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Lady Musgrave Island
Second in the Great Barrier Reef chain of islands, Lady Musgrave Island is accessible from Bundaberg and the Town of 1770. Scenic shores, crystal clear waters, and close proximity to some of the best diving and snorkeling on Earth make it a popular destination for travelers and adventurers.
The Basics
Daily tours transport visitors to the semi-enclosed 3,000-acre (1,214-hectare) lagoon to swim among pristine coral and abundant marine life, like turtles, manta rays, and a rainbow of fish. (Those who prefer to stay dry can explore the reef in a glass-bottom boat.) You can also hike along well-kept trails, or pitch a tent at one of the island’s campsites. Birds such as white-capped noddy terns, wedge-tailed shearwaters, and buff-banded rails—as well as hundreds of other indigenous species—call Lady Musgrave home, which means land-loving bird-watchers enjoy the island too.
For a longer excursion, set sail on a multi-day southern reef tour that stops at Lady Musgrave Island. Some tours let you customize each day based on your interests—maybe learn to surf, visit the world’s largest turtle research center, or reel in a fish.
Things to Know Before You Go
Although Lady Musgrave Island hosts a number of sea creatures (e.g. humpback whales and blacktip reef sharks), you shouldn’t have a problem with stinging jellyfish.
Be prepared to pay an extra reef tax or boat-access fee—they’re not always included in the tour price.
How to Get There
Lady Musgrave Island can be reached by boat from Bundaberg or the Town of 1770.
Trip ideas
When to Get There
Weather on Lady Musgrave Island is mild year-round, with summer temperatures hovering around 70°F (21°C), and winter temps usually close to 65°F (18°C). Plan your visit around what you’d like to see.
What to See in Lady Musgrave’s Reefs
Australia’s winter (June through September) is the best time to see manta rays feeding near the water’s surface and humpback whales with their calves. Summer offers fish spawning, seabird breeding, and turtle nesting and hatching. Blacktip reef sharks show off their pups from March to May. And you can spot turtles, clams, dolphins, and blue spotted rays year-round.
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