Have you wondered how Lady Musgrave Island was created

Posted on June 5, 2018June 6, 2018 by Katrina

How was Lady Musgrave Island Created?

Believe it or not, the “land” that forms the Great Barrier Reef is the remains of sediments of the Great Dividing Range (Australia’s largest mountain range). It extends over 2500 kilometres along the coast line of Queensland. Wow isn’t that amazing!

Coral Cay

There are many types of reefs throughout the Great Barrier Reef however at the Southern End, we are graced with reefs that also include a coral cay. A coral cay is actually an island formed from the loose coral sediments that are broken up by prevailing winds and “pushed” into an area of the reef where it deposits, settles and begins to form the cay. There are many cays on the Great Barrier Reef however Lady Musgrave is the only one that you can gain ACCESS into the partially protected waters of the lagoon, within the walls of the reef itself.

Lady Musgrave Island is over 19 hectares (49 acres) and is properly described as a wooded, sandy cay. It has been built by wind driven waves, pushing coral rubble, sand and broken shells to one end of the reef. Now it is held together by the roots of trees and shrubs, fertilised by the bird droppings of those that nest, live and breed on the island.

Lady Musgrave Lagoon

The lagoon is surrounded by an oval shaped coral ring, striving to grow outward which has collapsed in the centre. The reef consists of over 3000 acres comprising of cay (island), lagoon and reef, with the lagoon itself around 1000 acres.

Great, broad-leafed Pisonia trees (Pisonia Grandis) dominate the island’s interior. They are soft wooded and shallow rooted so they sometimes topple or drop branches in strong winds and storms but continue to live in a tangles mat of trunks and roots. The Pandanus thrives around the island’s edge on strong roots that bind the soil and sand. Casuarina Pines thrive in the open spaces and their fine leaves give great shade. Octopus Bush are around the foreshore and Sandpaper Figs can be found inland.

So time to come and visit this island paradise with the enthusiastic

passionate team from 1770reef.

We are the Closest access to the Reef!

Posted on May 25, 2018May 25, 2018 by Katrina

Lady Musgrave Island – Gateway to the Southern Great Barrier Reef.

1770reef provides you with the closest access to Lady Musgrave Island being just a short boat trip out fro the Town of 1770 to Lady Musgrave Island, Reef and Lagoon. The Town of 1770/Agnes Water is only 5 hours from the city of Brisbane and only 1.5 hours from city of Bundaberg, by car.

You can drive yourself, catch a Greyhound Bus, get the Tilt Train or get an Executive Limousine service direct from Bundaberg, return. So easy to get here and so much to enjoy with 1770reef visiting the “jewel” in the reef – Lady Musgrave Island.

What to expect on your tour

We travel 65 kilometres across open oceans to access the wonders of the reef, right on our doorstep. All activities are provided for your day – a wonderfully informative guided island walk with our experienced guide who tends to spend most of the year either working on the reef/island with 1770reef or assisting with Qld Parks and Wildlife vegetation regeneration projects on the island. Let Marcus share his extensive knowledge about the island, the birds and the marine life that surround these shores.

Then, onto the glass bottom boat with your guide for a great coral viewing tour. With 6 metres of large glass panels on the bottom, it allows all our guests to enjoy “life under the sea” without getting your feet wet. Meandering through the coral bommies pointing out the different coral formations, finding Nemos’ and spotting turtles as we go.

On your return to our vessel to enjoy a fresh tropical buffet lunch before getting your swimmers on for your snorkelling activity. After your important snorkel safety briefing by the crew, get your snorkel gear (crew will assist with sizing if required) and away you go to enjoy the pristine waters of the lagoon within our large snorkel zone. Resting stations are provided throughout the zone, in case of fatigue during your snorkel time as it can be a tiring exercise for those of us not used to it. Open your eyes to the beauty below the water and let us know what you spot- turtles, garfish, cods, parrot fish, clown fish to name a few.

Advice before travel

As you are travelling across open marine waters to reach this magnificent destination, 1770reef also recommend that you consider motion sickness medication. This is best pre purchased before your arrival in town. Also some thongs or covered shoes that can get wet as the island is a coral Island and quiet hard on your feet.

So need help to organise a great holiday or just a quick weekend away, call us – 1770reef – and we can offer you our reef trip, other local activities in town and accommodation packages.

Call us today 0749 727222 or email tours@1770reef.com.au or look at our website www.1770reef.com.au

Finding Nemo at Lady Musgrave Island

Posted on April 3, 2018April 3, 2018 by Katrina

We all love “Nemo” at Lady Musgrave Island

The Great 8! Number #3 on the list of Great 8 are our beautiful Clown Fish and notably well known around the world “Nemo”.

Boy or Girl?

All Clown Fish are born. These very social fish live together with a dominant female. If she dies, the most dominant male will change sex to female and become the leader.

Home Safe!

