20 June 2024
8 mins Read
The sun is high in the sky and the sea is showing its true colours as I look down over Lizard Island Resort from the window of the Cessna 402 that swoops down to the runway. It’s mid-morning and a honeyed light has been applied, as if by a paintbrush, to the landscape where an impressive sweep of turquoise sea meets an arc of white sand hemmed by a curtain of green.
Discover the only luxury resort actually located on the Great Barrier Reef.
The resort attracts everyone from A-listers such as Orlando Bloom and Katy Perry, Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos to honeymooners and Australian travellers working through their bucket lists. Today I’m joined on the scenic flight by a bronzed couple from Bondi. A group of friends from Melbourne. A family from Tennessee and an investment banker from the UK. We’ve all propelled ourselves here for a reason: to switch off, relax and recharge at the only luxury resort actually located on the Great Barrier Reef. One thing for certain: a holiday on Lizard Island leaves an indelible impact that lingers long after you’ve left.
Unplug with access to private beaches.
The all-inclusive Lizard Island Resort is set in the natural arc of Anchor Bay, just a short, one-hour private scenic flight from Cairns. To be surrounded by a sea awash with a pigment that looks Photoshopped instantly invites visitors to enmesh themselves in the landscape and indulge in a bit of self-reflection.
The loudest noise you’re likely to hear on Lizard Island, known as Dyiigurra to the Dingaal Aboriginal people, is the sound of the green tree frogs that dominate the soundscape at night. The resort is 240 kilometres north of Cairns and 27 kilometres off the coast of Tropical North Queensland. The island itself is a 1013-hectare national park with 24 sandy beaches.
Enjoy spectacular water views from your room.
First opened in the 1970s, Lizard Island has been consistently reimagined and updated and is now represented by the exclusive Luxury Lodges of Australia.
There are just 40 rooms and villas at the low-impact resort, which have timber floors and open onto private verandahs where you can sink into day beds and get stuck into a good book. Some villas have plunge pools, and all have access to the island’s secluded beaches.
What also sets the island resort apart is the standard of service, which is friendly and thoughtful, and the special experiences that can be tailored to suit your interests. It all feels very site-specific and built for the environment.
Stay in one of just 40 rooms and villas.
Leaning into Wellness on Lizard Island is made easy thanks to a carefully curated package designed to nourish the mind, body and soul. The Wellness package at Lizard Island Resort includes a one-hour spa treatment at the Essentia Day Spa, which is surrounded by tropical foliage and is a sanctuary of calm to retreat to.
Browse through the Spa Menu and you’ll find additional rejuvenation rituals dubbed Balance, Dreaming and Radiance. All treatments use the pure, organic Australian-made range of iKOU products.
There’s also a pool and tennis court onsite. Motorised dinghies are also available for those who want to explore the local waters or head to a secluded beach for a chic picnic (read: chic-nic). Outer-reef fishing is also an option. There is a gym – equipped with cardio machines, pin-loaded weight machines and free weights. But the best exercise of all is a hike to Cook’s Look.
Enjoy a sunset dip in the swimming pool.
The fact you can walk out of your room and snorkel out to the Great Barrier Reef straight from the sand is one of the most attractive and luxurious aspects of a stay on Lizard Island. The World Heritage-listed Island has about 400 types of coral, 1500 species of fish and thousands of types of molluscs.
It’s also got white-on-white Beachfront Suites, Oceanview Plunge Pool Villas, Oceanview Villas, Gardenview Suites and Gardenview Rooms from which to enjoy it. The House, The Villa, and The Pavilion are also located on Lizard Island.
This is the tropics, so the water will be warm when you head out past the rocky granite cliffs to that sheltered cove to snorkel with green sea turtles. Curl up on your day bed, where the air is perfumed with frangipani, and the whisper of the sea seems to grow, expand and contract throughout the day. Keep an eye out for monitor lizards, which lend their name to the island’s eponymous resort.
Lizard Island Resort Pavilion boasts spectacular views and a private pool.
While there’s no need to sign up for an intense schedule on Lizard Island, the island seems to have an almost magnetic pull for guests who enjoy a bit of rigorous activity. Australia’s northernmost island beach resort also captures the hearts of visitors with its roster of activities that tread lightly on the environment and soothe the soul. The places recommended to guests who want to connect with nature include Chinaman’s Ridge at sunset, Cook’s Look at sunrise, and The Rock peninsula. Trawler Beach is another spot made for a meditative escape.
Dive into the Great Barrier Reef.
There are also experienced guides who can take guests on a guided nature walk, or hike to Cook’s Look to see the never-ending horizons. Guided and self-guided activities such as scuba diving, sea dart snorkelling, paddle boarding, kayaking, hiking and visits to the Lizard Island Research Station are also part of the program. Want something more chill? Try morning yoga on the beach or a guided turtle tour. A full-day reef tour also heads to the world-renowned Cod Hole on the outer ribbon reefs.
Walk to Cook’s Look for the sunrise.
The wining and dining options are fantastic on Lizard Island: the mini bar is restocked daily and the room rate includes gourmet meals, selected Australian wines, beers, spirits and Champagne. An early morning hike calls for a hearty breakfast buffet, although you can also choose the a la carte option.
The menus at Salt Water Restaurant at Lizard Island Resort change daily according to what’s in season and the chefs look to the land and sea to serve a menu inflected with Australian, Mediterranean and Asian flavours. The breezy restaurant is the place to be for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Pop over to Driftwood Bar where a few drinks with new friends becomes part of the transformative journey.
Refuel at Salt Water Restaurant.
There are no wheelchair-accessible facilities provided in the national park on Lizard Island but the resort itself has accommodation that can cater to those in wheelchairs. This private paradise has two accessible beachfront suites and there is a boardwalk and ramp that leads all the way to the restaurant. The beach club can also cater to those with mobility issues.
Honeymooners will be pleased to hear that Lizard Island caters to children 10 years and over. A lot of the guests on Lizard Island seem to be combining their visit to the reef with a stay at Mt Mulligan Lodge or Silky Oak’s Lodge and it’s not unusual to see people bouncing between all three. Those with children in tow are usually active families who make the most of the location by launching into the surrounds for an immersive escape.
Get active on the on-site tennis court.
There are a range of packages available at Lizard Island including the Wellness on Lizard Island package, priced from $360 per couple, which is in addition to the nightly all-inclusive rate. The Adventure on Lizard Island package is priced from $856 per couple, which is also in addition to the nightly all-inclusive rate. Call Lizard Island Resort to receive the most up-to-date price guide.
For those seeking to get back to basics, the island staff invite guests to explore meditation by listening to a series of guided meditative walks and podcasts.
There are direct daily flights from all Australian cities to Lizard Island via Cairns. Lizard Island can be accessed via a one-hour scenic flight from Cairns.
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