Lady Musgrave day cruise · Town of 1770 marina
A power catamaran takes you from Town of 1770 to Lady Musgrave Island, where you snorkel the lagoon, look at the coral through a glass-bottom boat and walk the island with the crew. Of the reef days sold on this site, it is the only one that actually lands on the island.
Lady Musgrave is the southernmost island of Capricornia Cays National Park, a small, uninhabited coral cay inside its own ring of reef, 59 km east-north-east of Seventeen Seventy. There is no resort, no shop and no drinking water on it, just a pisonia forest, seabirds and a lagoon. Queensland Parks calls the lagoon snorkelling "excellent and protected", and the reef ring keeps outside currents away, which is why beginners do well here.
This cruise leaves the Town of 1770 marina for a crossing of about 90 minutes each way. In the lagoon you get three things: snorkelling with the gear supplied, a glass-bottom boat tour for anyone who would rather stay dry, and a guided walk across the island with the crew. Lunch, morning and afternoon tea are included, with tea, coffee and chilled water all day. Turtles are seen on most days, per the operator, and the listing also mentions humpback whales, dolphins and manta rays.
Two things to know before you book. It is a big boat: the listing allows up to 100 people, so it is not a small-group day, although one guest on a full boat said it never felt crowded. And the crossing is open ocean, so the listing highly recommends seasickness medication. If you would rather snorkel with ten people and skip the island, look at the small-group reef snorkel. The Lady Musgrave day trip guide covers the Bundaberg option too.
The meeting point is 535 Captain Cook Drive, Seventeen Seventy, about 15 minutes' drive north of Agnes Water. 1770 Reef, a local operator, says its departure times change daily with the tide, so check the time for your date; one July guest checked in at 5:15am.
The power catamaran heads out across open ocean. Take your seasickness tablet before you board, not once you feel queasy.
Snorkelling equipment is supplied; wetsuits are not. The glass-bottom boat shows the coral and fish to anyone who stays dry.
The crew walks you across the cay and through the pisonia forest. Black noddies nest there from October to April, and turtles nest on the beaches from late October to February.
Morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea come with the trip, and tea, coffee and chilled water are on hand all day.
The boat returns to the marina at the end of a day of about nine hours.
★★★★★Absolutely incredible, I haven’t been in the sea for years and was anxious about snorkelling for the first time but felt very safe with the crews attention and reassurance. [...] you are well looked after.
★★★★★We had the most amazing day [...] captain stopped the boat on the way over to fish out rubbish so the turtles wouldn’t eat it and get sick [...] The boat was full but we didn’t feel like we were on top of one another snorkelling or doing the glass bottom boat and island walk.
★★★★★We absolutely loved our day out to lady musgrave island. The crew were amazing when my husband got sea sick on the way there as it was a bit choppy . There were a few people who got sick and those girls couldn’t do enough for everyone. [...]
★★★★★The snorkelling experience at Lady Musgrave Island was magical! The array of life was impressive, from schools of small colourful fish to large turtles.
Read next:
Yes. The guided island walk is part of the day, and you snorkel and ride the glass-bottom boat in the lagoon. That is the difference from the small-group reef snorkel and the scuba day, which visit reef sites and do not land on the island.
About 90 minutes each way on a power catamaran. The island is 59 km east-north-east of Seventeen Seventy, according to Queensland Parks, and the whole day takes about 9 hours. 1770 Reef, a local operator, says its departure times change with the tide, so check the start time for your date. More in the 1770 to Lady Musgrave guide.
Yes, Lady Musgrave Experience sails from Bundaberg Port Marina at 7:00am daily, about 2 hours 15 minutes each way, and uses a pontoon in the lagoon. It is not bookable on this site. From 1770 the crossing is shorter, at about 90 minutes.
The listing asks for sunglasses, a hat, swimwear, a change of clothes, a towel, sunscreen, water shoes and a reusable water bottle. Add your own wetsuit or lycra suit, since wetsuits are not included, and seasickness tablets. There is no water or shop on the island.
Ready to book
Snorkel the lagoon, ride the glass-bottom boat and walk the island, with lunch on board. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Small-Group Reef Snorkelling from 1770Ten snorkellers at most, a guide in the water and two reef sites. Wetsuit and lunch included; no island landing.★ 4.9 · 9 hours · from $220
Reef Scuba Diving Day from 1770Two guided dives on the southern reefs for certified divers, with about seven divers per guide. No island landing.★ 5.0 · 9 hours · from $303
LARC Paradise Tour to Bustard HeadBeaches, tidal creeks and the Bustard Head lighthouse by amphibious LARC, with sandboarding, lunch and billy tea.★ 4.8 · 7 hours · from $117