This is for the adventurous, a holiday as close to nature as it ever gets - an experience of a life time!
Although a National Park and World Heritage zone, people of all ages are permitted to experience a genuine 'back-to-nature' camping holiday experience on Lady Musgrave Island. You might want an island holiday with just a tent, some water and food to last you for the period you want to stay.....or you might want to bring or hire a little boat with oars or an engine, a surfboard or scuba gear - the choice is yours! Barely rising above the Great Barrier Reef, Lady Musgrave Island is a coral cay. With no facilities beyond compost toilets this is a bare-bones castaway adventure. Campers share the island with turtles and seabirds and should be totally self-sufficient.
Camping a few days or a week on Lady Musgrave Island is the ultimate holiday!
Lady Musgrave offers an affordable stay for anyone who would like to experience camping on a true coral cay. Lady Musgrave Island National Park is a true un-spoilt wilderness offering the ultimate ‘castaway’ experience. Lady Musgrave Island and Lagoon is situated only 32 nautical miles from the Town of 1770. Lady Musgrave National Park is a tropical paradise abundant in Pisonia forests and bird life. The island is set on 3000 acres of living reef with a deepwater coral lagoon which is unique to the entire Great Barrier Reef Region.
While you will experience total freedom and being one with nature, you also have to be totally self-sufficient, with fresh water being one of the most important necessities. Your stay on Lady Musgrave Island will require a little organising and planning. We have prepared a Camping Information Sheet which you can download from the link on this page. The information sheet includes prices for transport to and from Lady Musgrave Island, camping fees and equipment hire if you do not wish to bring your own.
TRANSFER INFORMATION, PLEASE READ CAREFULLY
Thank you for your interest in getting a transfer to and from Lady Musgrave Island with Lady Musgrave Barrier Reef Cruises. We hope this information sheet is helpful in describing our service for Campers. Lady Musgrave Cruises is predominately a day cruise operator geared to providing a great day out for clients and we offer this transfer service as an ancillary service since it is such a great camping location and other opportunities are limited. So enjoy you stay on this wonderful island and keep it pristine.
Camping Gear - Is strictly limited to 1/3 cubic metre per person. Excess gear may be left behind or additional charges may apply.
Camping Permits - are required on each island. They are purchased in advance from the Environmental Protection Agency on 13 7468 or on the internet http://www.nprsv.qld.gov.au/parks/capricornia-cays/ Cost $5.75/person/night over 5 years of age. Educational groups must book with Gladstone QPWS 07 49716500. There is a limit of 40 campers on the island. We recommend that you first find out if camping permits are available on the island during the period you would like to camp, then call us to see if there are seats available on the vessel. Returns - Vessel returns to 1770 Marina at 5.00pm approximately. Unloading may commence as soon as our day passengers have disembarked.
Departure and Loading - Cruise vessel departs from 1770 Marina.Please have all equipment ready to be loaded by 7.15am on the morning of departure (unless another time has been advised by the office). Any camper who arrives on the morning that has been advised of another time and has not loaded then shall be turned away and their cruise transfers cancelled). All gear must be on board prior to our day passengers boarding. Loading and unloading of gear is your responsibility at 1770 Marina and at Lady Musgrave Island.
We would appreciate all campers take special note of our loading procedures so as to avoid delays on the morning of your departure. For the benefit of all our passengers we aim to depart and return on time.
Transfers - Daily
Additional cruises operate in holiday periods. (Schedule subject to change)
Vehicle Parking - Security parking is available at 1770 Boat & Car Storage, Phone: 4974 7047
Water - Must be taken with you for your stay (5 litres per person per day is recommended). Water can be filled by Lady Musgrave cruises after 6 days N.B. THERE IS NO FRESH WATER ON THE ISLAND.
Cooking - Portable gas stoves are recommended. Please check with the crew on cylinder stowage. Cylinders are not allowed below deck.
Food - Orders can be taken for ice, bread and milk for which a service charge will be made in addition to the cost of items. Please collect after 1.30pm. Water and orders shall only be supplied to campers traveling both ways with Lady Musgrave Cruises. Credit card details are to be provided to the office before departure so any charges can be made for the delivery. If more then one card is be used then it is up to the individual to inform the crew on which card any purchases are to be made.
