Take Off To Island Paradise

Prepare to take off to paradise with our guided scenic flight experience to Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort, on the southern tip of the Great Barrier Reef.

You are about to commence an unforgettable journey to a very special coral cay, located within a highly protected ‘Green Zone’ of the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Due to our remote location 80 kilometres off the Queensland coast, and our close proximity to the deep waters of the continental shelf, our 45-hectare island is a natural wonderland and sanctuary for a rich diversity of marine life, plants and nesting seabirds.

As you prepare to embark on your adventure, we ask that you travel lightly, respect the island’s eco guidelines, and join us in our mission to protect and preserve this beautiful destination for future generations.

Your flight today is operated by our sister company, Seair Pacific, whose experienced pilots have been operating the island’s charter service since 1996. Today you’ll be travelling aboard either a Cessna Caravan aircraft accommodating up to 13 passengers, or DHC6 Twin Otter aircraft, accommodating up to 19 passengers.

On boarding the aircraft you’ll be provided with a comprehensive in-flight booklet containing a treasure trove of information about your flight, Lady Elliot Island and a range of resort activities. Specifically, it contains your Aircraft Safety Briefing Card (available in both English and Japanese translations), scenic flight map and Seair Pacific fleet information, your sustainability pledge, snorkel classification survey and other handy resort details to help you plan your stay.

Before you take off, your pilot will provide a full safety briefing and share some further details about today’s scenic flight. Then it’s time to strap in, sit back and relax as you prepare to experience one of the exhilarating highlights of your Lady Elliot Island adventure!

Gold Coast Departures

We warmly welcome aboard all guests departing from the beautiful Gold Coast today. Your expected transit time to Lady Elliot Island is approximately two hours.

You’re probably beginning to feel a pleasant buzz of excitement as you step aboard and prepare to enjoy your scenic flight up the east coast to Lady Elliot Island.

As you begin your ascent out of the Gold Coast Airport in the southern suburb of Coolangatta, you’ll track north over the glistening golden coastline and world-class waves of Broadbeach and Surfers Paradise. You’ll sense the exhilarating freedom of soaring like an eagle over the luxury hotels, sun-soaked beaches and bustling coastal communities of this thriving tourism hotspot.

You’ll pass by the entertainment mecca of the Star Casino, the towering 322.5 metre spire of Q1 (the Gold Coast’s tallest building) and the plush facades of luxe five-star properties such as the Imperial Hotel Gold Coast and and the Sheraton Grand Mirage. Intriguingly, with the unique perspective offered by your aerial view, you’ll discover the Sheraton Grand Mirage is built in the shape of a crab!

Soon you’ll be flying high over the aquatic attractions of SeaWorld, then the prestigious man-made Sovereign Islands. This exclusive enclave of six interconnected islands is in the Southport Broadwater of southern Moreton Bay. To the east lies South Stradbroke Island – a serene and unspoilt beach destination, fringed with a white sandy shoreline and popular with water sports enthusiasts.

Our flight continues over North Stradbroke I–land - the second largest sand island in the world. The Moreton Bay area contains over 350 islands, with the ocean side dominated by golden sandy beaches, dunes and coastal bushland. Large herds of dugongs, turtles and rays are often spotted on the sandbanks on the southern passage of Moreton Bay. On the western side of Moreton Island, the dark shadowy outline of the Tangalooma Wrecks lies just offshore.

Brisbane Departures

If you’re joining us in the Queensland capital city of Brisbane, welcome aboard! We’re delighted to have your company for the next hour and a half or so as we wing our way to Lady Elliot Island.

Your flight departs from Redcliffe Aerodrome, just 30 minutes’ drive north of the Brisbane CBD. As you take to the sky, Brisbane’s cosmopolitan streetscape spreads out to the south. The Brisbane River meanders through the heart of the metropolis, like a wriggling brown snake weaving its way towards the ocean.

Just north of Brisbane, the craggy peaks of the Glass House Mountains are coming into view. This stunning series of towering mountain peaks are the remnants of volcanic activity that occurred between 25 and 27 million years ago. At their feet, a scenic patchwork of pine plantations, bushlands and cultivated fields unfurls before you.

To the east of the mountains, the lush green canopy and quaint rural communities of the hinterland are revealed, fringed by the seaside splendour of the Sunshine Coast, stretching all the way from Caloundra in the south to Noosa Heads in the north. White-capped waves ripple over perfect soft sand beaches, and the glistening Pacific Ocean stretches towards the horizon.

As we head north you will fly over one of only two Everglade systems in the world, the Noosa Everglades. This breathtaking natural beauty is a subtropical haven for marine life, birds, flora and fauna species. The winding waterways are lined with ancient tea tree forests, mangroves and lily pads.

A little further north we pass over the beautifully coloured sands of Rainbow Beach. Towering dunes in a kaleidoscope of colours provide a buffer against the ocean waves. These naturally sculpted sand cliffs appear a little like a layered cake, decorated in a kaleidoscope of colours ranging from buttery yellow and soft caramel brown to burnt orange, pink, blue and black. We’ll also pass over the 15-hectare sand mass of the Carlo Sand Blow. To the north, the narrow sandy peninsular known as Inskip Point juts into the ocean, serving as one of the main vehicular access points to K’gari (formerly Fraser Island).

