Camping at Lady Musgrave Island from Bundaberg

Camping Transfers to Lady Musgrave Island from Town Of 1770

TRANSFER INFORMATION
PLEASE READ CAREFULLY

Camping Info Sheet
Driftwood on Lady Musgrave Island 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.

Fares (All fares inclusive of GST)

Adults $320.00 return, Children 4-14yrs $160.00 return.

Fares include lunch on both days of travel. NB Fares are based on two; day cruise fares as transfers are on separate days. It is important to book your transfers well in advance as only limited numbers of campers are transferred on each cruise. (Large groups and schools on application)

Payment

15% of you total fare is required as a security deposit and is to be paid within seven days from booking.

NB Deposits are Non Refundable. The balance is to be paid seven days prior to departure. If payment is not received, your reservation is automatically cancelled. Further information is provided on the reservations advice.

Camping Gear
Is strictly limited to 1/3 cubic metre per person. Excess gear may be left behind or additional charges may apply.

The camping area at Lady Musgrave Island on the Great Barrier Reef

Departure and Loading
Cruise vessel departs from 1770 Port Marina. Campers must load the majority of their camping gear the day prior to departure. You should phone our office in the morning of the day prior to your cruise departure to confirm loading times. The vessel is normally at sea most days so we request that you meet the vessel at 6.00pm. Once our day passengers have disembarked, you may commence loading. If the vessel is not at sea we may request that you load between 2.00pm and 4.00pm the day prior to your departure. It is therefore very important that you contact the office to finalise these loading arrangements. On the morning of your departure, please be at the marina at 6.45am, you may then load your remaining few items of luggage. All gear must be on board by 7.30am, prior to our day passengers boarding. Loading and unloading of gear is your responsibility at 1770 Port 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.
• N.B. Any campers whom arrive at Port 1770 on the morning of their departure and have not loaded the bulk of their camping gear shall be turned away and their cruise transfers cancelled.

Returns
Vessel returns to 1770 Port Marina at 6.00pm approximately. Unloading may commence as soon as our day passengers have disembarked.

Transfers
MONDAY, TUESDAY, THURSDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY.
Additional cruises operate in holiday periods. (Schedule subject to change)

Vehicle Parking
Security parking is available at 1770 Port Marina, Phone 07 4159 5066.
Vehicles $4.00 per night (approx), trailers extra.

Water
Must be taken with you (5 litres per person per day is recommended). Containers to be taken out empty and filled from the cruise vessel on arrival at the island. Throughout your stay at Lady Musgrave Island, you may refill containers from the cruise vessel, please wait until 1.30pm.
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. Payment is required when placing your order. Water and orders shall only be supplied to campers traveling both ways with Lady Musgrave Cruises.

Dinghy Hire
Aluminum dinghies (3.7 metres) with a 6HP outboard motor are available from Burnett Boat Hire, phone 0414 721 883. Dinghy transfer rates (listed below) are not included in dinghy hire charge.

Dinghy Transfers
Dinghies up to four metres (thirteen feet) may be transported to the island for an additional cost of $120.00 return. Dinghy transfers must be booked when making your cruise transfer reservations.
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.

Camping Permits
Phone the Gladstone Office of Qld Parks & Wildlife Service (07) 4971 6500 or go to www.smartservice.qld.gov.au/Aq then take the links to Camping, Capricornia Cays NP, Lady Musgrave Island. The Fee is $4.50 per person per night. Children under five years are free of charge. Permits are issued for a specific period and extensions due to late departure cannot be guaranteed. Please quote your permit number when making your cruise reservations.
N.B. Qld Parks & Wildlife Service does implement seasonal closures of Lady Musgrave Island for camping. We therefore recommend that you check with their office well in advance of your planned stay at Lady Musgrave Island.

Snorkel Gear & Scuba Diving
Fins are available for hire from company vessels. Cost is $5.00 per set per day. A security deposit of $20.00 is required, refundable on the return of the gear. Snorkles and Goggles can be purchased from the Marina for $20 a pair. 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. Campers returning from the island may come across to the vessel at 1.00pm for lunch however do not bring any camping gear with you. Loading of gear for he return journey commences at 1.30pm.

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!