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4.5
#1 of 1 all-inclusive in Lizard Island
Location
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Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Lizard Island is truly secluded from the rest of the world. With 40 luxurious suites, it is the most northern resort in tropical North Queensland and is located directly on the Great Barrier Reef. The Resort is part of a preserved National Park covering 1,013 hectares, Lizard Island Resort is accessible by private air charter from Cairns Airport that services direct flights to and from most major Australian airports. The island experience is like no other place on the Great Barrier Reef. Enjoy secluded picnics with your own private dinghy on one of the many beaches, dive the famous Cod Hole, learn to snorkel or take in one of the numerous natural bird, wildlife, turtle or historical guided tours - there is so much on offer. Lizard Island is also famous for its game fishing and ,exciting light tackle sport fishing and has several vessels for private fishing excursions. At the end of a busy day, try a sunset beach degustation dinner on a private beach, relax in the soothing Essentia Day Spa or simply unwind in the the beautiful Salt Water restaurant and bar - Lizard is like nowhere else located right on the Great Barrier Reef
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Lizard Island Resort garners acclaim for its tranquil atmosphere and stunning natural setting, complete with luxurious accommodations that many guests find delightful. While its pristine location with turquoise waters is a consistent highlight, some visitors have noted cleanliness oversights such as missing utensils in picnic baskets.
Rooms are celebrated for their spaciousness and views, and the staff's exceptional service is frequently mentioned, though not without occasional critiques regarding dinner service. The resort's snorkeling and activities are well-regarded, yet opinions on value for money do vary among travelers.
Location
Picturesque
Atmosphere
Serene
Rooms
Comfortable
Value
Expensive
Cleanliness
Mixed
Service
Attentive
Amenities
World-class
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The Lizard Island Resort experience far exceeded my expectations. I have traveled the world and have dove all over the world. We went with 3 couples for a reunion for 4 nights. We were never bored. The resort itself was top class. The staff were genuinely kind and enjoyed engaging with us. Paul and Jess were humorous and kind hosts, as well as every single one of the staff we met. We wanted to go on an impromptu fruit bat tour and the resort scheduled it for us at the drop of a hat with a naturalist! The bats were numerous and amazing. They bent over backwards to accommodate our every desire. The food was top level gourmet and the menu changed daily. The all inclusive wine and alcohol list was top notch and extensive. The price includes free kayaking, free motor boat to various top notch beaches and snorkel sights, free naturalist tours and hikes. The diving and snorkeling were incredible. Even if you don't pay to go out on the approx 1 hr boat ride to the inner/outer Barrier reef, you can still see beautiful coral, fishes and turtles by snorkeling right off the beach. The gym looked really nice, but we were so busy we never hit the gym! I normally don't like going to a place twice, but I plan to go back to Lizard Island resort again.
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Date of stay: April 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Sideen Joorun, General Manager at Lizard Island Resort
Responded 16 Sept 2023
Dear “tgoodmannd” We thank you for taking the time to provide us with your heartfelt and honest feedback about your recent stay at Lizard Island Resort. We are very pleased to hear that you enjoyed your stay with us and that you appreciated the welcome and service of our “Ambassadeurs”. Paul and Jess will be very happy to read your lovely comment! Thank you for your praise of the resort activities and nature tour with our naturalist. we will be glad to share your comment with them. Our passionate team of “Ambassadeurs” are looking forward to welcoming you again to this beautiful and natural part of great barrier reef. Warm Regards
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On arrival at Cairns airport despite being advised of our arrival flight, no-one was waiting to transfer us to East Air terminal and we had to utilise the lovely Cairns Airport volunteers to track down our ride. Once he was located we were transferred to the East Air terminal and the flight to the Island was both scenic and smooth, if a bit squishy for tall people. A simple commentary of the reefs we were flying over would have been appreciated.
Our check-in was seamless over a glass of champagne and we were then shown to our room for 4 nights, The Pavilion. There was a welcome note and champagne from GM Leon, although we did not see nor hear from him during our 4 night stay.
The room was well appointed with designer decor, mini bar and luxurious bathroom and spectacular views over Anchor Bay. An outdoor dining table with seating for six (although we were to learn later, neither guests nor dining was allowed at this table!) overlooking the ocean.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner were served in Salt Water and were very good considering location and ingredients available , without being great.
We did a Yoga session which was great and booked a dinghy with a picnic lunch and went for a fabulously simple and spectacular snorkel at nearby Watsons. We also paid an additional $500 for a snorkelling tour to MacGillivray (Banks) Reef which was great, but honestly Watsons was just as good.
