Exploring Lizard Island: Australia's Tropical Paradise

where is lizard island australia

Lizard Island is a tropical island located in the northern part of Australia's Great Barrier Reef. It is about 27 kilometres off the Queensland coastline and 240 kilometres north of Cairns. Lizard Island Resort, the only all-inclusive resort in Australia located directly on the reef, offers luxurious accommodation and experiences. The Lizard Island Group, which includes Lizard Island and three smaller islands, forms part of the Lizard Island National Park.

Characteristics Values
Location 27 kilometres off the Queensland coastline, 240 kilometres north of Cairns, 93 kilometres north-east of Cooktown, 1,624 kilometres north-west of Brisbane
Size 7-10 square kilometres
Highest Point Cook's Look, 359-370 metres above sea level
Traditional Owners Dingaal (or Dingiil/Dingiil) people, an Aboriginal Australian clan
Resort Lizard Island Resort, the only all-inclusive resort in Australia located directly on the Great Barrier Reef
Research Station Lizard Island Research Station, established in 1973 by the Australian Museum
Wildlife Black flying-foxes, Eastern Dusky Leaf-nosed Bats, water rats, Cape York mosaic-tailed rats

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Lizard Island is 27km off the Queensland coast

Lizard Island is a tropical paradise located 27km off the Queensland coast in Australia. It is part of the Lizard Island Group, which includes Palfrey Island, and is also within the Lizard Island National Park. This group of six high islands is situated midway between the coast and the outer barrier reef, surrounded by coral reefs and fringed by mangroves and sandy beaches. The traditional owners of the Lizard Island group are the Aboriginal Australian clan known as the Dingaal (or Dingiil) people, who have occupied the island for thousands of years.

Lizard Island is a secluded and private destination, making it a popular choice for couples seeking an intimate and exclusive location for their wedding. The island is surrounded by 24 secluded white-sand beaches and offers an unparalleled connection to the Great Barrier Reef. It is the most northern resort on the reef and is located 240km north of Cairns. Lizard Island is accessible by a one-hour scenic flight from Cairns, offering breathtaking views of the reef.

The Lizard Island Resort, which opened in 1975, provides luxury accommodation and experiences. The resort features modern, well-appointed rooms and pristine beaches, with serene surroundings and engaging staff. Guests can enjoy diverse activities such as diving and snorkelling, as well as exquisite dining options. Lizard Island is also home to a research station established by the Australian Museum in 1973, providing great facilities for coral reef field trips.

The Lizard Island National Park covers over 1000 hectares of land, with the highest peak being Cook's Look at 359 or 370 meters above sea level. The island is home to a few bat species, including the Black flying-foxes (Pteropus alecto) and the Eastern Dusky Leaf-nosed Bat (Hipposideros ater). Lizard Island offers a unique and exotic tropical escape for discerning travellers seeking freedom, breathtaking views, and countless delights.

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It is Australia's northernmost island resort

Lizard Island Resort is Australia's northernmost island resort. It is located 240 kilometres north of Cairns and 27 kilometres off the Queensland coastline. The resort is part of a preserved Lizard Island National Park, which covers over 1,000 hectares. Lizard Island is the only all-inclusive resort in Australia located directly on the Great Barrier Reef.

The Lizard Island Group, which includes Lizard Island, is made up of three smaller islands: Palfrey, South, and Bird. Together, these islands form a well-developed fringing reef that surrounds the Blue Lagoon, a deep body of water that is ideal for swimming and snorkelling. Lizard Island Resort is the most northern resort on the Great Barrier Reef and is known for its secluded and private location, making it a popular destination for couples seeking an intimate and exclusive getaway.

The resort offers luxurious accommodation, with 40 suites and villas designed to complement the natural beauty of the island and its surrounding ocean waters. Each space offers serenity, seclusion, and breathtaking views of the ocean and nearby islands. The resort caters to children 10 years and older, and guests can enjoy a range of activities such as snorkelling, diving, and guided tours to explore the natural beauty of the island and the surrounding reef.

Lizard Island Resort is accessible by private air charter from Cairns Airport, which offers direct flights to and from major Australian airports. The flight to the island from Cairns is a scenic one-hour journey that takes you over 200 kilometres of the Great Barrier Reef, providing a breathtaking first glimpse of the beauty, scale, and diversity of the reef. Lizard Island Resort is also reachable by boat, with no regular scheduled flights or boats except as part of a resort package.

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Lizard Island Resort is the only all-inclusive resort in Australia located directly on the Great Barrier Reef

Lizard Island Resort is Australia's northernmost island resort, located 240 kilometres north of Cairns and 27 kilometres off the Queensland coast. It is the only all-inclusive resort in Australia located directly on the Great Barrier Reef. Lizard Island Resort is a luxurious lodge that offers an unparalleled connection to the Great Barrier Reef, with immersive experiences, personalised service, and elegant island accommodations designed to complement the natural beauty of the island.

The resort is set within a pristine National Park and is surrounded by 24 secluded white-sand beaches. Lizard Island is a very special place, known for its serenity, seclusion, and breathtaking views. It is a popular destination for couples seeking an intimate and exclusive location for their wedding, as well as for those looking for a quiet and remote getaway.

