Your April Lady Elliot Island E-Newsletter No Images? Click here HRH THE PRINCE OF WALES | GLAMPING TENTS | #1 BUCKET LIST DESTINATION | CANON COLLECTIVE HRH THE PRINCE OF WALES VISITS LADY ELLIOT ISLANDHis Royal Highness The Prince of Wales visited the Great Barrier Reef on the 6 April to learn firsthand how Australian corporate and government leaders are rallying to address the threats facing coral reefs! HRH Prince Charles joined the ‘Reef Roundtable’, hosted by The Prince’s Trust Australia and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, meeting leaders from the technology, resources, energy, and property and infrastructure sectors as well as government and not for profit groups. A key focus of discussion was the successful collaboration of companies and government, working together to build the resilience of the Great Barrier Reef to a changing climate, and learning about the projects that are having an impact. As part of the roundtable, leading property and infrastructure company, Lendlease, announced a new $5 million commitment across 10 years supporting the Reef Islands Initiative being led by the Great Barrier Reef Foundation. This contribution is being matched by the Australian Government bringing commitments to the Great Barrier Reef to $10 million. As well as Lendlease and BHP, the Great Barrier Reef Foundation and The Prince’s Trust Australia hosted other major corporate, scientific, environmental and government organisations at the Roundtable including Qantas, Boeing, Australia Post, The Star Entertainment Group, The Walt Disney Company, Affirmative Investment Management, Virgin Australia, Australian Institute of Marine Science, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, University of Queensland, World Wildlife Fund (WWF) International, Greening Australia, Greenfleet Australia, Australia Zoo, Citizens of the Great Barrier Reef, The Prior Family Foundation, The Prince’s Accounting for Sustainability Project, Australian Government and Queensland Government. The Prince’s Trust Australia Chair, Margaret Jackson AC said the royal visit was a wonderful opportunity to highlight the work currently being done and to explore what can still be done for coral reefs. “His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales has worked to protect our natural environment, marine ecosystems, and biodiversity for decades,” Ms Jackson AC said “The Prince has a deep and enduring interest in reef resilience and it is an honour to continue this work on his behalf through The Prince’s Trust Australia. “There is no time like the present. As we mark the International Year of the Reef, we have a responsibility to collaborate across government, not-for-profit, the private sector and with local communities to ensure we safeguard the Great Barrier Reef and its natural assets for generations to come.” Great Barrier Reef Foundation Chairman Dr John Schubert said, “Coral reefs are critically important ecosystems, supporting 25% of all marine life on the planet and supporting the livelihoods of over one billion people worldwide.” “Aside from its outstanding natural and cultural heritage value, the Great Barrier Reef alone supports over 64,000 Australian jobs and contributes $6.4 billion to the Australian economy annually. “But reefs are at risk on a global scale. In Australia, we’ve witnessed an unprecedented two consecutive years of mass coral bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef, significantly impacting the ecosystem. “This is our time to act and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation was privileged to have the opportunity to show HRH The Prince of Wales how Australians are playing a lead role in tackling this issue on both a local and international scale. This is the 16th time The Prince of Wales has visited Australia, and his first visit to the southern Great Barrier Reef. Photo Credit: Greg Sullavan WELCOME 'GLAMPING TENTS' TO OUR ACCOMMODATION FAMILYLady Elliot Island Eco Resort are excited to reveal the newest addition ‘Glamping Tents’ to our now 43 room Eco-Resort. The additional two glamping tents are exclusive and spacious, set amongst the natural flora of the Island. Situated just steps from Sunrise Beach they boast views of the spectacular lagoon. During season, migratory birds nest in surrounding vegetation and green and loggerhead turtles come ashore to lay their eggs only metres from your doorstep. The glamping tents accommodate up to two people and are ideal for couples with a private bathroom and secluded balcony. Each tent is fan cooled with a mini fridge and tea & coffee making facilities. Built by Eco Structures Australia, the glamping tents are designed to work in harmony with the surrounding environment. They are architecturally designed and environmentally sustainable. Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort offers a range of comfortable accommodation options, with each Suite, Unit, and Tent designed to minimise impact on the Island while enriching the overall guest experience of the environment and seasonal wildlife. In keeping with the natural, eco-friendly practices there are no telephones, television, radios or Wi-Fi available in the rooms. A soft external refurbishment has also begun on the other accommodation types. Photo Credit: Jeremy Somerville LADY ELLIOT ISLAND VOTED #1 'TOP 10 THINGS TO DO IN QLD BEFORE YOU DIE'National and international polling has closed on the best of Queensland’s Bucket List experiences and Lady Elliot Island has been voted #1 in Queensland! Experience Oz’s 'The Top 100 things to do in Queensland before you die' list was released in February, and the world was invited to narrow the list down to the Top 10. “We are extremely excited that the public has voted ‘diving with manta rays on Lady Elliot Island’ as the #1 Top 10 Things to do in Queensland! Lady Elliot Island has proven a major hotspot for manta rays in Eastern Australia. Manta rays can be found all year round here, with numbers peaking during the winter season (May-August). At Lady Elliot, these gentle giants are commonly encountered while diving popular ‘cleaning stations’ around the reef, but also offer amazing memories for snorkellers who happen to be in the water during feeding frenzies”– Amy Gash, Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort CANON COLLECTIVE 'DIVE, SNORKEL, FLY'We’re excited to unveil our newest photography workshop 'Dive, Snorkel, Fly' with Canon Collective! From $2,469 AUD per person (twin share) Join the Canon Collective Team on Lady Elliot Island for 5 days of diving, snorkeling and aerial photography. Grab your bathers, mask, snorkel and disconnect from the world for a week on the pristine Southern Great Barrier Reef. Don't have a camera? Don't worry, we've got enough land & underwater loan gear to cover everyone, every day for the duration of this specialised small-group adventure. Package includes the following:
Please note: The event is suited for people with a Padi/SSI dive certification with a minimum qualification of "open water". Don't worry if you don't have a license - contact your local dive shop today and get certified. It's a simple process of theory, practical & open water testing and it's a lifetime certification. It will take a life time to explore the world below the waterline, so what are you waiting for? Photo Credit: Colin Baker, Canon Collective 'CORAL, CROCS & ROCKS' EXPEDITIONGet in quick, limited seats available on the 'Coral, Crocs & Rocks' package with Australia Zoo! We’re giving YOU the chance to visit the Great Barrier Reef, the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve and other iconic Queensland landmarks, like Cobbold Gorge and the remarkable Undara Lava Tubes! Snorkel with turtles, help with crocodile research, and tour gorge-ous remote areas... But that’s not all! You’ll see these beautiful areas from above in your very own private aircraft, chartered for the length of the trip. Get in fast, spaces are extremely limited! BECOME A CITIZEN OF THE GREAT BARRIER REEFOften it feels like the challenges that face our Reef and planet are too big to tackle. The kind of change required is immense, but it is only when we act en masse that we can make this kind of change. If enough of us get involved, we can show what is possible for the reef and the planet. Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort strongly support the Citizens of the Great Barrier Reef and its enormously important mission. “The actions of people across the planet will define the future of the Great Barrier Reef” – Andy Ridley, Founder of Earth Hour & CEO Citizens of the Great Barrier Reef Photo Credit: Michael Smith – Into the Wild Photography |