Rubbish Removal: It is the campers responsibility to arrange for all rubbish NOT to be left on the island or lagoon. There is a fee for removal of $10.00 per removal. No rubbish/garbage is to left on the beach for collection unless attended to by the Campers and they assist crew in removal. You should inquire and make prior arrangement before departure. Only campers who travel with the company, rubbish/garbage will be removed. Charges Apply.
Dinghy Transfers - Dinghies max. 3.5m long x 1.5m wide may be transported to the island for an additional cost of $400.00 includes motor/small fuel tank return. Dinghy transfers must be booked when making your cruise transfer reservations. Availability conditions apply.
N.B. MARINE SAFETY QUEENSLAND HAS ADVISED THAT YOUR DINGHY MUST BE REGISTERED AND CARRY THE CORRECT SAFETY EQUIPMENT. THE OPERATOR OF THE VESSEL MUST HOLD THE APPROPRIATE LICENSE.
Snorkel Gear & Scuba Diving - Please check with the crew on board. Campers are able to join up with our dive services at Lady Musgrave on all days when we are at the reef, except for days of transfer. Certified divers are able to dive sites outside the reef edge aboard our dive tender, “Dive Musgrave ‘’. Introductory dives are conducted inside Lady Musgrave Lagoon. Due to time restraints we are often unable to fill tanks when at the reef. We can however arrange exchange tanks and will fill your tanks back in 1770 and return them on the next cruise. All diving must be pre booked.
THE FOLLOWING IS VERY IMPORTANT – PLEASE READ CAREFULLY
As our cruise to Lady Musgrave Island is across Open Ocean, all departures operate subject to the weather and numbers. Cancellation of cruises can and do occur at different times throughout the year. As a guideline, the cyclone season (December to April) is the peak time for cancellations however bad weather can occur at any time. It may be possible to be marooned for a week or more, consequently YOUR RETURN DATE OF TRAVEL CANNOT BE GUARANTEED. You must therefore ensure you have excess water and food on hand at all times. In the event of an imminent cyclone approaching the area, we would travel to Lady Musgrave and evacuate the island prior to sea and weather conditions becoming dangerous. You may be requested to evacuate at short notice, there may not be time to load all camping gear onto the cruise vessel. Your gear may have to be retrieved at a later time when conditions have improved. Supply or evacuation by air is difficult to arrange, expensive and not a company or emergency service responsibility. N.B. Basic FIRST AID items should be taken with you. In a medical emergency, it may be some time before qualified medical personnel and equipment arrive at the island. An emergency radio has been installed on the island at the base of the lighthouse. Call sign is VMR 488, Marine Rescue Bundaberg.
THE COMPANY SHALL NOT TRANSFER SPEARGUNS, HANDSPEARS, FIREARMS, DEEP FREEZERS OR REFIGERATORS. - The company also reserves the right to refuse to carry any passenger or specific goods without assigning a reason. Due to tides and weather, camping gear cannot often be taken to or picked up from the beach at the campsite. This means gear may have to be carried along the beach by hand and wheelbarrows for 500 to 600 metres. All rubbish is to be brought back in heavy-duty animal proof storage bags. Do not dispose of rubbish in the ocean or bury rubbish on the island. To avoid congestion on the pontoon and vessel, campers coming across for orders must stay clear until 1.30pm and leave by 2.15pm. Only two per group to collect water and supplies. NO GEAR FROM THE ISLAND IS TO BE LEFT ON THE PONTOON.
PLEASE PHONE TO CHECK ON CURRENT AND FORECAST WEATHER CONDITIONS PRIOR TO CONMMENCING YOUR JOURNEY TO TOWN OF 1770.
The management and crew hope this information is of service to you in planning a pleasant holiday on Lady Musgrave Island on the Southern Great Barrier Reef. Please ensure you adhere to the Guidelines as set out by your Camping permit and minimize your impact on the island so future visitors can enjoy this special location. ENJOY YOUR STAY!