Islands of the Great Barrier Reef

Your Islands of the Great Barrier Reef fair safari begins with a 90-minute flight from Gold Coast to Lady Elliot Island, on the southern tip of the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef. Lady Elliot Island Eco Retreat prides itself on sustainability, and is known as home to the Manta Ray with research identifying over 700 individuals living in the surrounding waters. The island also boasts 1,200 species of marine life, including several species of turtles. Your very own unit is no more than 30 metres from the magnificent coral cay lagoon. Spend your time here exploring the island.

2 nights: Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort

There is a terrific range of tours for you to do at Lady Elliot, including fish feeding, bird watching, snorkelling, glass bottom boat, kayaking, walking trails and many more. There are only a few locations on the east coast of Australia where you can watch the sun set over the water and Lady Elliot is one of these special places. Enjoy a sunset cruise with drinks and nibbles.

Depart Lady Elliot Island and head north, bound for Orpheus Island. Land at Townsville first, where you will then board a helicopter for your flight over to Orpheus Island Lodge, a secluded island hideaway in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef. The 30-minute helicopter journey will take you over the picturesque coral-studded sea, before landing at Orpheus Island, the ultimate in secluded tropical paradise. The island stretches across 11km of pristine turquoise coastline and over 1,000 hectares of national park.

2 nights: Orpheus Island Lodge, North Rooms

Waking up in paradise, the idyllic Orpheus Island Lodge is surrounded by unspoiled fringing reef you can access directly from your room. Enjoy a number of experiences as part of the daily curated schedule, or find your own pace and simply relax. Activities are tide and weather dependent, ranging from snorkelling, guided hiking, cocktail classes, sunset cruise and wine tasting.

Helicopter back to Townsville in the morning, then continue flying north to Lizard Island, the most northern resort on the Great Barrier Reef. Take in the breathtaking coastline en-route and fly over some of the world’s most spectacular scenery on the reef before landing on the island. Lizard Island is truly secluded from the rest of the world. Exceptional service, facilities, touring and food are the perfect complement to swimming off the beach into the wonders of the largest coral reef in the world – very hard to beat.

2 nights: Lizard Island Resort, Garden View

Enjoy a leisurely day relaxing in the island paradise that is Lizard Island, with activities at your discretion. Take advantage of the complimentary snorkelling equipment and lessons, stand up paddle boards and sea kayaks and it’ll be hard to stay out of the water. The local reef life will leave you spellbound. If you’re feeling energetic, a walk to Cook’s Lookout, the highest point of the island with a 360° view, is well worth the effort. Optional tours (at your own expense) include a boat trip and diving on the outer reef. 

Enjoy your final day in paradise. Perhaps sit on the private verandah of your cabin, drink in hand, and do a spot of wildlife watching. In the afternoon it’s time to head home, finishing off an extraordinary expedition throughout the Great Barrier Reef. Head south and take in the final views from up above, landing at Gold Coast airport in the evening.