Lizard Island, North Queensland Australia

Lizard Island

  • 🏝️ Secluded Luxury on the Great Barrier Reef – Lizard Island is a remote tropical paradise, home to only one exclusive resort and 24 private beaches, offering a tranquil and luxurious escape.

  • 🤿 Snorkel & Dive World-Class Reefs – Located near the famous Cod Hole, Lizard Island offers some of the best snorkelling and scuba diving in the world, with crystal-clear waters, vibrant coral reefs, and giant potato cod encounters.

  • 🌿 Untouched National Park & Wildlife – The island is part of Lizard Island National Park, where you can spot goannas (monitor lizards), tropical birdlife, and unique marine species.

  • 🚤 Explore the Reef by Private Dinghy – Guests can take a private boat to discover hidden beaches, snorkelling hotspots, and breathtaking coastal views.

  • 🌅 Breathtaking Views from Cook’s Lookout – Hike to Cook’s Look, a 360-degree viewpoint offering panoramic views over the Coral Sea, famously climbed by Captain James Cook in 1770.

  • 🍽️ Five-Star Dining & Exclusive Accommodation – Stay at Lizard Island Resort, an ultra-luxury, all-inclusive retreat offering gourmet dining, spa treatments, and beachfront villas.

  • 🐠 Marine Wonderland at Your Doorstep – With incredible biodiversity, visitors can swim with sea turtles, reef sharks, manta rays, and hundreds of species of tropical fish right off the beach.

Discover Lizard Island

Lizard Island is in North Queensland, Australia, 1624 kilometres Northwest of Brisbane and 241 kilometres north of Cairns.  This stunning location is 30 kilometres from the mainland coast of Australia.

The main island of this small group of five north of Cooktown, Lizard Island, is typical of its other reef island cousins with its perfect white beaches, glistening waters and many nearby reefs for snorkelling and diving. Its exclusive resort offers 5-star luxury accommodation in excellent isolation from any form of other urban life. The island has its airstrip and boasts some magnificent walks.

  • Location: 14.66651, 145.46321
  • Population:
  • Established:1939
  • Area: 9.9 kilometres square
  • Elevation: 359 metres above sea level
  • Postcode:4892
  • Temperature: Average daytime temperature is 27ºC (80ºF), with a low of 21°C (69°F).

About Lizard Island

Sparkling azure blue waters surround this stunning secluded island with pristine white sandy beaches and glorious fringing coral reefs.

Lizard Island, Palfrey Island and Eagle Island make up the Lizard Island Group.

In the centre of this group is a stunning ten-metre deep blue lagoon that offers fantastic snorkelling.

Protected by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and the Environmental Protection Agency.

Stay

Lizard Island accommodation is serene, remote and quiet, with spectacular views over the Coral Sea and Sunset Bay.   All guests are

Experiences

  • Scuba diving
  • Snorkelling
  • Fishing
  • Day Spa
  • Private Charters

Walking Tracks

Visitors can explore Lizard Island via walking trails that range from basic to challenging. Many of these trails are interconnected and can be combined to form longer hikes.  Visit the National Park site for walking maps.

Chinamans Ridge is 340 metres long in one direction (20min), Moderate in difficulty.

A short steep track with rocky stairs climbs over a steep granite slope between the resort and the Pandanus route. Views of Watsons Bay can be had from an overlook near the top of Chinamans Ridge.

Watsons Walk is 520 metres long in one direction (30min). Grade: simple

A sandy route leads from Watsons Bay’s day-use area to the water pump, across a paperbark swamp, and to Watsons Cottage, joining the Pandanus track.

The Pandanus track is a one-way distance of 685 metres (30min). Grade: simple.

Follow Watsons Walk from Watsons Bay beach to the ruins of Watsons Cottage. Before arriving at the airstrip, the Pandanus route continues along a boardwalk through mangroves and then joins a rough trail that skirts a paperbark and pandanus swamp. Along the journey, there is information about Aboriginal plant and animal uses.

455m return at Blue Lagoon (40min) Grade: simple

Walk 800 metres from the end of the Pandanus route (where it meets the airfield) to the end of the airstrip, where a small, sandy track leads to the quiet Mangrove beach on the outskirts of Blue Lagoon. The trek offers beautiful views of Blue Lagoon, Palfrey and South islands, and the mainland’s Cape Flattery.

The return trip on Research Road is 4.4 kilometres (1hr). Grade: simple

A sandy road extends from the airstrip’s western end through the woods to the Lizard Island Research Station, where guided excursions at particular times. Visitors must be cautious because vehicles use the road.

2.25km back to Cooks Look (2.5hr), an extremely challenging grade

An extremely steep, unformed track climbs from Watsons Bay beach, near the camping area, to the peak (359m) at Cooks Look. This overlook provides panoramic views of the nearby reefs and island groups.

Decomposed granite to sloping granite slabs, with rough-hewn stairs in certain areas, make up the track surface.

Due to the rugged terrain, loose track surface, hot environment, steep climb, and limited access at the start of the track,  Fit and experienced walkers only.

Next, see Haggerstone Island.