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Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort has taken out gold in the ‘Steve Irwin Award for Ecotourism’ category at the annual Queensland Tourism Awards held on Friday 15th November at The Star Brisbane.

Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort continues to strive and provide a genuine ecotourism experience to all guests who visit the Island whilst at the same time ensuring we protect and preserve the fragile ecosystem for future generations to enjoy. We are extremely honoured to be presented with this remarkable accolade in recognition of our contribution to sustainable tourism.

The ‘Steve Irwin Award for Ecotourism’ recognises ecologically sustainable tourism businesses with a primary focus on experiencing natural areas. Winning the award on Steve Irwin Day, to celebrate the life and legacy of the greatest Wildlife Warrior, makes this an even greater honour for the team.

Congratulations to Fun Over 50 Holidays and Small World Journeys who took out Silver and Bronze respectively in the same category. We extend our congratulations to all the nominees and winners from the night.

More than 150 nominations in 31 categories entered the Queensland Tourism Awards that were presented in front of over 1000 guests on Friday night. Together we celebrated the outstanding tourism businesses that make up our great industry.

We wish to thank everyone who has supported Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort through our sustainability journey.

Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort proudly hosted the 30th Annual Marine Teachers Association of Queensland (MTAQ) Conference in September, welcoming 44 passionate marine educators from across the state for a four-day event. The conference, a milestone gathering for the MTAQ, emphasised collaboration, connection, and hands-on experiences within the Southern Great Barrier Reef.

Nestled at the heart of the reef, Lady Elliot Island proved to be the ideal setting for marine educators to immerse themselves in the ecosystem they tirelessly champion in classrooms. The event underscored the importance of strengthening connections among teachers, sharing innovative practices, and inspiring a collective commitment to marine education in Queensland. 

One of the event's highlights was a keynote address by Dr. Charlie Veron, affectionately known as the "Godfather of Coral." His insights into reef conservation and its global significance resonated deeply with attendees, enhancing their understanding of the challenges and opportunities in marine education.

Beth, Vice President of MTAQ, shared her reflections on the event "We had the incredible opportunity to host the Marine Teachers Association of Queensland (MTAQ) 30th Annual Conference this year at Lady Elliot Island. We spend our usual days teaching about the importance of our reef ecosystems in the classroom, but to really experience it in person is always truly humbling. To share stories and learn from our keynote guest Dr. Charlie Veron, the 'Godfather of Coral,' was a highlight for many too. We have so many Queensland schools already visit Lady Elliot Island with their students each year but encourage more schools to do so to experience such a beautiful part of our Southern Great Barrier Reef"

Conferences like this showcase the importance of hands-on learning to foster a deeper appreciation for the reef. Lady Elliot Island remains committed to inspiring the next generation of marine stewards, welcoming educators and students alike to continue exploring and protecting this unique ecosystem. 

If you’re an educator interested in bringing your students to Lady Elliot Island for an unforgettable and educational experience, we’d love to hear from you. Contact us today to learn more about our school programs and how we can help inspire the next generation of marine stewards!