Clown Fish have a very special relationship with the Anemone (related to coral and jellyfish and some experts say half plant and half animal). The Clown Fish eat the anemone leftovers (fish pieces for example) and live among https://www.1770reef.com.au/book-now/ the protection of the venomous tentacles. The anemone uses the Clown Fish for removal of dead tentacles and to improve water circulation around itself.

What Colour Am I?

Clown Fish come in a variety of wonderful colours. They have white stripes that are combined with orange, red, yellow, blue, or black basic body colour. Of course, we all think of the orange type due to the popularity of the movie “Finding Nemo”.

Come and Get Me!

By gaining the protection of the toxic tentacles of the anemone, Clown Fish can be known to be quite aggressive in nature if predators do come close. Recently, on a 1770reef Day Trip to Lady Musgrave, we have experienced, first hand, a Hawksbill Turtle trying to eat coral near an anemone with resident Clown Fish and out they charged towards the turtle, – twice. Always ready to protect their homes.

Clown Fish – One. Turtle – Nil.

They will also fiercely protect their homes from other Clown Fish. However, if with the best protection, Clown Fish is often preyed on by large fish, sharks and eels.

Let 1770reef help you tick the famous CLOWN FISH # 3 on the Great Barrier Reef Great 8 off your bucket list!!!

+617 4972 7222 tours@1770reef.com.au www.1770reef.com.au

Meet the Majestic Manta Ray’s at Lady Musgrave Island

Posted on March 26, 2018March 26, 2018 by Katrina

Manta Ray’s at Lady Musgrave Island with 1770reef

The gracefulness of the Manta Ray is truly a thing of beauty. They are a giant of the ocean and can reach a disc size of up to 7metres, averaging around 4.5 metres.

Coming in at Number #2 on the Great 8 of our Great Barrier Reef’s living icons is the Manta Ray and you may have to chance to get up close and personal while snorkelling the pristine waters of Lady Musgrave Lagoon.

Did you know?

The Manta Ray has the largest brain to body size ration of any living fish which makes them quite inquisitive around snorkellers and divers, coming up to “inspect” what you are up to.

How fast can they go?

The flapping in Mantas can generate incredible amount of propulsion. A 4.5 metre Manta can travel at around 14 kilometres per hour with bursts of up to 35 kilometres per hour.

You can name one as well.

If you get a chance to swim with the Manta take a photo of its underbelly. No two Mantas have the same markings. If it is identified as a “new” sighting, you can name it yourself!

The Love Train

During breeding times up to 30 males may follow only one (1) female as she leads them in a merry dance resembling something like the old Conga Line dance. She will then choose one of the males as a partner. Once she falls pregnant, the male departs and has no part in any parenting.

What a big mouth you have?

The Manta has a very large, forward facing mouth. This allows them to migrate across the open seas and filter feed large quantities of plankton which they swallow with their open mouths as they swim along.

Let 1770reef help you tick the famous MANTA RAY # 2 on the Great Barrier Reef Great 8 off your bucket list!!!

+617 4972 7222 tours@1770reef.com.au www.1770reef.com.au

Giant Clam

Posted on March 15, 2018 by Katrina

Giant Clams at Lady Musgrave Island Lagoon

It’s The Great 8!

The Giant Clam is found at our very own Lady Musgrave Island Lagoon part of the Southern Great Barrier Reef, with the Giant Clam earing its spot at number 5, alongside the likes of Whales, Manta Rays, Clown Fish, Sharks, Potato Cod, Maori Wrasse and Turtles.

Lady Musgrave Island is one of the only locations along the Great Barrier Reef where all 8 can be found, including of course the amazing Giant Clam.

Did you know?

It’s said that, like a human fingerprint, no two Giant Clams have the same colouration or mantle pattern. These wild technicolour effects actually come from algae living within the clam’s tissue.

These extraordinary mollusks, which can grow to 1.5 meters in length and weigh up to 200 kilograms, feature a pretty ordinary exterior but a stunning mantle – the fleshy part protruding from the shell.

One of these Clams is not like the other….

Adult giant clams cannot close their shells completely. This makes them the only species of clams unable to do so.

Male or Female?

By nature, Giant Clams are hermaphrodites. They possess the reproductive organs of both the sexes.

Despite this, they cannot reproduce on their own. On the contrary, they release sperms and eggs into the water.

A single giant clam can release over 500 million eggs at one time.

What’s for dinner?

The algae that grow within the Giant Clam’s mantle tissue are their main source of food. The giant clams absorb sugars and proteins, which these algae produce as they photosynthesize. The nutrition that they get from these algae enables them to acquire such enormous sizes.

Owing to their immense size and their sessility, giant clams are also preyed upon by a number of predators which are, more often than not, much smaller than them.

