TURTLE UPDATE

Since the start of the Turtle Nesting season we have seen a total of 1,283 tracks along the beach of Lady Elliot Island! Those tracks are made up of both Green (1,109 tracks) and Loggerhead (165 tracks) Turtles coming ashore to lay their eggs. 

Our activities staff on the Island can confirm 88 nests have been laid, with 78 by Green Turtles and 10 by Loggerhead Turtles. 

There is also another 111 nests that are very likely lays but it is difficult to confirm these as they were not sighted during the nesting process. 

Over 23 separate occasions, guests have sighted more than 200 hatchlings running down the beach and head towards the East Australian Current! It is likely that there has been many more hatchlings, however, those are the ones we have been fortunate enough to sight. 

Photo Credit: Jeremy Somerville

AVAILABILITY CALENDAR

We are pleased to announce our availability calendar is now live on our website! It provides a detailed description on which room type is available on each particular day for the next two years. Next time you wish to make a booking to visit Lady Elliot Island, be sure to check the available dates on the calendar before getting in touch with our reservations team.

We're excited to hear your feedback!

HOLIDAY HERE THIS YEAR

Tourism Australia recently launched it's latest campaign, Holiday Here This Year. 

"Recent bushfires have impacted communities across Australia. But a shared Aussie spirit has also brought people together. Many Australians rely on tourism to thrive. That’s why we’re asking Aussies to get out and see this beautiful country and explore what's on your doorstep. Take a drive up the coast, head inland, fly across this vast and beautiful land."

Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort's Managing Director, Peter Gash, is featured in the latest tourism campaign video showcasing what Australia has to offer!

It’s time to plan your holiday here this year!

TEAM MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

Name: Robert Thomas

Position: Project Manager (anything from unblocking a toilet to data analyst for our Hybrid Solar Power Station).

How long have you been working on Lady Elliot Island: Well I used to mark the days on a coconut palm but since that was replaced by a pandanus last year I have lost track. My first day was 9th of March 2008.

Favourite thing about the Island: I’m a big fan of the huge variety of wildlife,  I love how the wildlife manages to interact with pretty much everyone (whether they like it or not!). I am still impressed by how quickly people develop a close connection with nature out here. I know a lot of people have fallen in love with the nature on this Island. I’m very proud to be part of the team that helps people make those close connections because once people develop a love for nature they will fight to protect it.

Favourite thing about working on the Island: Without a doubt it’s the variety and adventure. Unusual and interesting things come along all the time. Whale sharks to ornate eagle rays. This Island sees it all! Cyclone Hamish over 10 years ago was an unforgettable experience for me or remember the time a baby whale washed up in the lagoon and we tried to tow it out to sea? What about when we made our own bio gas or the abandoned pirate ship we found. Last year we achieved the major milestone of our first full 24 hours, running the resort on 100% renewable energy. That was a huge moment for me.

Insider tip for guests travelling to the Island: My favourite land based wildlife are the Red-tailed tropicbirds. They are smart, beautiful and friendly. They are very underrated, I’m going to go out on a limb here and say we might have the most accessible colony of these majestic birds anywhere on the planet. In the water I would rate the turtles, they are super friendly, here all year round and if you don’t see them while snorkelling, then you didn’t have your eyes open!

How you reduce your plastic use: Remember when we used to buy quality products and keep them for a long time? Neither do I. That was at least a generation ago. However, I brought a stainless steel drink bottle over ten years ago and I am still using it today. I buy quality and I buy local as much as I can. The Bitterness of Poor Quality Remains Long After the Sweetness of Low Price is Forgotten.

Photo: Robert Thomas standing in front of the Hybrid Solar Power Station.

PETER GASH OAM 🎖✨ 

Peter Gash, Managing Director of Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort and Owner/Chief Pilot of sister company Seair Pacific has been awarded an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) in the General Division in the annual Australia Day Honors List for his service to eco-tourism and aviation.

The Order of Australia Medal recognises Australians who have demonstrated outstanding service or exceptional achievement.

“The award came as a great surprise and I feel very humbled by the fact that people have gone to the effort of nominating myself for such an accolade.

I feel strongly that this award belongs to my family as well as all of our team members, friends and the many fantastic and passionate supporters of the work we do with Lady Elliot Island in the eco-tourism, environmental conservation, reef education and renewable energy space.

To have been awarded this accolade in the two areas of ‘eco-tourism’ and ‘aviation’ speaks volumes for the fact that these areas can be mutually supportive and beneficial for the advancement of education and environmental stewardship without detracting from each other. This indicates a remarkable approach by the Australia Day Awards Committee to the challenges the planet faces in the future” – Peter Gash OAM

Photo: Managing Director of Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort/Chief Pilot of Seair Pacific, Peter Gash OAM

HISTORY

Lady Elliot Island has a long history of European settlement. On Captain Cook's voyage in 1770, they travelled between LEI and the mainland, but did not see the Island. The first reference to LEI was recorded in 1803 as 'The Southernmost Cay'.

Prior to the official discovery of the Island, Beche de mer (Sea Cucumbers) harvesting occurred on the LEI Reef in about 1805. These were considered a delicacy in Asian countries at the time. The Sea Cucumbers were dried and smoked before being exported to Asia. This practice did not last long as the Sea Cucumber population was quickly depleted. 

In 1816, the Island was officially discovered and named by Captain Thomas Stuart aboard the vessel 'Lady Elliot'. In historical documents, the Island was sometimes referred to as 'Lady Elliot's Island'. The Island was first occupied and used by Europeans from 1863 to 1873, when guano mining began with 30 Chinese and Malay workers. Guano is an accumulation of seabird excrement (bird poo), which was a valuable fertiliser and gun powder ingredient. Guano was dug, put on trolleys and bought over to the Lighthouse where it was dried and bagged. It was then transferred to ships by small boats and transported to Sydney, Tasmania and New Zealand!

Photo: Lasting effects of Guano Mining on Lady Elliot Island. Photo circa 1940s.

SEAIR PACIFIC OUTBACK ADVENTURE TOURS  

Sister company Seair Pacific's Outback Adventure Tours kick off in April 2020!!

Experience some of the most remote and iconic parts of Australia with their three day Outback Adventure. Travelling in a Cessna Caravan; enjoy a birds eye view of the incredible colours and landscapes of the Australian Outback.

Departing from the Gold Coast, fly west over 2,000km into the real Outback dropping into Birdsville, Lake Eyre, William Creek, Innamincka and Cunnamulla. These iconic Australian towns give guests a true taste of the Australian outback.

Stay tuned for a new and exciting tour launching soon!

Click below for more information or contact our reservations team via email [email protected] or call +61 7 5599 4509 to reserve your place now!

5 EASY WAYS TO HELP THE PLANET FROM HOME ♻️

1. Switch lights off when you leave the room!
Switching your lights off will lower your energy use and in turn reduce your carbon emissions.

2. Compost your food waste.
This reduces the methane emissions from landfills and lowers your carbon footprint. 

3. Remember your reusable bags when you go shopping.
Using reusable bags when shopping lowers your individual plastic usage.

4. Keep your showers under 2 minutes.
This not only saves water but it also saves on the energy used to heat the water! Win, win!

5. Wash your clothing in cold water!
Washing your clothes in cold water is an easy way to save energy and prevent carbon pollution.