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Is This Queensland’s Most Exclusive Island Resort?
Written by Emily Jacobs
Sat directly on the Great Barrier Reef, Lizard Island is home to 24 blissfully secluded beaches, 1013 hectares of National Parkland: and just one resort.
There’s nowhere in the world like Lizard Island Resort. Perched on a national park, bounded by powdery-white beaches extending onto the Great Barrier Reef, this five-star sanctuary is all about remote relaxation, offering exotic exclusivity surrounded by some of Australia’s most breathtaking landscapes. Natural wonders, explored with walks and watersports, sit alongside delicious dining, first-class facilities and a serene spa, catering equally for adventurous spirits and rolling-in-romance couples.
Read on to find out why Lizard Island should be top of your list for your next island escape.
Discover more about Lizard Island on the new season of Luxury Escapes: The World’s Best Holidays, airing Tuesdays 8.30pm AEDT* on Foxtel Lifestyle and on demand on Binge and Network 10. *Check your local TV listings for details.
It’s the only luxury resort right on the Great Barrier Reef
Lizard Island Resort couldn’t be better placed to explore one of the Natural Wonders of the World. Get up close and personal to the underwater wildlife and coral with snorkelling and scuba excursions, or experience the reef’s beauty from on top with a glass-bottom kayak or stand-up paddle-boarding adventure. Charter a luxury cruise vessel for a half- or full-day fishing trip, or swim alongside majestic green sea turtles with a guided tour.
It’s rich in Indigenous history
The Dingaal Aboriginal people are the Traditional Owners of Lizard Island and have lived in the area for centuries upon centuries. Known as Jiigurru, the island is regarded as a sacred place, previously used for the initiation of young Dingaal males and collecting shellfish, turtles, dugongs and fish. The community believe that the Lizard group of islands had been created in the Dreamtime – they saw it as a stingray, with the main island forming the body and the three southern islands representing the tail.
Witness year-round natural spectacles
Thanks to Lizard Island’s remote location, wildlife wonders abound on and around the island, with turtles, whales and manta rays all dropping in to say hello throughout the year. Visit at the beginning of the year to be in the audience for the nocturnal show, as green tree frogs make themselves known, alongside black flying foxes. Keen birdwatchers should keep an eye out in March and April, when sacred kingfishers, bar shouldered doves and pheasant coucal birds take to the skies. Come winter, humpback and minke whales swim on by and spinner dolphins surf the bow on the outer reefs, while as the weather warms in September, marlin season begins.
To protect and preserve the reef as much as possible, Lizard Island collaborates with Lizard Island Research Station, a world leader in coral reef education and research. Guests can tour the Station and hear about the latest efforts from marine staff.
It’s the only resort within the National Park
In order to protect Lizard Island’s long history, as well as the unique flora and fauna that call the island home, it was declared a National Park in 1937, with the surrounding waters declared a Marine Park in 1974. The Dingaal community works hand-in-hand with the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service to conserve and manage the park, allowing the unique grasses, mangroves, birdlife, reptiles, mammals and marine life to thrive. See how their efforts have paid off with a guided walk over Chinamans Ridge, or a combined hike and snorkel at Watsons Bay, home to giant clams set across magnificent coral beds.
You can practice yoga beside the sea
The view from Warrior Two has never been better with yoga sessions overlooking the beautiful Great Barrier Reef. Join Lizard Island Resort’s in-house yoga instructor as they lead you through daily practices from a beachside pavilion, inviting you to relax, rebalance and connect with the ancient land. The best part? You don’t even need to be a yogi, with all levels of experience welcome. After your stretch, strip off for a dip in the azure ocean, just metres away.
You can walk in the footsteps of Captain James Cook
Captain James Cook was thought to be one of the first Europeans to set foot on Lizard Island, having sailed his ship, HMS Endeavour, right into the Great Barrier Reef in 1770. Surprised that it had not been grounded already, Cook hiked to the highest point on the island to figure out how to navigate back out to open waters. These days, this same vantage point is called Cook’s Look, reachable via a challenging four-kilometre track that rewards intrepid hikers with panoramic views of the entire island and reef beyond. This wasn’t Cook’s only contribution – he also gave the island its name, having noticed plenty of monitor lizards on his hike up.
Discover Queensland
Discover more about Lizard Island on the new season of Luxury Escapes: The World’s Best Holidays, airing Tuesdays 8.30pm AEDT* on Foxtel Lifestyle and on demand on Binge and Network 10. *Check your local TV listings for details.
Ready to escape? Discover our Lizard Island Resort offer here.
Looking for more inspiration? Check out Lose Yourself in Nature & Check-In to the Most Unique Stays in Queensland.