Hervey Bay Departures

Our Fraser Coast friends will now be joining us for the adventure of a lifetime as we continue our scenic journey to island paradise. Welcome aboard! Your flight from Hervey Bay on the magnificent Fraser Coast to touchdown on Lady Elliot Island is expected to take approximately 40 minutes.

As we begin our ascent, World Heritage-listed K’gari (formerly Fraser Island), quietly commands your attention. K’gari is the world’s largest sand island, and is a place of profound natural beauty, featuring pockets of lush rainforest, coastal heaths, ever-evolving sand dunes and over 44 spectacular freshwater lakes. 75 Mile Beach extends along the eastern edge of the island, and is the longest continuous beach on Australia’s east coast. This extensive stretch of golden sand serves as a gazetted highway, popular fishing spot and even an airstrip for the island’s beach pilots!

The laid-back holiday hotspot of Hervey Bay is a popular whale watching mecca. From June to November, migrating humpback whales may be spotted playing in the sheltered waters between Hervey Bay and K’gari. These gentle giants visit in great numbers during the whale watch season, staying a while to rest and recover on their annual pilgrimage to warmer waters. I guess humans aren’t the only ones who enjoy a relaxing holiday frolicking in the calm waters of the Fraser Coast!

Bundaberg Departures

The anticipation is building, and the fizzy feeling of excitement fills the air. Your idyllic island destination is just across the ocean. But before we head northeast, it’s time for one final stop, as we welcome aboard our guests travelling from Bundaberg.

Bundaberg is the gateway to the southern Great Barrier Reef, and the northern-most departure point for our flights to Lady Elliot Island. This fertile, agricultural area is home to the iconic Aussie Bundaberg Rum Distillery and Bundaberg Brewed Drinks. This vibrant coastal city also boasts the Mon Repos Turtle Centre, home to the largest turtle rookery for endangered loggerhead turtles. Perched on the beautiful Bundaberg coastline, the Mon Repos Turtle Centre plays a pivotal role in promoting research, conservation and education about these gentle marine giants.

As we swing northeast and head out to Lady Elliot Island, we’ll pass over lush fields of sugarcane before heading offshore. The sleepy seaside town of Bargara lies to the right, and to your left, the Burnett River carves a watery path towards the Coral Sea.

As we approach the island, on a clear day, the Capricorn Bunker Group of Islands may come into view to the north, including Lady Musgrave, Fair-fax, Hoskyn and Bolt. Lady Musgrave is the closest neighbouring island to Lady Elliot, approximately 22 nautical miles north-west.

As you begin your descent, you’ll be afforded a breathtaking aerial view of Lady Elliot Island and its surrounding reef. A collective gasp at the sight of the island’s jaw-dropping beauty may be heard throughout the cabin. Your pilot will point out the resort location and other landmarks on the island. Your unique birds-eye view may even feature the dark silhouettes of some of our magnificent marine animals, such as manta rays, turtles and whales (in season).

The grass airstrip running north to south is 600 metres long and runs the full length of the island. Camera ready in hand as you descend to land, the magnificent coral formations come into view. As you touch down following your exhilarating landing, you’ll be greeted by the smiling faces of our welcoming resort team. You’ll step out of the plane, and into what feels like another world, where the wonders of unspoilt nature await!

Welcome to Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort!

Scenic Flight Accessibility

Due to its remoteness, Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort is only accessible via the small aircraft charter service operated exclusively by Seair Pacific. Our friendly reservations team will book your flights in conjunction with your accommodation or day trip package, ensuring a seamless and stress-free travel experience. Flights depart from a variety of mainland locations to accommodate your itinerary, including Bundaberg, Hervey Bay/Fraser Coast, Brisbane (Redcliffe) and the Gold Coast.

For flight and accommodation bookings please visit our website at ladyelliotisland.com.au or contact our Reservations Team on 1800 072 200 (within Australia) or 617 5536 3644 from abroad. Our Reservations Office is open seven days a week from 7:00am to 5:00pm Australian Eastern Standard Time.

While we endeavour to welcome everyone aboard our flights, these small charter aircraft may present some accessibility challenges, particularly to wheelchair users and guests with limited mobility. Wheelchair users may require assistance when boarding and disembarking the aircraft, however this will depend on the abilities of the individual. Aircraft entry and exit is via a set of cargo stairs. Some wheelchairs will comfortably fit through the stair frame, while others may not.

Cargo space is limited by the size of the aircraft. Wheelchairs will be required to fold down and fit inside the cargo hold. Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort will request size dimensions, weight (in kilograms) and battery specifications (if electric) to confirm it can be secured appropriately.

Registered service animals are welcome aboard our scenic charter flights and to Lady Elliot Island. If you plan on travelling with your service dog, please advise our Reservations Team at the time of booking, so we can ensure appropriate space is provided in the aircraft cabin.

The in-flight booklet is only available in print format. However, the safety briefing is provided audibly by the pilot, and the safety briefing card provides written and pictorial flight safety instructions. Further detailed information about the island can be accessed via the resort’s other accessible audio guides available on Vacayit’s Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort home page or listed below in ‘Related Experiences’ for Vacayit app users.

Please note that there are no bathroom facilities available onboard our aircraft with the longest flight time approximately 2 hours for Gold Coast departures.

If you have any questions, concerns or access requirements, please contact our Reservations Team directly, and we’ll endeavour to accommodate your needs wherever possible. We will always do our best to provide you with further information and advice tailored to your unique circumstances.