 90-minute drive from Winton. Also check out Australia’s largest collection of Australian Dinosaur fossils Australian Age of Dinosaurs, just 30 minutes from Winton. Here, join a tour through a working laboratory, dinosaur canyon and more.

A twice-daily transfer into downtown Winton is offered to guests, where they can explore the Royal Outdoor Theatre, opal shops, Waltzing Matilda Centre and more.

tour being led through Rangeland rifts — Have an exclusive adventure through the Rangeland Rifts. (Image: TEQ)

Sleeping in luxury

After a day of exploring, return to your tranquil tent for a blissful open shower and uninterrupted views from your private deck.

Designed to integrate guests into the surrounding nature, each tent feels like its own private haven. While being off-grid in the outback (in fact, each tent is powered by its own solar panels, with the added support of a backup generator), guests can also luxuriate in comfortable amenities like air conditioning, a supremely comfortable king-size bed and stylish designer touches.

Guests can stroll to the open-air Sunset Deck for breathtaking panoramic views, or to the main lounge and dining tent, where books, on-demand coffee and drinks make it the perfect place to relax after a day in the outback.

inside Rangelands Outback Camp bedroom — Enjoy plenty of space inside, and stunning views outside.

Rangelands Outback Camp dining

As the sun starts to dip below the horizon, gather for drinks and canapés on the expansive Sunset Deck, watching the sun drench the landscape in pinks and oranges as it sinks below the horizon.

Later, head to The Mahal lounge area and dining tent where mealtime magic happens. Savour a gourmet meal made fresh by Rangeland’s onsite chef. The meals use local produce to elevate classic outback dishes, and don’t worry, dietary requirements are happily accommodated.

Enjoy an open bar filled with an expansive hand-selected list of wines and premium beers, with wine pairings offered by Rangelands hosts come dinner time.

Discover more and book your luxurious stay at rangelandscamp.com.

Lady Elliot Island: The island stay that lets you swim with manta rays