National park · Australia
Lizard IslandLizard Island (Jiigurru)
Go only if you are diving the northern reef, staying at the resort or camping: there is no day-trip access, no public ferry and no entry fee; the Cook's Look hike takes about 2 h return and the best months are Jun–Oct.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
10 km² (4 sq mi)4 sq mi (10 km²)
approximate
Established
1939
Best months
Jun–Sep
UNESCO
World Heritage
Rules in force · 11
- Oceania ↗Oceania's island states guard their farms and reefs at the border: tick 'yes' on the arrival card for any food, plant, animal product, soil or used outdoor gear, and let the officer decide.
- Oceania ↗Across the tropical South Pacific, cyclones are possible from November to April: choose insurance that covers weather delays and keep one spare night before a long-haul departure.
- Australia and New Zealand ↗Both countries drive on the left, with long distances between fuel stops in the outback and on New Zealand's back roads; fatigue causes more visitor crashes than speed.
- Australia ↗Almost every visitor needs a visa or an electronic authorisation (ETA or eVisitor, depending on passport) before boarding: apply only through the official Department of Home Affairs site or the official AustralianETA app, and check the rules for your passport.
- Australia ↗Declare all food, plant material, seeds, wood and animal products on your arrival declaration; undeclared items can bring on-the-spot fines or visa cancellation. When unsure, declare it.
- Australia ↗Drive on the left. An overseas licence in English (or with an official translation or International Driving Permit) is accepted for visitors; check the state rules and your rental contract.
- Australia ↗Swim between the red and yellow flags on patrolled beaches; rip currents cause most beach drownings.
- Queensland ↗Marine stinger season runs November to May in tropical waters; swim inside stinger nets or in a protective suit.
- Queensland ↗Queensland keeps UTC+10 all year — no daylight saving. Clocks go back an hour crossing from New South Wales in summer.
- Great Barrier Reef ↗The reef is a marine park: no touching coral, no collecting, no anchoring outside zones; fines apply.
- Great Barrier Reef ↗Most operators add an environmental management charge to reef trips; it is usually included in the quoted price.
At a glance
- Country
- Australia
- Area
- 10 km² (4 sq mi)4 sq mi (10 km²)
- Island area is about 10 km²; the national park also includes surrounding reef and waters (check).
- Established
- 1939
- Best months
- Jun–Sep
- Permits
- For some areas
- Base
- Cairns
Lizard Island is a continental island in the northern Great Barrier Reef, about 90 km north-east of Cooktown and roughly 240 km north of Cairns. It is a national park (part of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area) with a marine research station, one high-end resort and a small campground. There is no public ferry and no day visitors: you arrive by charter flight, by private boat or as a stop on a northern-reef liveaboard. Cook's Look, the island's high point, is the walk most people come for.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- UNESCO World Heritage · 1981Part of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area.
Size and age
10 km² (4 sq mi)4 sq mi (10 km²) · national park since 1939
Island area is about 10 km²; the national park also includes surrounding reef and waters (check).
This page covers the park itself. Nearest base: Cairns.
Why go
- Cook's Look gives a 360° view over the reef from the island's high point, about 2 h return on foot.
- Snorkelling straight off the beaches at Anchor Bay and the Blue Lagoon; the fringing reef starts metres from shore.
- World-class northern-reef dive sites (Cod Hole, the Ribbon Reefs) are within a short boat run.
- The island is small enough to walk end to end, with no roads and no traffic.
When to go
- JanAvoid
- FebAvoid
- MarAvoid
- AprCaution
- MayGo
- JunBest
- JulBest
- AugBest
- SepBest
- OctGo
- NovCaution
- DecAvoid
- JanWet season; stinger season; resort and camp often closed
- FebWet season; cyclone risk; heat and humidity
- MarWet season; many operators shut
- AprSeason reopening; stingers still possible
- MayDry season starts; clear water
- JunDry, mild, steady trade winds
- JulPeak season; book flights and beds early
- AugDry and clear; best diving visibility
- SepDry; warm days, cool nights
- OctWarming; stingers return late in the month
- NovBuild-up; humid, stingers present
- DecWet season; cyclone risk; closures
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Humpback whales (offshore, on the reef passage)Jun–Sep · Seen from boats and sometimes from the island's high points. | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| Green and hawksbill turtlesAll year · On the reef and in the lagoon year-round. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Reef fish and giant clamsMay–Oct · Best visibility in the dry season. | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
| Box jellyfish and IrukandjiNov–Apr · Marine stinger season; swim only in stinger nets or with a stinger suit. | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Cairns
Charter flight to Lizard Island airport (LZR), about 60 min; seats are booked through the resort or a dive operator.
1 h
Open the page →
From Cooktown
Private or charter boat, roughly 90 km (56 mi) north-east; no scheduled service.Private or charter boat, roughly 56 mi (90 km) north-east; no scheduled service.
3–4 h
Open the page →
From Liveaboard dive trips
Some northern-reef liveaboards stop at Lizard Island; you may join or leave the boat here by charter flight.
