HAPPY HOLIDAYS! 

We wish our valued guests and readers a happy and safe festive season with this, our last newsletter before we welcome in 2022. We warm-heartedly thank everyone for their continued support over the last year and are greatly looking forward to a prosperous 2022! 

When the going gets tough – the tough get going

Well, what a year 2021 has been! We started out with the hope that Covid was nearing its end, yet here we are a year later with similar challenges. I know we are all hoping for better times ahead.

Thanks to our entire team and loyal guests for supporting our beautiful little island, keeping it safe from harm, especially making every effort to leave it better than we found it.

Special mention to our Revegetation Team and all of our Volunteers. Many hundreds of new plants from large trees down to shrubs, grasses and ground covers have been planted over the past year. As part of the revegetation program the old airstrip has started to be planted with pisonia grandis and native mulberries. In a few years, this will be an amazing canopy covered walkway from the resort through to the Heritage Lighthouse Precinct.

In the resort, our Maintenance and Renovation team managed to complete a full upgrade on our 2-bedroom Beachfront Units, they have come up beautifully and we are very proud and excited to make these available for our guests.

We are also super proud to announce that Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort achieved Gold at the Queensland Tourism Awards in the ‘Steve Irwin Award for Ecotourism’ category. This is very special award to us as Steve Irwin was such a remarkable Warrior for Wildlife and the environment worldwide, he was a great supporter and friend of Lady Elliot Island and an amazing human being. The Australia Zoo team continues to support and encourage our actions on Lady Elliot Island with ecotourism, supporting us wherever possible to do our bit to make a difference on the planet, one day and one person at a time.

This philosophy is very important to our whole team as conservation, preservation and ecotourism is at the heart of everything we do. 

I wish to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of our dedicated team and silent supporters for their passion and efforts with our mission.

We would also wish to sincerely thank our guests and visitors who take the time to come out and share your holiday experience on this magnificent little coral cay paradise. Without your support we could never have achieved the incredible projects that Lady Elliot Island is now well-known for.

Please have a great holiday season and we look forward to welcoming you back on your next, or first visit!

Peter, Julie, Amy & Chloe Gash and the Lady Elliot Island Team 

INTRODUCING: BALLISTIC BEER CO'S REEF RANGE! 

 Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort has partnered with Ballistic Beer Co. for their latest "Reef Range" featuring a Reef Lager, Reef Pale Ale and a Reef Red Ale. Our sales and marketing team had the enjoyable task of taste testing the range, giving it the tick of approval for the island! 

An added  bonus from purchasing the reef range, 10 cents from each can sold on Lady Elliot Island will go towards satellite tagging manta rays, turtles, sharks and Red-tailed tropic birds on the island. 

SCIENCE IN ACTION: LEAF TO REEF RESEARCH

Leaf to reef is a multi-disciplinary team of scientists focused on learning more about the connectivity of Lady Elliot Island as part of the Great Barrier Reef Foundations 'Reef Islands' Initiative. During October, the team spent two weeks on the island with tasks including bird counts, guano density measurements, plankton surveys and groundwater sampling. If you would like to learn more Leaf to Reef have a facebook page where they post regular updates. 

TURTLE SEASON 

Turtle season is in full swing with around 15-20 tracks counted on average each morning. The first nest of the year was a few days earlier than the previous few years meaning we are expecting our first hatchlings some time around Christmas! 

Image credit: Frazer Leal Photography

ISLAND BLOG

There are three new instalments of our island blog including a look at our composting machine, OSCA, what to do on a day trip to Lady Elliot Island and the rays of Lady Elliot Island. 

Head over to our website to learn more! 

QUEENSLAND TOURISM AWARDS 

Operating for 35 years, the Queensland Tourism Awards recognise the outstanding achievements of the state's tourism industry, including individuals, businesses (industry operators) and events. This year, Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort won Gold in the Steve Irwin award for Ecotourism.  We wish to thank everyone who has supported Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort through our sustainability journey, during what has been a challenging time for the tourism industry.

GOLD COAST TOURISM LONGEVITY AWARD

Sister company Seair Pacific and Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort have been awarded the 30 year Longevity Award in recognition of their contribution to the Gold Coast Tourism industry. Seair Pacific and Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort are both owned and operated by the Gash family. In 1989 Peter and Julie purchased Seair Pacific and began operating joy flights on the Gold Coast before they became the first operator on the Gold Coast to fly tourists to the Great Barrier Reef. Now Seair Pacific is the sole aircraft charter provider for Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort providing over 3,00 flights per annum. 

STEVE IRWIN GALA DINNER

The Steve Irwin Gala Dinner celebrates everything the original Wildlife Warrior was most passionate about, family, conservation and fun. Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort is a major sponsor of the night, donating a stay on the island to be auctioned each year. Our Team are looking forward to supporting the event on the 27 November 2021 in Brisbane. 

AVAILABILITY CALENDAR 

Our basic but comfortable 44 room eco-resort will offer you an opportunity to immerse yourself in nature and explore the pristine Southern Great Barrier Reef.  

  The resort is heavily booked over the next eight months with very limited availability and high demand. To secure your stay at Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort we highly recommend you check our online availability calendar on our website first.  

If your intended travel dates are available on the calendar and you are ready to make a booking, we recommend to contact our reservations team via phone on 1800 072 200 to confirm the dates are still available as availability can change rapidly at this time.  

Alternatively, once you have checked the availability calendar and you would like to arrange a booking or would like a quote, please email our friendly reservations team on [email protected]

With Christmas only a few weeks away, its time to start thinking about gifts! Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort offers gift vouchers for flights, accommodation and holiday treats. Contact our reservations team on 1800 072 200 to organise your gift voucher. 

Keep an eye out on our Facebook page for "12 days of Christmas" beginning on the 1st of December for more gift ideas!

Escape to the Southern Great Barrier Reef for the day and immerse yourself in the island surrounds.  Be sure to keep your eyes peeled from the second you take off as there is much to see on the flight, especially as you approach Lady Elliot Island. If you have been wanting to experience the reef, this is the perfect opportunity! 

EXTENDED UNTIL 31st MARCH 2022

Package includes: 

• Return scenic flight to Lady Elliot Island (approx. 100 mins*)
• Island orientation tour and welcome drink 
• Glass bottom boat/guided snorkel tour
• Snorkel equipment (mask, snorkel & fins) and wetsuits
• Buffet lunch
• Towels, sunscreen and reef walking shoes provided
• Use of day guest facilities
• Island tours and activities

PLEASE SEE OUR WEBSITE FOR FULL TERMS AND CONDITIONS

As the silly season is fast approaching, this is the perfect pre-Christmas getaway with a discounted rate which ends soon! Board your flight at Hervey Bay or Bundaberg and prepare for a nature lovers experience you won't soon forget!  

VALID UNTIL 17TH DECEMBER 2021

Package includes: 

• Return scenic flight to Lady Elliot Island (approx. 40 mins*)
• Island orientation tour and welcome drink 
• Glass bottom boat/guided snorkel tour
• Snorkel equipment (mask, snorkel & fins)
• Buffet lunch
• Towels and reef walking shoes provided
• Use of day guest facilities
• Island tours and activities including island discovery tour and fish feeding 

PLEASE SEE OUR WEBSITE FOR FULL TERMS AND CONDITIONS

2022 OUTBACK TOURS  

Travelling in a Seair Touring Cessna Caravan Aircraft, your group will be flown to some of the most iconic places in Queensland and Australia. Guided by your knowledgable pilot, expert commentary and local knowledge will bring Outback Australia and its rich history to life. 

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