Lady Musgrave Island

About Lady Musgrave Island
Lady Musgrave Island's Climate
Turtle Nesting and Hatchlings
Camping on Lady Musgrave Island
Island Communications

Lady Musgrave Island is renowned for featuring the largest, navigable coral lagoon on the entire Great Barrier Reef. Discover for yourself why more and more visitors are choosing Lady Musgrave Island as their Southern Great Barrier Reef Adventure. From glass-bottom boat rides and snorkelling in the calm waters of the lagoon, scuba diving for both novice and experienced divers at a range of dive sites, to fishing one of the most abundant locations in south east Queensland - Lady Musgrave Island offers more choice than any other spot on the reef. For that ultimate Robinson Crusoe experience, be one of the special few to enjoy wilderness camping on this coral cay. Swim, snorkel and relax at leisure ? there are no deadlines or crowds here!

Lady Musgrave Island is the second coral isle on the Great Barrier Reef and covers 14 ha amidst 1192 ha of surrounding reef - about 1/3 of the reef area is a lagoon, over 8kms in circumference. Many yachts anchor here on the first leg of a northern passage through the reef.

The small cay is surrounded by a magnificent coral and white sand lagoon, and is cloaked in dense Pisonia Grandis rainforest, whilst She-Oak and Pandanus line the shore. The island is a true wilderness and the only facilities are basic composting toilets and an emergency radio tower - otherwise it is a completely virgin coral cay. There is no fresh water on the island, yet thousands of sea birds live and breed there and a variety of unusual plants thrive in the poor sandy soils. The beautiful turquoise lagoon surrounding the cay as far as the eye can see is filled with a myriad of wildlife, from brightly coloured tropical fish through to giant sea turtles, dolphins and manta rays.

The coral shapes and varieties are endless and the coral bay offers ideal snorkelling conditions along the inner left wall marked with buoys. Exploring the outer reef edge should only be attempted by experienced snorkelers in calm conditions. Plenty of sunscreen and/or ‘SunSmart’ clothing, old sandshoes for exploring and a comprehensive first aid kit are essentials for a hassle-free experience. Sea phones are also a handy accessory and are available from Marine Parks.

Snorkelling and diving in the lagoon and on the lee reef slope enable you to experience the diversity of underwater life. Strolling across the island reveals interesting features of the cay and its beaches. If you are careful and quiet, you may see many birds including the buff-banded rail (Gallirallus philippensis) scurrying along the ground or the eastern reef egret (Egretta Sacra) roosting and nesting in the trees.

Lady Musgrave Island's Climate

The island lies just south of the Tropic of Capricorn, so conditions are mostly mild throughout the year. Water temperature in Summer (Dec - Mar) averages 27C (80F) with day temps in the low 30's (high 80'sF). Winter (May - Sept) water temps average 20C (68F) with day temps in the low 20's (high 60'sF). February is the wettest month with August offering the least chance of rain. There are no box jelly fish found in the waters of the outer Great Barrier Reef at any time of year.

Turtle Nesting and Hatchlings

Spring to summer is the time for turtle breeding. In spring turtles mate in the calm waters of the lagoon; from late October to February, female green and loggerhead turtles come ashore to nest above the high tide mark. After 7-12 weeks incubation in their sandy nests, the turtle hatchlings emerge and scramble down the beach to the sea. Turtle mating and breeding activity during spring and summer means that turtles are on the reef flat at high tide and are generally slower to react. Please slow down when operating vessels on the reef flat and take care not to come in contact with turtles. Information displays are situated near the main access point on Lady Musgrave Island and at the entrance to the camping ground.

Camping on Lady Musgrave Island

There are very few places in the world where you can experience world heritage-listed natural beauty without staying at unaffordable resorts or viewing the scenery behind walls of glass. We are on the doorstep of two of these areas of world significance - Fraser Island and the Great Barrier Reef. For most, the Reef is available just for a couple of hours, where visitors attempt to see and experience what nature has taken thousands of years to create. Whilst it may be a dream of many to be "shipwrecked" on a tropical island paradise, Lady Musgrave Island offers the reality!

Wilderness style camping offers those willing to experience more than just a day visit the opportunity to snorkel, explore and relax at leisure on what is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful places on Earth. Camping is permitted on Lady Musgrave Island from Easter to Australia Day inclusive. Between the Australia Day weekend - January 26 and Easter the campground is closed to minimize human impact on emerging turtle hatchlings, breeding seabirds and vegetation. Further closures may also occur from time to time for management and conservation activities, and during emergencies such as impending cyclones. As both Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service (QP&WS) and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) protect the island and surrounding reef, strict rules apply to campers. Camping is by permit only - available from the EPA Website - and must be obtained prior to your departure.

A limit of 40 people at any one time applies and bookings are taken up to 11 months in advance of the first day of camping. However, bookings for state school holiday periods will only be accepted 11 months in advance of the first business day after the commencement of the state school holiday periods.

If using a commercial launch, the company you travelled with may charge you a double-fare for the empty seats on their return trip and for the trip to pick you up again. They will drop you onto the eastern end of the island, and it is a further 400 metres along the walking track through the forest to the camping area. Camping is allowed in the designated camping area only, behind the posts and ropes where erected. When selecting a site and setting up camp, have consideration for others that may follow you. Do not spread your group too far, keep together and respect other campers. Dive compressors are permitted in the compressor bunker on the island and should only be used between 0900 and 1800 hours. Dive compressors and all quantities of fuel must be stored in the storage areas provided next to the toilet block. 240-volt power, leads and generators will not be allowed in the park

Take water and a gas or liquid fuel stove - no campfires or ash-producing fuels are allowed on the island. Allow about 5 litres of water/person/day and extra for emergencies. Any spear gun brought on to the island must be disarmed at all times. NB: It is only possible to organise camping transfers on weekends and Australian public holidays through the EPA website - QP&WS are closed on these days. Make sure you organise permits before you arrive! Bookings over the Christmas & Easter periods and during Australian school holidays are essential.

Island Communications

- Digital/CDMA mobile phones do not work from Lady Musgrave. You should consider taking a marine VHF radio with you:
- VMR477 Round Hill is contactable between 0700 and 1800 on channel 81 marine VHF;
- VMR488 Bundaberg is also contactable between 0700 and 1800 on channel 81 marine VHF;
- Queensland Police Service, Bundaberg monitors channel 81 marine VHF 24 hrs/day;
- Also try to contact other vessels in the vicinity or at anchor in the lagoon for help.

There is an emergency radio located on the deck of the toilet block and is to be used for emergencies only