How to spend an incredible 48 hours on Lady Musgrave Island

Lady Musgrave Island is an aquatic playground like no other. Imagine 3,000 acres of living reef encircling one tiny heart-shaped coral cay pin dropped on the southernmost tip of the Great Barrier Reef.

Onshore, migratory sea birds and turtles nest in season, while offshore, a crystalline lagoon serves as a natural aquarium for underwater appreciation of corals and majestic marine life. After one visit to Lady Musgrave Island, we promise you’ll be you’ll be smitten. Here’s how to spend 48 blissful hours in paradise. 

How to get there

From Brisbane, travel north for approximately 360 km to reach one of Queensland’s friendliest regional towns, Bundaberg – aka a 55 minute flight. Lady Musgrave Experience operates day trips, plus overnight stays on their luxury pontoon anchored in the sheltered waters of Lady Musgrave Island lagoon. Cruise time is roughly two-hours and 15-minutes - but is weather dependent of course.

Day One

Morning

Make your way to Bundaberg Port Marina where your luxury catamaran Reef Empress from the Lady Musgrave Experience awaits. It’s an early departure (around 7.15 am), so grab breakfast on the go, and settle in for the two-hour and 15-minute cruise to Lady Musgrave Island. VIP overnight guests can enjoy the air-conditioned Captain’s Premium Lounge seating, barista coffee with your morning tea and a reclining seat to sink into afterwards.

On arrival, prepare to have your breath taken away by the 50 shades of blue that paint the post-card-perfect Lady Musgrave lagoon and the three-level luxe pontoon that is about to become your personal reef palace. You can feel good about staying in this palace too, as it's an eco-friendly build with an innovative zero-impact design that runs on solar and wind power.

You’ll naturally want to dive straight in, so pick up your complimentary snorkelling gear from the dive shop and get exploring. You’ll be floating through one of the most protected spots to snorkel on the Great Barrier Reef and can expect to see an abundance of corals, meet some friendly resident hawksbill turtles, manta rays and reef sharks, and spot some of the 1,625 different fish species that call the Great Barrier Reef home.

If you want to stay dry for a little bit longer, descend into the underwater observatory and see the reef from a different point of view. 

Midday

When you surface, a delicious smorgasbord lunch will be waiting before checking in to one of the best over-reef glamping experiences. Your new reef room sits on the top deck of the 35 x 12-metre bespoke pontoon.

A dreamy, tented pod that has been designed to provide the ultimate comfort for two - or extra space for one - and offers seamless integration to experience starlit night skies, 360-degree views of the lagoon and island, plus a sublime spot to soak in both a sunset and sunrise over the ocean.

If you’re a group (minimum of 10), you’ll have the option to sleep beneath the sea in the Underwater Observatory’s liveaboard bunk beds. Perfect for larger families sharing and groups of friends.

Evening

At around 3pm, you’ll have the thrill of waving the boat full of day-trippers off and having the place almost to yourself (albeit a few fellow lucky guests), so enjoy the serenity of snorkelling at sunset, take a glass bottom kayak out for a paddle or just relax in the sunshine toasting your good fortune over a few bevy’s from the bar.

Dinner is al-fresco on deck, with chef-prepared cuisine (think fresh prawn pasta) and beverages on offer. You’ll have a front-row seat to watch sea birds returning to roost on Lady Musgrave Island around sundown and in season, (for a small additional fee), the option to spot sea turtles nesting (between December and February) or even witness a clutch of tiny turtles erupting from their nests (January to May).

Post dinner, enjoy a hot shower before retiring to your waterproof canopy, with a blanket of stars acting as your night light, and the sounds of the sea providing the perfect soundtrack for a blissful night’s sleep.

Day Two

Morning

Rise early to watch the sunrise over the Great Barrier Reef before enjoying a hearty chef-prepared breakfast. If you have opted to add diving to your adventure, (dive courses and packages are additional), you’ll explore beneath the surface, visiting dive spots located on the outer reef and islands forming the spectacular Bunker Island Group.

Paradise is all yours to savour until you spot that tiny dot on the horizon signaling the Reef Empress's return. The good news is - you get to enjoy another day onboard the pontoon beside a fresh group of day-tripping friends.

Midday

Explore the beauty of Lady Musgrave Island on solid ground. When you sink your toes into the sand you’ll be greeted by a guide who will take you on an educational tour of the island, where you’ll learn about the history of this pristine place, it’s natural lifestyle and the creatures that reside here. Prebook an island picnic hamper in advance and enjoy your lunch on the beach. 

Post tour, climb aboard a glass-bottomed boat and expand your knowledge on the resident reef species – from sprawling staghorn coral to vibrant brain coral. If the lure of the ocean proves too great, grab your snorkel gear and descend into the underwater wonderland. Float past lagoons and coral patches, and feel the pure joy of spotting a turtle or dolphin in the wild.

Evening

When it’s time to depart, you’ll notice those waving enthusiastically to you from the pontoon with that same gloating smile you wore yesterday - unless of course you’ve already decided to sleep over again…

Camping on Lady Musgrave Island

Want to extend your stay? We don’t blame you. While the luxury of the pontoon is seriously special, camping on Lady Musgrave Island is equally stunning – albeit a little lower key. The campground on the island sits within the beautiful Capricorn Cays National Park. A booking and camping permit is required before you pitch your tent.

Unlike the pontoon, you’ll need to be fully self-sufficient when camping here, including carrying your own water (there is no fresh water supply on the island), food and first-aid supplies. You’ll find a composting toilet facility at the campgrounds along with an emergency radio tower. To get there and back, Lady Musgrave Experience and 1770 Reef Great Barrier Reef Eco Tours can arrange camping transfers for you too.