Lizard Island

Lizard Island is a 10 square kilometres tropical island that together with 3 other, smaller islands nearby (Palfrey, South and Bird), since 1939 forms a national park on the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland (Australia), 1624 km northwest of Brisbane, 240 km north of Cairns and 100 km north east from Cooktown. Together the four islands form the Lizard Island Group fringed with reef encircling the 10 m deep Blue Lagoon. The island was named Lizard Island by the famous Captain Cook, the first European ever to explore the island, because the only land animals seen by his crew there were lizards.

The island is primarily known for its 24 beaches covered with powder like white sand that offer opportunities for some fantastic scuba diving near by and is excellent destination for snorkelling fans too. The only hotel to stay at Lizard Island is Lizard Island Resort, with only 40 double guest rooms available for accomodation.

The main and the closest dive site off the Lizard Island is the famous Cod Hole, where diver can encounter variety of marine life, such as Potato Cods, Whitetip, giant clams, Red Bass, anemones, feather stars, average coral covers, reef sharks, Solomon's Sweetlip, moray eels, sting rays, Maori Wrasse, Emperor, and more. The dive site is suitable for novice divers, the depth of dive being 10-15 meters.

Tourists who are interested to learn more about the local flora & fauna tours to the Research station are arranged for a small fee.

Getting to the Lizard Island: by air, from Cairns Airport in the north of Queensland, Australia, either by regular flight or by charter.

Some of the other island resorts to stay at close by are Bedarra Island, Brampton Island, Dunk Island, Fraser Island, Great Keppel Island, Hamilton Island, Heron Island, Lady Elliot Island, Wilson Island.