REEF TRIP 2021

Lady Musgrave Island

3rd – 27th January 2021

Has COVID isolation blues got you down? Feel the desire to be unsocially isolated, but still with the lack of responsibility to everyday life? Wish that you could guarantee 3 more weeks of not having to wear pants?

 

Now imagine a tropical paradise.

 

Diving in crystal clear waters teeming with amazing coral, fish, nudibranchs, turtles, cuttlefish, moray eels, sharks, and manta rays…

Exploring some of the best dive sites of the Great Barrier Reef, including Fairfax Caves, Alabama and the infamous Manta and Magic Bombies…

Lazing in a shady hammock reading your favourite new book…

Going down in history as part of the next championship team of the Lady Musgrave Island Amazing Race…

Trying your hand at baking sourdough, cupcakes and brownies…

Spearfishing for the ultimate catch, or just enjoying the spoils, served up as the freshest Sashimi you will ever eat…

Showcasing your culinary arts on cooking night in order to be named island chef supreme…

Enjoying perfect sunsets on the pristine sandy beaches with a drink (or two) in hand…

Enjoying perfect sunrises on the pristine sandy beaches with (maybe) a drink still in your hand...

Watching in awe as giant sea turtles climb the beach at sunset, bulldoze through your (neighbours) tent, then dig their nests and lay their eggs…

Watching in even more awe as hundreds of baby turtles hatch out of the sand and flipper-flopper-sprint their way to the ocean…

Perfecting your golden summer glow (or ruby red summer burn)...

Nailing the perfect performance to a standing ovation on Talent Show night…

Partying the night away with all your friends on your own private tropical island…

Chilling out in the lagoon in a giant floatie raftup…

Turning 30 strangers into 30 of your closest friends...

Forgetting about all your cares, worries, as you relax and enjoy every single day of the best holiday ever.. for three whole weeks!!

This is Reef Trip.

 

What are you waiting for?... book your ticket NOW (well at 6 pm on May 6th)!!

 

TICKET SALES

Reef Trip tickets will open for booking on Wednesday 6th May at 6:00pm

 

WHERE

Tropical Paradise aka Lady Musgrave Island

 

WHEN

• Arrive in Gladstone:                     3rd January (midday)

• Depart for Lady Musgrave:          4th January (evening)

• Return to Gladstone:                   26th January (evening)

• Depart Gladstone:                       27th January (afternoon)

 

COST

Total Cost: $1650 (initial deposit of $650 required to confirm your spot, this does not need to be paid through PayPal - we will send you payment information after you have registered)

 

WHAT YOU GET

• Two nights of accommodation in Gladstone (3rd & 26th of January)

• Barge transfer to and from the island aboard the Curtis Ferry

• 21 nights of camping on the amazing Lady Musgrave Island

• All your food and drink whilst on the island

• Enough alcohol to sustain you for (at least) four BIG party nights

• Unlimited diving (including all tank fills)

• The best holiday of your life

 

TRANSPORT

Sadly tropical paradise isn’t as close as we’d like it. It is approximately 1500 km between Sydney and Gladstone. You have three options (that we’ve ranked in order of ease for you):

Drive:

Please allow sufficient time to drive to Gladstone (approx. 20hrs or 2-3 days). 

If you are driving from Sydney it is advisable to leave at least by early Friday 1st of January (or spend NYE somewhere fun along the way).

Please note we will try and organise car transport with the available cars. But this is not a guaranteed mode of transport. The cost of fuel for return car travel is estimated around $200 - $300 per person but will also have to include accommodation and food costs on the drive up. 

Car-pooling still will be the cheapest option and this will allow you to transport up all the camping and diving gear that you will need for the trip.

 

Fly:

Flying will get you to Gladstone the quickest and has previously cost around $400 - $600 return per person, however we anticipate this cost will go up significantly due to the collapse and shrinking of operations for Australian domestic airlines. 

Please check flight details and costs with a travel agent or on the web and be aware that these may change. We can arrange for airport pickups at Gladstone, but you will be responsible for getting all your dive and camping gear up to Gladstone.

 

Bus/Train:

Train can cost you nearly the price of a plane but if you are a student you can get a decent discount.

 

DIVE GEAR HIRE

Dive gear can be hired from the club for the entire trip.

Bond of $200 will be charged when booking. Item prices will be determined closer to the date.

 

MORE INFO COMING SOON

We’re sure you have questions. We do too. 

Why are we here? How will I keep my beers cold on the island? What is the origin story of Sea Monkey? Where is the best hammock location? What type of fish would I be if I was a fish? Who the hell is Kevin? Do we really bring an oven to the island? What is the better dive site, Jack’s orifice or Izzy’s slope? Are Isabelle and Jack really so self obsessed that they’ve named dive sites after themselves?

Answers to all your questions will be arriving soon. A full Reef Trip Info Pack will be distributed to all attendees, and once we are all allowed to socially undistance a  Reef Trip BBQ/Meet & Greet will be held. If you have any urgent questions, please feel free to email them through to: reeftrip@underwaterclub.org