Lady Elliot Island and more

Just returned from a mini-holiday in Queensland.

3 days on Lady Elliot Island and 2 days on Fraser Island, with bits inbetween in Hervey Bay.

Last Friday morning we flew from Hervey Bay to Lady Elliot Island on a 12(ish) seater single-propeller plane, landing on Lady Elliot Island. A tiny island (35 minutes to walk around it) with an airstrip the length of the centre of it, Lady Elliot Island is the southern-most tip of the Great Barrier Reef and a half-hour flight from Hervey Bay. It can only really be accessed by plane, as it is surrounded by coral reef and largely inaccessible by boat. As we flew low over the blue ocean, the tiny island emerged from the sea surrounded by coral and with an airstrip right through the middle.

The island consists of one basic and small resort. There are varying levels of accommodation, but it seems fair to say that none of it is luxurious. We stayed in an 'eco-cabin' - a permanent tent. Better than expected, though still fairly basic.

Note that the entire island is full of birds (including one that flew into my head) and stinks of bird shit. A walk around the island takes about 30-35 minutes over sand and coral and is a lot more fun at low tide than at high tide.

The highlight was snorkelling - we could wade in from the sand to the reef just offshore - lots of hard coral, some soft coral, lots of sea-life - many many different types of fish, turtles (including some huge hundred year old turtles), and we even saw a 4 foot white-tipped reef shark. I didn't see the manta rays, but apparently there are plenty. Better snorkelling on the side of the island away from the resort, but easy snorkelling on the resort side at high-tide (at low-tide, you could walk out over hundreds of metres of coral). The turtles, when so minded, were very relaxed with human company and would allow you to touch them as they swam along. A drift snorkel from Coral Gardens to the Lighhouse was fantastic.

Other than snorkelling, very little to do. Reading, sunning, relaxing. A bush tucker tour. A trip out in a boat for more snorkelling. Sunset on the beach. Absolutely nothing to do at night. School-camp-quality food.

Fraser Island was also beautiful - particularly Rainbow Gorge. It's all been said before so I won't repeat it.

A great short break. Photos may follow.