There’s something unforgettable about arriving at Lizard Island. From the air, you’ll spot the reef stretching out endlessly across the Coral Sea, and then this rugged granite island comes into view, fringed with more than twenty white-sand beaches and some of the clearest water on the Great Barrier Reef. For our guests on Aroona, heading north is always a highlight.
Above image credit Tropical North Tourism
Lizard Island, known as Jiigurru to the Dingaal people, is part of the Lizard Island Group and protected as both a National Park and part of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Captain Cook climbed the island’s highest point in 1770, now called Cook’s Look, to chart a safe passage through the surrounding maze of reefs. Today, visitors climb the same trail for panoramic views across the Ribbon Reefs, which remain some of the most spectacular sections of the entire Great Barrier Reef.
The island is a sanctuary for nature and science. It’s home to the Lizard Island Research Station, where scientists from around the world study coral reefs and climate change. The surrounding waters offer world-class diving and snorkelling, with famous sites such as Cod Hole only a short trip away. The fringing reefs that hug the shoreline also make it one of the rare places where you can step off the beach into thriving coral gardens.
What makes Lizard even more valuable on a charter with Aroona is the flexibility it brings. We can fly guests in and out of the island, saving hours of travel time and avoiding long sea passages if the weather shifts. This means more time exploring the reef and less time in transit. The island also provides safe anchorage, so even if the conditions offshore turn rough, we can shelter close to shore, and you can still enjoy swimming, snorkelling or walking along the island’s trails.
Every visit here feels a little different. Some guests spend their day diving outer reefs, others take a tender to a deserted beach for a picnic, and many simply soak up the stillness of this remote island. What’s always the same, though, is that Lizard Island delivers the perfect mix of adventure and comfort, a place where the reef feels close, the landscapes are dramatic, and the pace is entirely your own.
