A Special Message from Peter Gash, Island Custodian

What an incredible celebration we had yesterday here on Lady Elliot Island!  We gathered to mark 20 years since my family, our partners, and our dedicated team became custodians of Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort. It honestly blows my mind to think about how far we've come since 2005, and I'm so proud of everything we've achieved together.

The day was truly special. It was filled with stories, laughter, guided reef experiences, and a legacy tree planting ceremony. We reflected with past and present team members, industry partners, and guests who've been part of this journey reminded me why we do what we do. 

Tom Busby and his band provided the perfect soundtrack to honour both our past and the future we're building together. What began as a bold vision two decades ago has become something far greater and is now a beacon of sustainable tourism, education, and conservation on the Southern Great Barrier Reef.

I want to sincerely thank the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority for trusting our family with the custodianship of this precious coral cay. Their faith in us has been unwavering, and we remain deeply committed to safeguarding the island's biodiversity and educating future generations about the wonders of the reef. This milestone isn't just about looking back; it's about renewing our promise to protect and restore this vital ecosystem for many years to come.

Thank you for being part of our Lady Elliot Island family and for sharing in our passion for marine conservation.

P.S. In case you haven't seen it already, check out Tourism Australia's recent video featuring one of our Island Custodian's Amy Gash.

Island Update

Spring has well and truly sprung on Lady Elliot Island, and the reef and island are alive with activity.

Bubbles, the local bottlenose dolphin, has been delighting guests with consistent morning appearances over the past few weeks. We were also treated to a surface sighting of two whales during a recent snorkel safari, which is likely among the last visitors of the season as they complete their southern migration.

The island's bird life is thriving. The bridled and black noddy terns have plenty of eggs in their nests, so we're expecting chicks to appear soon. The eastern reef egret is already proudly raising a chick, and we're monitoring four active red-tailed tropicbird nests. One of the chicks, just five days old, has been named Lumi, the Finnish word for "snow" in honour of its pristine white down.

Manta rays have been spotted feeding near the surface over recent days. We’re seeing an abundance of mating turtles around the island, with several females hauling out on the beach to bask and escape the attention of eager males. We're expecting our first turtle nests to appear by the end of this week. 

Even our Maori Wrasse are getting in on the action with two impressive males seen courting four females, which is a clear sign of spawning season. The island itself is quite dry at the moment, and we're all keeping our fingers crossed for some refreshing rain soon. 
 

Learn more about the turtles in the Turtle Fact Sheet here.

Photo: Green Sea Turtles Mating captured by Victoria Kronsell

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Toll Free Reservations: 1800 072 200 

Phone: +61 7 5536 3644

Email: reservations@ladyelliot.com.au 

Website: ladyelliotisland.com.au

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