| | Turtle Season & Island Update | | |
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Turtles, turtles, turtles! It's been an exceptional season for our turtle population with over 140 confirmed nests which is over 50 more nests than last season's total of 88! While turtle tracks are becoming less frequent as nesting season winds down, more adorable hatchlings are making a dash to the sea during the cooler hours.
The current Red-tailed Tropicbird chicks (affectionately dubbed Elton & Laura) are thriving under their parents' watchful care, growing fluffier and bigger by the day. Ruddy Turnstone, Sooty Oystercatchers and Bar-tailed Godwits are still pottering around, while the Frigatebirds remain ever-present overhead and a few Brown Boobies have been spotted bobbing near the snorkel line.
The island is absolutely thriving after recent rains and the hard work of the revegetation team and volunteers is evident. See what they have been up to in our latest blog.
Beneath the surface, it's been cuteness overload with baby Eagle Rays making an appearance alongside Ornate Eagle Rays, Guitarfish, Shovelnose Rays and our resident Giant Moray Eel. The Manta Rays continue to delight with sightings most days.
P.S. If you're short on time but want to visit, we've extended our Locals Day Tour/Trip Offers, see below or visit our website here.
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From sky to reef, every inch of Lady Elliot Island has been mapped at high resolution. Last month the team from the Leaf to Reef Program conducted drone surveys of the in water and on island ecosystems, as well as benthic transects to catalogue the reef communities and health across the reef flat.
In addition, as part of an ongoing monitoring program, the research team from Leaf to Reef deployed field cameras while they are on the island to observe the nesting behaviour of Red-tailed Tropicbirds as part of the Lady Elliot Island colony.
The footage captures parents coming in and feeding the chick and changing over to go out and catch fish. 'Elton', (see attached) is the chick, of 'Lockie' the parent, who was observed and tagged here on Lady Elliot Island in October 2025. The Leaf to Reef team believes this could be his or her second time as a parent.
You can learn more about the Leaf to Reef project here.
All Leaf to Reef research is conducted with the utmost care for the animal's welfare, with Animal Ethics approval through the University of the Sunshine Coast, and permissions from the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority.
Photo credit: Jacob Bowtell, Leaf to Reef Team |  | | | | | Exciting Conservation News! | | |
| We’re incredibly proud to share that Lady Elliot Island has officially been recognised as one of 158 Important Shark and Ray Areas (ISRAs) across Australia and the Southeast Indian Ocean in the regional assessment conducted by the IUCN.
Why did Lady Elliot Island get approved as an ISRA?
It’s all about our sharks and rays! Aptly known as ‘Home of the Manta Ray’, our waters are a globally important habitat for reef manta rays (Mobula alfredi) and spotted eagle rays (Aetobatus ocellatus). Between May–August, large reef manta ray aggregations make our little island one of Australia’s most important manta ray hotspots, for reproduction, foraging, and cleaning. A key reason why we’ve been recognised as an ISRA!
It’s not just the rays themselves! This recognition reflects 19 years of citizen science on Lady Elliot Island, led by the incredible Project Manta team and supported by our island team. Together, we’ve collected decades of field observations, photo-ID records, and satellite tagging data on these species, and in 2025, alongside Project Manta, we contributed this information to the regional assessment of ISRAs in Australia and the Southeast Indian Ocean.
Why is this recognition important?
The ISRA process identifies and maps the ocean’s most important shark and ray habitats worldwide and highlights how collaboration, science, and tourism can generate spatial information to help protect these incredible species. With 1,000 ISRAs now identified and over 1,500 contributors to the process, we’re proud to have played our part in protecting these incredible marine animals for generations to come!
Read the regional compendium here: Australia and South East Indian Ocean: A regional compendium of Important Shark and Ray Areas - Important Shark Ray Areas
Access the eAtlas of important areas here: www.sharkrayareas.org/e-atlas
Photo credit: Amelia Armstrong (Project Manta) |  |
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 | Our island's restoration work is thriving, and we're so excited to share the latest news!
In 2025 alone, our incredible volunteers and conservation team revegetated over 21,500m², planted nearly 3,000 native plants, successfully relocated a crested tern rookery, and even discovered a brand-new plant species on the island.
Head to our latest blog to read the full Summer 2026 update. It's a wonderful reminder of what's possible when passionate people come together to care for this very special place! If you're interested in getting your hands dirty and helping check out the bottom of the blog. |
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 | | | Locals Only Day Tour Offer Extended | | |
| If you’re short on time but big on dreams, we’ve got the deal for you! Fly to Lady Elliot Island for the day with friends or relatives and SAVE BIG per person. ⭐️ Save up to $100 per person on your day tour to the Great Barrier Reef if you're a local for a limited time only⭐️
Your day on Lady Elliot could look like this:
* Glass bottom boat/guided snorkel tour
* Explore the island
* Hot & cold buffet lunch
* Return scenic flight to Lady Elliot Island from any of our four departure ports: Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast), Bundaberg Airport, Gold Coast Airport or Brisbane (Redcliffe) Aerodrome
TIP: Forward this email to your snorkel buddy and start planning! Learn more on our website or contact our reservations team. *Offer valid for local residents that can prove they reside within the following Local Government Areas of Queensland: Gold Coast, Scenic Rim, Brisbane City, Redlands City, Moreton Bay, Logan City, Sunshine Coast Regional, Noosa Shire, Tweed Shire, Gladstone Shire, Fraser Coast Regional, Bundaberg Regional and North Burnett Shire. *Additional T’s & C’s apply - see website | | |
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