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Growing up, two of my favourite bedtime storybooks were about fish: The Rainbow Fish (a whimsical reflection on the importance of generosity) and The Fish Who Could Wish (a fun, fanciful tale about an entitled little fish whose most unattainable wishes come true). There are times when I feel a little bit like the lucky orange protagonist from the latter, and my recent trip to Lady Elliot Island – the southernmost island of the Great Barrier Reef – was one of them. As I jumped off a boat into the sparkling waters, and kicked my flippers on the surface of the ocean as reef sharks and turtles and real-life rainbow fish drifted through the depths below me, I couldn’t help but feel like I’d wished this lovely, delightfully aquatic life into existence.
I also couldn’t help but wonder about the role that these books might have played in the childhood of Amy Gash – Island Custodian of Lady Elliott Island, and daughter of the man responsible for making the island the pioneering eco-tourism gem that it is. If her wish was to create a place where frazzled souls could come to reset, then it seems that wish has come true. After first visiting in 1980, Peter Gash took custodianship of Lady Elliot Island back in 2005, and set about turning the island into what it is today: planting more than 20,000 trees, developing a hybrid solar power station, and introducing a raft of conservation and sustainability initiatives. As we explored the paths that weave through the now-thriving native bushland, our guide told us that the average length of stay here is three days – a solid pocket of time to spend between the laid-back, unpretentious accommodation and the reef. If you only have a day to spare, or if you’re a luxury-lover not willing to compromise on super high-end accommodation, we’ve got the answer.
The Langham Gold Coast – the third Australian outpost of the famously opulent historic hotel brand – has recently launched a next-level two-night package that whisks guests away on a 14-seater plane for a full day of snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef, feasting on seafood and exploring the island, before flying back in time for sunset drinks beside the hotel’s infinity pool. We were lucky enough to try the package for ourselves, and as we flew back to Sydney after just two nights away, we agreed that we felt as though we’d been on holiday for a week – such is the restorative magic of a weekend spent between one of Australia’s best hotels and one of its most enchanting remote islands.
We arrived at The Langham on Friday afternoon, checking into our ridiculously spacious Ocean Suite and heading straight onto the balcony – the pristine sands of Surfers Paradise stretching out below us for miles. I’ve stayed in a lot of hotel rooms across Australia, and this one is absolutely up there – floor-to-ceiling windows opening up onto uninterrupted views of the waves, a signature Langham Blissful bed framed by warm lighting, and every thoughtful amenity (from delicately wrapped tea bags to luxe Diptique toiletries) carefully curated and presented with immaculate care. In the abundantly generous bathroom, a circular bathtub takes centre stage, with plush robes and stacks of fluffy towels waiting on the rails. It’s worth noting that this exceptionally generous room isn’t totally unaffordable, with rates starting at around $700 per night.
We spent our afternoon between the hotel’s pool bar and the soft-sand beach that unfurls for three kilometres just steps from the pool. That evening, a full moon rose from behind the ocean and sent diamonds of light dancing across the water. We watched it from bed, and fell asleep with the balcony doors open to the sounds of the waves.
At 6am the next morning, we were met in the glittering lobby with Langham-branded breakfast boxes, and took the 30-minute journey to Gold Coast airport (airport transfers are part of the package, so you don’t have to worry about driving before your first coffee). From there, we boarded a tiny 14-seater plane, and took off towards the reef – cruising at between 500 and 8,000 feet as dugongs and whales splashed around below us.
Touching down on Lady Elliot’s grassy runway, it’s impossible not to be struck by the island’s magic: the tiny, tear drop-shaped coral cay pushes out of the ocean 80 kilometres from shore, with the surrounding reef creating a halo of turquoise around the gleaming white shores.
Lady Elliot’s unique location – around eight kilometres from the edge of the continental shelf and 80 kilometres from shore – is responsible for its next-level snorkelling offering, with the proximity to the continental shelf meaning the reef is teeming with life, and the distance from the mainland meaning there’s little to no sediment impacting the water quality. In fact, the snorkelling offering here – thriving coral gardens and gorgeous crystal water – helped earn the island Lonely Planet’s title as #1 Snorkelling Destination in the World.
During our snorkel, we saw turtles, barracudas, manta rays, whole schools of stripy sturgeonfish, a roaming reef shark and a tiny wriggling sea snake. A glass-bottomed boat took us back to shore exhausted and elated, with the snow-white coral reflecting back the sunlight and giving a surreal glow to the already picture-perfect day.
Lunch was a seafood-forward feast served in the island’s laid-back communal dining room, and beer and wine are included in the package – we ordered a round of bubbles and a plate of gloriously fat prawns, and raised a glass to the sun.
Back at The Langham, after another surreally beautiful flight, we headed to the spa, watched the sunset from our balcony, then filled up on oysters and sashimi at Akoya’s out-of-this-world buffet. If you're thinking about booking a next-level weekend showcasing the best of Australia's coastline, this is hard to beat.
The Langham’s two-night Beyond the Reef package includes two nights in an Ocean View Room at The Langham, the Lady Elliot Island Day Tour (featuring return scenic flights, a snorkelling session on a glass-bottom boat, lunch and drinks), transfers to and from the airport on the day of the tour and daily breakfast at Akoya. Prices start at $1,900. You can learn more and book over here.
Note: We were kindly hosted by The Langham and Lady Elliot Island, but our editorial recommendations are always honest.
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