Let 1770reef help you tick the famous GIANT CLAM # 5 on the Great Barrier Reef Great 8 off your bucket list!!! Bookings 0749727222https://www.1770reef.com.au/book-now/

Top 100 Bucket List with news/experienceoz

Posted on March 12, 2018March 12, 2018 by Katrina

#23 Queensland top 100 Bucket List with news/experienceoz

#23 – Snorkel the Lady Musgrave Island lagoon

Where is it? 80km north-east of Bundaberg, QLD

Host to the Great Barrier Reef’s largest lagoon and one of the best overall budget options for those looking to get a sampling of a quality reef environment, Lady Musgrave Island offers an amazing snorkel and dive destination – particularly for beginners – all at a relatively reasonable, bare-bones price with operators Lady Musgrave Experience departing from Bundaberg, and 1770 Reef Tours from the Town of 1770. As a result, it’s the perfect beginner-friendly island reef destination for first-timers. A prominent coral cay in the Great Barrier Reef’s southern section, Lady Musgrave Island brings along with it the characteristic high visibility levels one can expect of the south reef. While its marine life is diverse and plentiful, it’s the lagoon that helps set Lady Musgrave apart from its counterparts; it offers a great combination of both size and safety alongside impressive coral cover with a good mixture of both hard and soft types to encounter.

Lady Musgrave’s lagoon is a veritable hub of colourful reef fish, resident turtles and a variety of coral with along with a sand bottom and scattered bommies that are delightful to explore. The lagoon offers an easily navigable depth of 6 to 8 metres, and given that the island’s waters offer an average visibility of around 20 metres at a minimum, it’s possible to take in a wonderful underwater panorama even for beginner snorkellers. Couple this with a lack of currents, and you’ve got one of the reef’s best all-round spots for comfortable exploration. Divers are also catered for here, as there are 14 world-class dive sites available in the waters on the outer side of the lagoon’s wall, including an easy and relaxed drift dive that offers the chance to spot the likes of cod, wrasse, reef sharks and eels, along with manta ray encounters. Image credit: Rob Richardson via Tourism QLDhttps://www.1770reef.com.au/about/lady-musgrave-island/

What does 1770reef do and Why us?

1770reef provides access to one of the most pristine areas of the Great Barrier Reef – Lady Musgrave Island, Lagoon and Reef. The Town of 1770 is the closest port by sea, to visit the Southern Great Barrier Reef – Where Great Begins.

1770 is the closest access to Lady Musgrave Island being a short 1.5hr approx to Lady Musgrave Island part of the Southern Great Barrier Reef, 1770reef departs daily from the 1770 Marina.

We give you a day where memories and special life changing moments are made that last a life time, new friends gained and loads of fun to be had. Snorkel the clear waters of the lagoon, swim with the multitudes of colourful fish and hang out with the turtles and have your turtle selfie, experience the Manta Rays.

Visit Lady Musgrave Island for a guided walk and enjoy a coral viewing tour on the glass bottom boat without getting your feet even wet.

What will you see?

The magical turquoise, blue waters of the lagoon greet you on arrival. What a sight, time to get the cameras’ out and start gathering your memories to share with friends and family.

Tick the Great 8 off your bucket list – a chance to see turtles, clown fish, giant clams, sharks, potato cod, Manta Rays, Maori wrasse and whales in season.

There are over 1300 varieties of reef fish and over 350 species of soft and hard corals to enjoy under the clear waters of the lagoon.

On the island of white coral sands and pisonia forest live a large population of sea and shore birds. Did you know that some of the birds migrate all the way from Siberia to next on these coral cays each year?

When are you going?

Who wouldn’t want to join the fun boat – Emelie – with her passionate, experienced, local crew members sharing their knowledge and love of their office for the day.

Book on today – Online – www.1770reef.com.au. Phone – 07 49727222 Email – tours@1770reef.com.au

Baby Turtles Hatching

Posted on March 8, 2018March 8, 2018 by Katrina

Turtles Hatching

Marine turtles have nested on parts of the Queensland coast for thousands of years. To watch a marine turtle nest is to experience one of nature’s truly wonderful rituals. A marine turtle can be between 30 to 50 years of age before it begins to breed and may only breed every few years.

When do they Hatch

The hatchlings join the world from about January to April, emerging in a flurry from their nests, generally during the night, after a period of 7 to 10 weeks in the nest. They have an extremely low chance of survival, with only about one (1) in one thousand (1000) reaching maturity.

In the nest, hatchlings break their egg shell wall within hours of each other and then it can take up to 24 hours to emerge totally from the eggshell. En masse, they climb upwards towards the surface, breathing the air in between the grains of sand. It can take them up to 2 days to actually reach the surface.

From the nest, the hatchlings will race down to the ocean as they respond to the environmental indicators around to help them on their way to the water. This can take several minutes to achieve and at all stages they may be vulnerable to predators both on shore and in the water.

Which turtles are you likely see at Lady Musgrave Island

Lady Musgrave Island is fortunate enough to have many Green Turtles, with sightings of Loggerheads and occasionally the endangered Hawksbill the Hawksbill are very special when you see them they actually look like they have a hawks bill. Green and Loggerheads are the most common hatchlings beginning their lives in the beautiful waters of Lady Musgrave Lagoon.