Elizabeth Reef

Elizabeth Reef 29°57′25″S 159°4′32″E / 29.95694°S 159.07556°E / -29.95694; 159.07556Coordinates: 29°57′25″S 159°4′32″E / 29.95694°S 159.07556°E / -29.95694; 159.07556 is a coral reef in the Tasman Sea. The reef is separated by a deep oceanic pass, some 45 km wide, from nearby Middleton Reef, both of which are part of the underwater plateau known as the Lord Howe Rise. Elizabeth Reef is around 160 km from Lord Howe Island and 555 km from the New South Wales coast of Australia. The Environment, Sport and Territories Legislation Amendment Act 1997 included Elizabeth Reef in Australia's Coral Sea Islands Territory.

Elizabeth Reef is a platform reef and amongst one of the southernmost platform reefs in the world. It measures 8.2 km by 5.5 km. However, despite the relatively high latitude, a wide variety of flora and fauna exists on the island and surrounding waters due to their location where tropical and temperate ocean currents converge.

The reef is usually submerged. However, during low tide most of the reef flat is exposed. At high tide only one cay is visible one metre above sea level. The cay is known as Elizabeth Island and has a diameter of about 400 m. Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs form the Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs Marine National Park Reserve managed by the Government of Australia under the Natural Heritage Trust.