Climate
Sub-tropical, with more rain and warmth in the summer. Daytime temperatures average in the high 20s during summer, and low 20s during winter. It can remain warm and comfortable for swimming well into April.
Flora and fauna
The island is home to a great diversity of marine life. Many varieties of tropical fish, the ever present Sergeant Major, Parrot and Butterfly fishes along with Moon Wrasse are probably the most common. Trigger fish, flute fish and anemone fish are fairly easily seen. Reef Sharks, Manta Rays, Sting Rays are also around if you look. Mantas can even be spotted from the air when landing on the island, so keep an eye out. The corals are all hard corals, there is some colour in some of the coral, especially in deeper water, but most of the coral and anemones are not brightly coloured.
Turtles breed and hatch their young on the island beaches, and can be viewed in the summer months. Green turtles and Hawksbill turtles are common in the water at all times of year. They are curious creatures, and will often cruise around with you, rather than avoiding you. They are easily seen from boats or while snorkelling. Loggerhead turtles are rarer but do inhabit the area.
All flora and fauna is protected on the island and the bay. No fishing is allowed. Nothing can be removed from the island, including shells and washed-up coral.
Landscape
The island is a coral cay, with the highest point only a few metres above the high tide. It is largely sandy, with grasses and substantial trees across the island, including a few beachside palms. No hills to climb, only two real walking tracks across the island. It is possible to walk around the island on the beach, even at high tide.
History
The island was named after the ship, Lady Elliot that was once stranded on its reef.
It was once mined for guano, and was almost completely cleared of vegetation. It has been revegetated and has become a natural sanctuary since the 1960s. Today some of the island is managed as an eco-tourism resort.