Why you need to visit Lady Musgrave Island

Lady Musgrave is the southern-most island in the Capricorn Cay and the region’s only coral island that’s surrounded by vast turquoise lagoon. Set on 3000 acres of living reef, the protected lagoon stretches eight kilometres around the island.

The island is built entirely of coral polyps and is covered in dense pisonia forest, She-Oaks and Pandanus trees. Other than a walking trail through the forest, composting toilets for campers and a ‘lighthouse’, the rest of the island remains completely untouched.

2. You can truly hide away from the world 

Unlike many other islands which offer a multitude of resorts, activity menus and well, fellow man, Lady Musgrave’s only full-time inhabitants are 22 breeding seabird species such as the white-capped noddy terns that nest in abundance in the Pisonia trees, and the silver gulls and black-naped terns on the ground closer to the beach.

Your closest neighbours? Over 1500 species of fish as well as manta rays, reef sharks and sea turtles as keen to explore your snorkelling gear as you are to check out their digs.

3. You can sleep under a canopy of stars 

Camping is the only way to stay on Lady Musgrave Island. A rustic yet enriching experience, you’ll sleep under a sparkling sky with only the sounds of waves in the distance for company.

What makes camping on Lady Musgrave Island unique is it's so remote and untouched. But that does mean you need to come prepared. To camp here, you will need to be really organised as there is no fresh water, mobile reception, food or shelter of any kind on the island. The only facilities are composting toilets. Everything from camp gear to food and water and any equipment you’ll need will need to be brought in. Occasionally rough seas can also prevent your return transfer from collecting you, so pack a little extra in case you need to extend your stay unexpectedly.

Only 40 people maximum are allowed to camp on the island at any one time, so make sure you book your camping permit in advance through Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (camp permits are only $6.65 per person, per night). You can arrange camping transfers through Lady Musgrave Experience. 

4. It's a popular nesting ground for turtles 

Lady Musgrave Island is a huge nesting ground for green turtles, and to a smaller degree, loggerhead turtles. Visitors to the island between November to February can expect to see mama turtles laying their eggs.

If you’re day-tripping between January to March (camping during this time is strictly prohibited), you could be lucky enough to see the sand come alive as hundreds of tiny hatchlings make their way out of their sandy nurseries and down to the water. Remarkably, this is the beginning of their 30-year journey around the globe before they come back to nest themselves.

Before you visit Lady Musgrave Island, head to the Mon Repos Turtle Centre near Bundaberg to learn more about turtles and what you can do to help protect them.

5. It's home to some of the best snorkelling on the Reef 

Admittedly, there’s no shortage of great places to snorkel and dive around the Southern Great Barrier Reef , but Lady Musgrave Island is unique in that its lagoon is formed by a huge, circular coral wall which protects the inner lagoon, leaving it calm and crystal clear.

Not only does it make it easier to view Lady Musgrave’s abundant marine life (everything from reef sharks, manta rays and stingrays to sea turtles and schools of colourful clown fish) and over 200 species of coral, but makes it the ideal conditions for first-time snorkellers.

6. You'll leave with new appreciation for protecting the Reef  

There’s no better way to learn about the beauty of the reef and why we need to work harder to protect it than by spending a day or two out here. Whether you’re watching the life cycle of the hatchlings and the predators on the island itself, or studying coral bleaching and rejuvenation in the water, the island’s gentle waters are all the encouragement you need to become reef-warriors.

If you’ve also wanted to know what it’s like to be a marine biologist, Lady Musgrave Experience offers a unique ‘day in the life’ tour that teaches you about the key reef species and their importance. Armed with a greater knowledge and a coral watch chart, upon arriving at Lady Musgrave Island you’ll get in the water for a guided snorkelling session. In your honorary role as a citizen scientist, you’ll help collect valuable data that goes towards helping save the reef. This tour is suitable for kids and adults.

Complete your Lady Musgrave Island adventure with these other top things to do on the Southern Great Barrier Reef.

If you’re looking for romance on the reef, these are the perfect Great Barrier Reef holidays for couples.