MAJESTIC MANTAS NORTH STRADBROKE ISLAND, QLD

WHO KNEW THAT THE BEST PLACE TO SWIM WITH MANTAS WAS JUST OFF THE COAST OF A CAPITAL CITY?

People pay thousands of dollars to travel to spots where they can encounter manta rays; magnificent, graceful beasts with wingspans of up to seven metres, up there with whale sharks in terms of diving kudos. But who knew that you could swim with mantas just an hour from one of our capital cities? North Stradbroke Island, just off the coast of Brisbane, is home to the Manta Lodge & Scuba Centre. Its crew will take you to Manta Bommie, a coral outcrop 10 minutes away by boat, where you can expect to dive or snorkel with multiple manta rays on any given day. mantalodge.com.au