The Spa was excellent although the massage tables were weirdly narrow.
Overall the experience, staff and location were excellent. However, was it worth the $5000 per night for The Pavilion? Frankly no. For well over twice the price of a standard room, it provided nothing additional in terms of service. We were disappointed to learn that for the four nights we were there, the two beachside dining tables were unavailable every night (evidently we should have known to book these in advance!) and whilst we were able to have canapés in The Pavilion, we were unable to have a single meal there (not even a bowl of muesli!) Totally wasted this space and for four nights, an unbelievable rip-off. COVID and staffing issues simply can’t be an excuse when you’re charging this much. A staff member mentioned they didn’t “have a licence” to deliver food to rooms and I have no idea what this meant, but clearly it didn’t apply to canapés!
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Date of stay: May 2022Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Lizard island is a beautiful location, with turquoise waters and white isolated beaches. This is a 5 star location but a 4 star resort. The resort is well located and the employees were outstanding in all aspects. The suite was well appointed and well equipped, with great ocean views and a short walk to the beach and snorkeling. Overall, as nice as the resort is, it falls short of a 5 star experience, especially considering the high cost of the suites, and comparing it to other all inclusive, exotic locations we have visited. Some examples of why it cant be considered 5 star: No sunscreen is provided in the suite. No towel or chair service on Anchor Bay beach. No beverage or meal service on Anchor bay Beach. In fact, we ordered a picnic basket which was happily prepared, but delivered to my suite, not to the beach, a mere 50 yards away. Additionally, no utensils, wine glasses or napkins were included in the picnic basket. Food choices are limited. Lunch and breakfast menus alternate every other day, but dinner is different each night, but can be painfully slow, rather than leisurely and relaxed. No turndown service unless requested. Although the location is unique, the staff is wonderful and the snorkeling and diving is spectacular, consider carefully the cost when compared to other alternative beautiful worldwide resorts.
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Date of stay: September 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Sideen Joorun, Other at Lizard Island Resort
Responded 23 Oct 2023
Dear Waynem114 Greetings from Lizard Island Resort Thank you for taking the time to share the in-depth review of your recent stay with us. While we are overjoyed about your love for the resort and its location, we are saddened as well to read the shortcomings you have felt. Warm and personalized service is also the heart and core of who we are, therefore please be assured we have already addressed the relevant departments to continuously adapt and improve our services. We hope that you took away some fond memories of your time at Lizard Island and we would be delighted to welcome you back in the near future. With warm regards
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Lizard Island is a fabulous island resort. The rooms are spacious and bright and airy. We opted for a private plunge pool and it was so worth it to be able to relax in the pool while watching the waters of the Great Barrier Reef. The only thing better is snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef. The snorkeling right off the hotel beach is phenomenal and easily better than any other snorkeling trips we have taken. Another highlight was taking out the boats with our packed lunch. All of the meals on Lizard were exceptional. We dream of returning.
One thing I must note- our flight from Melbourne to Cairns was cancelled at the last minute. I was so worried that we would miss a day on Lizard Island and the hotel sent out a private plane for us. It was truly first class and we can’t thank them enough for being so accommodating.
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Date of stay: September 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Splurge for a plunge pool room!
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Greg and the team at Lizard Island could not of done more to make our recent 5 night stay at Lizard Island Resort more special. The service was second to none with every request answered with a can do attitude and a smile. We only had to mention a preference in passing to see this remembered and passed between team members to ensure our every need was catered for. The activities team were amazing, nothing too much trouble and great choices to do plenty or nothing each day. The location is amazing with plenty of great snorkling spots to easily check out on your own with great tips from the team or many choices for guided experiences too. Options for beach picnics to take along to make any trip all that more special were a breeze to organise. We loved it so much we decided to stay an extra night at the last minute which the team took in their stride and coordinated the necessary arrangements to make it all happen for us. Too many great things to list but suffice to say Lizard Island is a must do for a luxury resort experience in one the most stunning locations in Australia!!
