On today’s blog we are talking about warm sun, the smell of the ocean, sand between the toes and a lady!
We have found the perfect family beach holiday and it happens to be a snorkelling paradise too. Lady Elliot Island is the southernmost coral cay of the Great Barrier reef, and flights depart daily from Harvey Bay and Bundaberg. The Island has its own airstrip, and you land right in the heart of the resort.
The Island got her name from a ship that sailed past in 1816, with the captain of the cargo vessel naming the Island after this ship.
In a nutshell LEI is an eco resort that welcomes both overnight stays and day trippers. It is a natural beauty with a rich history and once you’re on the Island you enter peace and quiet with no distractions from the outside world. There are no TV’s in the rooms and no mobile phone service on the island….and you won’t miss either!
There is plenty to do while on the island, including a stack of activities for kids! There is a shaded children’s playground, activity centre (along with a reef education centre) and also a kid’s club called Junior Reef Rangers. There is also a swimming pool & beach volley ball nets set up.
Then of course there is the magical underwater world to explore and you don’t need to be a scuba diver to experience the magic. Snorkelling is a great way for kids to get up close & personal with the marine life and explore the reef. Whether it is a short snorkel on the reef or a longer snorkel on the other side of the island known as the “deep blue”, you will experience the magical world and see plenty of manta rays, cow tail rays, turtles, black tip reef sharks, colourful coral and an abundance of tropical fish.
If you are not keen to snorkel or scuba dive, exploring the reef on foot is another great way to see the reef. Glass bottom boat rides are also on offer for those that wish to stay dry!
The bird life is amazing on the Island and there are several educational programs you can get involved in. The night tours are handy to find out about the nocturnal animals and also the resident ghost on the island!!
Accommodation types differ from resort units, glamping tents & cabins that are all designed to minimise impact on the island & keep within the eco practices. Meals are included in the packages, so there are no hidden surprises at check out.
Along with the kid’s club, there is also baby sitting on offer. The other great thing we found convenient was the movie house situated right beside the restaurant. Each night a kid’s movie is screened, and we found that handy to keep kids entertained while we had dinner.
We really enjoyed our time on the Island and can highly recommend this destination to visit with kids.
Have a happy day out with your kids!
Megan xo