Written by Jon van Wyk

Nestled in the azure blue waters of the Southern Great Barrier Reef 80 kms north of Bundaberg, Lady Elliot Island is known for its pristine coral reef and thriving aquatic ecosystem.

The island is a sanctuary for over 1,200 species of marine life, including manta rays and turtles. Under the careful stewardship of the Gash family for the last 20 years, it has become known as the premier resort destination for eco-tourism in Queensland.

Named after the British ship, ‘Lady Elliot’, that encountered the island in 1816, the island had a less than auspicious beginning as an 1800’s site for Guano mining, and was denuded of all vegetation and two metres of phosphate rich soil. It was then left barren for over 100 years until the 1960’s when the tenuous beginnings of low volume tourism began, largely due to the efforts of aviator Don Adams and his wife Moira, who began flying adventure seekers to the island, especially during turtle hatching season.

From that point onwards, the island maintained a steady stream of visitors at its fledgling resort until seaplane business owner Peter Gash and several partners took over the lease and laid the foundation for the Gash family’s legacy, taking control of the resort from 2005.

In retrospect, it would be fair to say that Amy was literally born into her current role as brand ambassador for the island, beginning work there from the age of 5, doing odd jobs such as sweeping floors, clearing tables and assisting with bookings. Growing up in this idyllic setting nurtured her burgeoning passion for tourism, as she sought to share the unique experiences her beloved island could offer with the world.

In 2012, Amy took a significant leap by joining an exchange program with The Walt Disney Company. As a lifeguard at Disney World in Florida, she immersed herself in the inner workings of one of the globe’s premier tourism operators. This experience not only sharpened her skills in customer service and communication but also honed her ability to thrive in a dynamic, multicultural environment.

From there it was requisite for Amy to forge her own path in tourism, graduating from the University of Queensland in 2014 with a degree in Tourism and Hotel Management. Since then, Amy has been recognised as a dynamic business figure and leading proponent of the eco-tourism sector, engaging audiences through numerous media appearances and speaking engagements.

When it comes to sharing her commitment to protecting the fragile eco-systems of coral reefs, Amy is no lightweight either. Her clear insights have resonated in various forums and platforms including a National Geographic podcast focused on the Great Barrier Reef and interviews with Sky News. In 2023, she made her mark as a panellist at significant events like the International Women’s Day celebration on the Gold Coast and the World Environment Day – Queensland Tourism Industry Council Conference.

Aside from her impressive public persona and extensive influence as a role model for women, Amy has served as an invaluable mentor to tourism operators, sharing her expertise in producing engaging social media content. Her innovative approach has led to significant successes across platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and most recently, YouTube.

One of Amy’s standout initiatives is the web series, “Life on the Reef.” The culmination of several years’ work, the project spotlights various aspects of reef life weekly. A particularly memorable episode highlights the work of marine conservationist Richard Fitzpatrick, known for his groundbreaking work in shark tagging. Remarkably, Fitzpatrick even named one of the tagged tiger sharks “Amy,” a testament to her influence in both tourism and marine conservation.

There is no doubt that Amy Gash embodies a fresh wave of tourism leadership, seamlessly blending her family heritage with a modern vision for conservation and engagement. With her roots firmly planted on Lady Elliot Island, she is not just a participant in Queensland’s tourism scene—she’s becoming one of its leading lights, inspiring a new generation to cherish and protect the natural wonders that define this remarkable destination.

As I speak to her, Amy is full of enthusiasm for the future of the island as well, making sure it remains sustainable through the use of technology such as solar derived energy to cement the island’s role in preserving marine environments while promoting responsible ecotourism for everyone through the mantra of ‘disconnect to reconnect.’

All indicators would point to the success of this philosophy given that the Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort placed Gold for Ecotourism at the Queensland Tourism Awards announced in March 2025, and was also voted as the number one snorkel destination in the world in 2025 by Lonely Planet. No mean feat then for Amy, the Gash family and their dedicated resort management team and a testimony to their ongoing love for the island and the responsibility of preserving it for the future.

For bookings and more information please contact Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort Reservations on 07 5536 3644 or email reservations@ladyelliot.com.au