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Date of stay: July 2021Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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Lizard island itself is stunning with beautiful beaches and fabulous snorkling . We saw so many amazing fish , coral and turtles . The resort is beautiful , comfortable and clean . The downer is the staff The kitchen staff are not qualified 5 star hotel staff Most of the staff working in the resort who are not australian are only there trying to extend their visas and have no qualifications nor background in hospitality. Sloppy service , long wait times for meals whilst they try to fill you up on bread . Cocktails made by people who dont have barrista a course under their belts let alone make a properly presented cocktail. Thestaff at the activities shed also lacked in knowledge. There was no passing on of knowledge nor information. They were pretty basic and didnt really like questions about the area This is a typicle hotel that has the luck of being in an amazing location.They do not care about their food and staffing issues because the can get away with it. We spent $23k in 4 days and left utterly disappointed Something needs to change Employ professional staff
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Date of stay: June 2021Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Exceptional SCUBA diving here and great dive staff to plan and facilitate it. There's the usual spectacular outer reef dives and the no-less-spectacular inner reef dives and snorkelling, either off the beach or by resort boat. The inner reef sites are not easily accessible if you're not a Lizard Island guest. Don't miss nearby North Direction Island if you get a chance. In addition to the magnificent flora and fauna you'd expect to see in this part of the world we saw a humpback whale mother and calf on the way out and a large dolphin pod on the way back. The dive plan was amended to take in both these fabulous experiences, no rush to get back to base, as things are conducted along sensibly relaxed lines here.
Very competent and friendly dive staff, catering expertly for beginners up to experienced divers. Thanks so much to Sandra, Jelena, Toby and Paul for selecting and leading great dives. Resort dive gear is good equipment well-maintained or new. No NITROX (air fills only) but the dive schedule doesn't require it.
Our 8 day stay was in the windy season which makes outer reef trips (about two hours from LI to the Cod Hole) a bit bumpy so a little later in the year would probably open up the dive options. Many of the inner reef sites are sufficiently sheltered not to be blown out on windy days though.
If you want to dive once or twice a day, in great comfort, and spend the rest of your time on the lovely walks of a beautiful national park, staying at a five start resort, staffed by the most of friendly people, then Lizard Island is hard to beat.
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Date of stay: August 2022
Location
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The team at Lizard go out of there way to make sure your every need is met.The food is Devine and the accommodation is lovely. All staff go above and beyond to make the stay comfortable. My only advice would be that I believe snorkelling tours and a spa voucher should be included as the price to stay is high. Thank-you to Grant and Corrine for looking after us.
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Date of stay: January 2021Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wow, what an incredible resort! Spent 5 great days here, and from the facilities to the beach toys to the staff, and certainly the island I can not say enough superlatives in describing it. Our room faced Sunset Beach, had its own pool and view of the sunset. Room 7, great room, a bit of a walk to the main resort. The flight over is beautiful, with never ending views of the barrier reef. Be sure to go the the research center, early in you trip if possible it will make viewing of the reef that much more interesting. Taking the dingy for the day is a must, go to Watson bay, take a picnic and enjoy viewing 100+ old clams, 4 feet wide and 3 feet tall. Amazing. Food at the resort was awesome as were the staff that served. We took the day boat out to the outer reef, definitely worth doing. Amazing snorkeling, or diving, great private guided tours explaining what you were looking at, just a wow.
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Date of stay: March 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
A wonderful experience from start to finish is the best way to sum our trip here up. Starting with being picked up at Cairns airport and taken on 1 hour scenic flight to the actual island itself, you are met by the team with a glass of champagne, Corinna introduced the island and the wide variety of experiences on offer and was helpful before, during and after our trip. The room was immaculate, with a plentiful minibar, incredibly comfortable bed and relaxing balcony for taking in the view. Amongst other activities we got taken on a personal snorkel around the reefs near the resort (turtles, sharks amongst the beautiful coral and fish with Liam and skipper Chris), stargazing and bird watching (by the brilliant Kobie), tennis lessons and a relaxing couples massage at the on site spa. Included is the opportunity to take a motor dinghy out to explore secluded beaches and swim with turtles at your own leisure and the service is exceptional in every aspect. The food and drink is high level with a great variety and there was no request that the team didn't answer). Could not recommend the experience more.
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Date of stay: March 2021
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip:Upgrading to the gardenview suite was woerth it
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We saw turtles and 100’s of reef fish swimming amongst the coral only 30 feet from the beach. We were also lucky to spot an octopus in this same location so close to shore.
Sorry for delay. The plane is about a 10-seater and was perfectly comfortable. The lodge uses a charter service out of Cairns. Don’t know about helicopters.
There are more places to choose from in the Lizard Island area.
PRICE RANGE
$2,664 - $4,551 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
lizard island hotel lizard island, lizard island resort all inclusive
LOCATION
AustraliaQueenslandCook ShireLizard Island
NUMBER OF ROOMS
40
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Yes, it offers wheelchair access, reduced mobility rooms, and facilities for disabled guests. For specific enquiries, we recommend calling ahead to confirm.
