Where is Lizard Island?
Lizard Island rises out of the Coral Sea about 240 kilometres north of Cairns and 27 kilometres offshore from Far North Queensland’s Cape Melville National Park. Its 9.9 square kilometres flourishes atop 300-million-year-old pink-grey granite rocks and is abundant in powdery white shores, swaying palm trees and good vibes. To its south, it’s flanked by a tail of three smaller islands, Palfrey, South and Bird Island, and together they make up the Lizard Island Group. Known as Dyiigurra by the Dingaal Aboriginal people (the Traditional Landowners), their formation resembles a stingray, with Dyiigurra/Lizard Island being the body.
It was Christened its current name by coloniser James Cook in August of 1770 when he wrote, ‘The only land-animals we saw here were lizards and these seem’d to be plenty which occasioned my naming the island Lizard Island.’ Creative. The Dingaal Aboriginal people have lived in this region and regarded the island as sacred for many thousands of years. Prior to European colonisation, this was a meeting place for neighbouring clans, a site for young men’s coming-of-age ceremonies, and an important homebase for the hunting and gathering of dugong, fish, shellfish and turtles.
Today, Lizard Island is a tropical island getaway with a luxury resort, camping facilities, and endless walking tracks and reefs to explore. It’s also a popular layover for many tours en route to the world-famous Cod Hole.
Reef Sites at Lizard Island
Lizard Island is one of the rare destinations where you can get the best of snorkelling simply by running into the water from the beach. If you’re based around Watson’s Bay for your stay, check out the Clam Gardens where giant clams live between the vibrant foliage of hard and soft corals. Be sure to visit at high tide for best access and visibility! South Island Wall and Blue Lagoon’s crystal-clear waters provide more high visibility dive sites teeming with delicate aquatic ecosystems.
What’s the Best Time to Visit Lizard Island?
Like the rest of Tropical Far North Queensland, the best time to visit Lizard Island is between May and October. The winter to mid-spring period brings a pleasant respite from the dizzying heat of the summer and coincides with a decrease of deadly jellyfish and stingrays in the water. With average water temperatures of 23.5°C and on-land lows and highs of 18°C and 27°C, you’ll experience the best of the Far North’s idyllic endless summer. Plus, you’ll be well and truly safe from the sub-tropics’ tendency to get cyclonic in the height of summer — so not holiday vibes.
How to Get to Lizard Island
Lizard Island is best reached by a one-hour flight from East Air terminal, not far from Cairns Airport. As there are no regularly scheduled flights or boats to the island, all transport to and from must be organised by visitors of their own volition (with the exception of resort guests). If you don’t have your own vessel, your best bet for access is a privately charted commercial flight or boat.
Lizard Island Accommodation
Lizard Island is home to the northernmost resort on the Great Barrier Reef, Lizard Island Resort. From a minimum of $1,588 and a maximum of $16,000 a night, visitors can pick their poison between the House, the Villa, the Pavilion, ocean view villas with plunge pools beachfront suites, and garden view rooms and suites.
Lizard Island is also a popular camping destination, with permits at Watson’s Bay available for up to ten nights. The Watson’s Bay camping facilities include toilets, picnic tables and gas barbecues and prohibit open fires. It’s targeted more to the hardcore campers, with the nearest access to bore water 250 metres away. Campers arriving by plane will have to carry their equipment 1.2 kilometres to site from the airport.