The Lizard Island Resort offers a range of accommodation options, from beachfront suites to elevated ocean-view villas. The villas and suites are designed to be in harmony with the natural beauty of the island and its surrounding ocean waters. The resort also offers a variety of activities, including surfing, whale watching, snorkelling, and guided tours of the local bird life, wildlife, turtles, and historical sites.

Lizard Island Resort is accessible by private air charter from Cairns Airport, which offers direct flights to and from most major Australian airports. The flight to Lizard Island takes approximately 60 minutes and offers spectacular views of the Great Barrier Reef and the coast. Lizard Island is also accessible by boat, with a one-hour scenic journey from Cairns that takes you over 200 kilometres of the Great Barrier Reef.

Lizard Island Resort provides an ultra-exclusive and secluded experience on the world-famous Great Barrier Reef. With its breathtaking views, luxurious accommodations, and unparalleled access to the reef, Lizard Island Resort offers a truly unique and memorable island holiday destination.

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Lizard Island is a National Park covering over 1000 hectares

The Lizard Island Resort, which caters to children 10 years and older, is the only all-inclusive resort in Australia located directly on the Great Barrier Reef. It offers luxurious accommodation and experiences, with rooms overlooking magnificent sandy beaches and native gardens. The resort provides a range of activities, including tennis, windsurfing, water-skiing, sailing, and glass-bottom boat trips.

The island is surrounded by 24 secluded white-sand beaches and is a haven of isolation, gratification, and relaxation. It is a popular destination for couples seeking an intimate and exclusive location for their weddings. Lizard Island is also known as Jiigurru or Dyiigurra to the Aboriginal Australian clan, the Dingaal (or Dingiil) people, who are the traditional owners and have occupied the island for thousands of years.

Lizard Island has its own airstrip and is accessible via a one-hour scenic flight from Cairns, offering breathtaking views of the Great Barrier Reef. Visitors can expect complete freedom, breathtaking views, and countless tropical delights. The Lizard Island Research Station, established in 1973, is located on the island's westerly point, providing research and educational facilities for those interested in studying coral reefs.

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Lizard Island is also known as Jiigurru or Dyiigurra

Lizard Island, a granite island of about 10 km2 (3.9 sq mi) in size, is also known as Jiigurru or Dyiigurra. It is located on the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland, Australia, 1,624 kilometres (1,009 mi) northwest of Brisbane. Lizard Island is part of the Lizard Island Group, which includes Palfrey Island, and is also part of the Lizard Island National Park. The Lizard Island Resort, an all-inclusive resort, is the only resort in Australia located directly on the reef. The resort is situated 240 kilometres north of Cairns and 27 kilometres off the Queensland coastline. It can be reached by air from Cairns Airport, which takes about an hour and offers spectacular views of the Great Barrier Reef and the coast.

The traditional owners of the Lizard Island group are the Aboriginal Australian clan known as the Dingaal (or Dingiil) people, who have occupied the island for thousands of years. Lizard Island was known as Dyiigurra to the Dingaal people and is now usually referred to as Jiigurru. Archaeological excavations have shown that human occupation of the island dates back to 6510–5790 cal BP, making it the earliest offshore island occupied on the northern part of the Great Barrier Reef. The Dingaal people considered the Lizard group of islands sacred and believed they were created in the Dreamtime, resembling a stingray with Lizard Island forming the body and the other islands the tail.

Lizard Island is a tropical paradise known for its isolation, stunning beaches, and diverse wildlife. More than half of the island is covered in grasslands, with eucalypt and acacia woodlands, heaths, paperbark swamps, and mangroves also found on the island. The island is home to over 40 species of birds, including terns, bar-shouldered doves, and white-bellied sea-eagles. It is also a haven for Black flying-foxes (Pteropus alecto), a common bat species that roams the island and congregates in the mangroves.

The Lizard Island Research Station, established in 1973, is located on the island, and the surrounding waters were declared a marine park in 1974. Lizard Island has a number of heritage-listed sites, including Mrs. Watson's Cottage. The island is also known for its rugged beauty, with its highest point, Cook's Look, reaching 359-370 meters above sea level, offering breathtaking views of the clear blue ocean.

Frequently asked questions

Lizard Island is located in the northern part of the Great Barrier Reef, 27 kilometres off the Queensland coastline. It is about 240 kilometres north of Cairns.

Lizard Island is a National Park covering over 1,000 hectares. It is also a resort, with luxury accommodation and experiences on offer. Lizard Island Resort is the only all-inclusive resort in Australia located directly on the reef.

There are no regular scheduled flights or boats to and from Lizard Island, except as part of a resort package. Visitors to the island (except resort guests) will need to arrange their own transport by chartering commercial flights or vessels, or by using private aircraft or boats.

Lizard Island is a tropical paradise, offering privacy, indulgence, discovery, gratification and relaxation. It is a haven for couples seeking an intimate and exclusive location. It is also a great place for families, with diverse activities, dining options, and snorkelling and scuba diving opportunities.

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