Lizard Island Resort: All-Inclusive Seclusion on the Great Barrier Reef
The property, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary, is Australia’s premiere ecotourism destination for luxury travelers.
Who doesn’t love a tropical island? Photo: Lizard Island Resort
Some ultra-luxury travelers have their go-to vacation spots, where they know they’ll have privacy, personalized service, and unforgettable experiences. Lizard Island Resort is one of those places. For 50 years, the property has remained the only all-inclusive resort directly on the Great Barrier Reef and keeps guests new and old returning year after year to Australia.
The resort’s general manager, Mark Leslie, told Travel Market Report that Lizard Island Resort attracts likeminded guests who connect through sharing stories of their travels around the world.
“There is a community [of] Lizard junkies who have been coming for up to 50 visits. These are HNW [high net worth], well-heeled but down to earth and unpretentious,” he said. “Then there is the newer generation on honeymoons or after adventure and discovery.”
After managing resorts on nine developing islands, the seasoned hospitality leader joined Lizard Island nearly two years ago – “I wanted to do right by an icon in Australia,” he said. The resort has earned its iconography with its promise of high-end service and seclusion while also taking good care of the land it inhabits: a pristine national park, surrounded by 24 white-sand beaches.
Leslie now leads the resort, the only Relais & Chateaux property in Australia, in celebrating its 50th anniversary with renewed enthusiasm, promoting its sustainable beauty and collaborating with travel advisors to give their clients memorable experiences.
Private Accommodations
Timeless, airy luxury: that’s how Lizard Island’s often describe its accommodations, according to Leslie. Since the island is accessible only by a flight from Cairns, Australia or by private yacht charter, guests are also assured of privacy.
From beachfront suites to elevated oceanfront villas, the resort offers an array of 40 elegant rooms, suites, and villas. They are all just steps from the reef, but also each offer “different locations and observations,” Leslie said.
The House is the largest, most exclusive option, situated on a private peninsula of the island. The three-story, three-bedroom villa features broad balconies, rooftop, and direct beach access, plus outdoor baths, a swimming pool, yoga deck, and rooftop spa. Those staying at The House can also accommodate two additional guests in The Cottage, the neighboring single-level villa, which cannot be booked separately.
Lizard Island’s other accommodations include The Villa, The Pavilion, Beachfront Suites, Gardenview Suites, Oceanview Plunge Pool Villas, Oceanview Villas, and Gardenview Rooms.
Sustainable Experiences
Guests can visit multiple different beaches every day of their stay – Leslie’s favorites are Casuarina Beach and Blue Lagoon Beach – but they certainly don’t come for the sand beneath their toes alone. Lizard Island Resort is well known for its conservation-led hospitality, ecotourism, and sustainability practices that permeate the guest experience.
Leslie called it “a privilege that we continue to be part of sharing one of the natural wonders of the world and looking after what we have,” adding that the resort has a “commitment to taking care of the space we live in.”
Lizard Island Resort diverts over 60% of waste from landfill, uses solar-powered hot water systems and energy-efficient appliances to reduce its carbon footprint, and educates guests about the importance of reducing marine debris. The property’s efforts have earned Advanced Ecotourism and GreenPath Ambassador certifications.
Since opening in 1975, the resort has maintained a strong partnership with Lizard Island Research Station. Operated by the Australian Museum, it is recognized as one of the most significant marine science stations in the world and has supported more than 1,000 visiting scientists producing more than 2,700 published studies on reef health and biodiversity.
Guests can be a part of this legacy through citizen science initiatives, in partnership with the Great Reef Census and Citizens of the Barrier Reef, including guided snorkel safaris where they can collect photographic data for analysis by marine researchers. The resort also offers science-focused evening lectures and tours focused on reef conservation.
In addition, Lizard Island Resort hosts guided cultural walks led by the resort naturalist, where guests learn about the island’s spiritual and ecological significance as the traditional land of the Dingaal Aboriginal people.
Special Promotions
The travel trade is an important component of Lizard Island Resort’s sales strategy, and the property is preferred with several consortia. “It’s important there is someone property based all advisors have connection with and it’s all bespoke,” Leslie added.
To celebrate its 50th anniversary, Lizard Island Resort is partnering with travel advisors to offer the following promotions:
● Romance Package – Perfect for honeymoons or anniversaries, guests will indulge in champagne on arrival with chocolate-dipped strawberries. The package also includes a 60-minute couple’s spa treatment at Essentia Day Spa, a Marine Explorer Tour, a private dinghy excursion with a picnic, and a private beachside degustation dinner.
● Wellness on Lizard Island – Designed for those seeking rejuvenation, this package offers a 1-hour spa treatment per guest, a guided nature walk or hike to Cook’s Look, and a guided stand-up paddleboard or kayak tour over surrounding reefs.
● Babymoon Package – Tailored for expecting couples, this package includes gentle spa experiences, mocktails at sunset, and a laid-back, barefoot luxury itinerary focused on relaxation and connection before the arrival of baby.
All packages include accommodations, gourmet meals daily, unlimited non-alcoholic beverages, a selection of wines, beers, spirits, and champagne, a daily restocked in-room minibar, complimentary use of motorized dinghies, morning or afternoon refreshments for private beach outings, and unlimited use of stand-up paddle boards and clear view sea kayaks, and snorkeling equipment.