Open the page →
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Anchor Bay | Main beach, resort, jetty and the start of the Cook's Look track. | Open; resort area is for guests. |
| Watsons Bay | Campground, beach and the second walking route up to Cook's Look. | Open; camping by booking. |
| Blue Lagoon | Sheltered lagoon on the south side with easy snorkelling. | Open; reachable on foot from the campground. |
| Research station | Lizard Island Research Station, a working marine science facility. | Not open to visitors; do not enter. |
| Surrounding reef and marine park | Fringing reefs, dive sites and no-anchoring zones. | Zoned; follow marine park rules. |
Sketch map
- 1Lizard Island airport (LZR) · Ranger station≈-14.673, 145.454Map ↗
- 2Anchor Bay · Beach≈-14.668, 145.459Map ↗
- 3Watsons Bay campground · Sleep≈-14.662, 145.448Map ↗
- 4Cook's Look · Summit≈-14.664, 145.463Map ↗
- 5Blue Lagoon · Beach≈-14.672, 145.470Map ↗
- 6Research station · Headquarters≈-14.669, 145.453Map ↗
Take the points offline
6 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Approximate positions on Lizard Island, for orientation only.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry | Free | person | No entry fee for the national park; you pay for transport, beds or camping. |
| Campground (Watsons Bay) | AUD 7–30 (≈ US$5–20) | person per night | Queensland Parks camping fee band; 2026 estimate (check current rates and booking). |
| Resort room (Anchor Bay) | AUD 765–1,650 (≈ US$550–1,100) | room per night | Twin share, meals included; 2026 estimate (check). |
| Charter flight Cairns–Lizard Island | AUD 700–1,200 (≈ US$500–800) | person return | Booked through the resort or a dive operator; baggage limited to 32 kg (check). |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
National park access no permit
Camping permit or guide
Resort stay permit or guide
Marine park (diving, fishing, anchoring) permit or guide
What would our group pay?
People
Nights or days
- A$7–30≈ US$5–20
- A$765–1,650≈ US$550–1,100
- A$700–1,200≈ US$500–800
Tick the fees that apply to your trip to see a total.
A guide, not a quote: the ranges are estimates (checked 2026-09) and each fee may have rules on who pays it. Confirm on Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority — zoning before you go.
Park rules
- Boating over reef
- Boating over coral at or near low tide is forbidden; use the marked channels and anchor only in sand.
- Marine park zoning
- Great Barrier Reef Marine Park zones apply around the island; check the zoning map for no-take and no-anchoring areas.
- Fishing
- Only in general-use zones and with Queensland rules; no fishing in marine park no-take zones.
- Research station
- The research station is a working facility and is not open to visitors.
- Wildlife
- Do not approach nesting birds or turtles; keep clear of the shoreline at night during nesting season.
- Camping
- Camp only in the booked campground area; no camping elsewhere on the island.
Where to stay
In the park
Lizard Island resort
The island's only hotel, at Anchor Bay; meals included, high price band.
In the park
Watsons Bay campground
Small Queensland Parks campsite; book ahead, bring all water and supplies.
Near the park
Cairns
Mainland base for charter flights and liveaboard departures.
Near the park
Cooktown
Closest mainland town, about 90 km (56 mi) south-west; no scheduled boat to the island.Closest mainland town, about 56 mi (90 km) south-west; no scheduled boat to the island.
Safety
Stingers (box jellyfish, Irukandji) high
Sun and heat medium
Remote location medium
Cyclones medium
Reef and currents medium
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- The resort area and Anchor Bay beach are reachable on foot with short, mostly flat paths.
- Cook's Look and the Blue Lagoon track are rocky and steep in places; not suitable for limited mobility.
- There are no sealed roads or public transport on the island; movement is on foot or by boat.
Visiting lightly
- Follow marine park zoning: no anchoring on coral and no fishing in no-take zones.
- Take all rubbish back to the mainland; there is no waste service for campers.
- Keep distance from nesting birds and turtles, and never touch coral.
- Book with operators that hold a current marine park permit.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Lizard Island?
There is no entry fee for the national park. You pay for getting there and staying: a charter flight from Cairns is roughly A$700–1,200 return (2026 estimate), resort rooms start around A$765 per night twin share with meals, and the Queensland Parks campground is a low per-person nightly fee booked in advance.
What are the best hikes in Lizard Island?
Cook's Look is the main walk, about 2 h return from Anchor Bay or Watsons Bay to the island's high point. The Blue Lagoon track from the campground is an easier 1–1.5 h return and ends at a sheltered snorkelling lagoon. Both are unsealed and exposed.
When is the best time to visit Lizard Island?
June to September is the dry season: mild days, steady winds and the clearest water. November to April is the wet season with cyclone risk and marine stingers, and the resort and campground are often closed in the wet months.
Can I visit Lizard Island as a day trip?
No. There is no public ferry and no day-visitor service. You arrive by charter flight, private boat or as a stop on a northern-reef liveaboard, and you need a booked bed or campsite.
Do I need a permit to camp or dive?
Camping needs an advance booking through Queensland Parks. Diving, fishing and anchoring fall under Great Barrier Reef Marine Park zoning, so check the zoning map for the area you plan to use.
How do I get to Lizard Island from Cairns?
By charter flight to Lizard Island airport (LZR), about 60 minutes, usually booked through the resort or a dive operator. Baggage is limited to about 32 kg. Some liveaboards also stop at the island.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go