IT WAS totally devastated by a cyclone last year, but that’s not where the bad luck ended for this incredible Aussie island.
Lizard Island resort in far north Queensland was hammered by Cyclone Ita when it passed directly over the island in April last year.
About $45 million was spent rebuilding the luxury retreat after Ita’s thrashing and it was only days from reopening when some further damage was caused by Cyclone Nathan.
Boats were strewn across the sand, trees fell and smashed into structures below, windows shattered and the inside of the hotel crumbled.
Now it has been reborn as a bucket-list luxury Aussie resort following the double hit, and these photos show just how much it has changed within the year.
The opening of the island’s bar, the chilled-out Marlin Bar, has marked the completion of the resort’s 16-month makeover.
The swankiest of all the 40 rooms and suites at the resort is new two-bedroom Villa, which has a private pool, lounge area with butler’s kitchen, and daily in-room sunset champagne and canapés.
The rooms have a beachy, latte-coloured theme thanks to Melbourne-based interior design firm Hecker Guthrie.
The island sits 240km north of Cairns and 27km off the coast — and is accessible only by a 60-minute private charter from Cairns Airport. It’s a National Park covering 1013ha with 24 white sand beaches — roughly one for every two guests.
The resort, chosen as one of the 10 top beach resorts in the world by Forbes in 2012, has mostly positive reviews on TripAdvisor.
“This was a bucket list trip for me and truly memorable,” wrote Jennifer J of Melbourne, who visited last month.
John F, who also stayed in October, wrote: “Service was impeccable and the hotel general manager was always around.”
But some TripAdvisor users weren’t so impressed, mainly with the price: “Four days of amazing nature and relaxing beaches — where else can you swim with turtles in the wild and snorkel in amazing waters? But this is not the luxury resort the price suggests it should be,” said a user by the name of Aclandhall.
The island was given its name by Captain Cook when he stopped by in 1770. He only spotted lizards on the island and plenty of them, hence the name.
And if, like Cook, you’re lucky enough to make it to this blessed part of Australia, you’ll probably spend your days diving, snorkelling, hiking up to the summit Cook’s Look, playing around in a glass-bottom boat, fishing or being massaged into a jelly-like state in the spa.
But you might need to leave a few things at home — your kids.
Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your perspective), children nine years and under are not catered for on Lizard Island.
Lizard Island is operated by US hospitality and food service giant Delaware North Companies, owners of a bunch of other unique resorts including Heron Island, El Questro Wilderness Park and Kings Canyon Resort.
Delaware North Australia Parks and Resorts executive director Greg Magi said the resort was
now fully open and operational.
“The tireless efforts of our staff and partners over the past 16 months sees us in a really solid and exciting position to re-establish Lizard Island as a world leader in luxurious resort accommodation,” he said.
So the question remains will it be able to rival the likes of Australia’s much loved holiday escape Hamilton Island?
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