Lizard Island secret uncoverd

Lizard Island in world's top 101

Nick Dalton

Monday, January 30, 2012

© The Cairns Post

LIZARD Island off Cooktown in Far North Queensland has been named in the prestigious Tatler magazine's list of the world's 101 best hotels.

The island resort, 240km north of Cairns and 27km offshore, was one of eight Australian properties on the list published in Tatler’s 2012 Travel Guide. Makepeace Island at Noosa and Hayman Island in the Whitsundays were also listed. "Lizard Island has long been regarded as a favourite destination for those in the know who enjoy Lizard's location on the Great Barrier Reef and exceptional service, however receiving international recognition from such a prestigious magazine as Tatler is excellent," she said.

Lizard Island is a national park covering 1013ha with 24 sandy beaches and a lagoon.

Magazine travel editor Melinda Stevens said they searched for "stunning" resorts and hotels. "We want hotels to be as stunning as they can. Go on, we dare them, but we also want to feel the love," she said. "This year, the guide, celebrates the hotels that suck us in with the sheer force of their personality."

A Lizard Island spokeswoman said they were delighted to be in the list.

Tourism Australia managing director Andrew McEvoy said the eight Australian properties were firm evidence of the growing quality of the country’s tourism offering.

"It’s great that Australia’s tourism product is getting talked up in this way," he said. "The inclusion of no less than eight of our top hotels in Tatler’s top 101 list dispels the myth perpetuated by some commentators that the quality of Australia's tourism offering is not world class, when the facts continue to show we deliver on global leading product."

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