Lizard Island Resort in Queensland has joined the exclusive Relais & Châteaux collection.
Lizard Island’s inclusion as part of the revered Relais & Châteaux collection has well and truly secured its place as one of the world’s most luxurious island resorts.
The property, a member of Luxury Lodges of Australia, is one of just 580 members to join Relais & Châteaux, a body established in France in 1954 with the mission to select outstanding properties with unique character to be part of an exclusive collection.
Sitting on a 1,013-hectare national park on the Great Barrier Reef, with just 40 rooms, suites and villas, and access to more than 20 private beaches, Lizard Island has long been known as a playground for the rich and famous with Kate Hudson reportedly calling it “the most romantic place on earth”.
Relais & Châteaux is dedicated to providing an unparalleled culinary experience with the use of premium and sustainably sourced ingredients, something Lizard Island says aligns well with its values.
General Manager Mark Leslie says the property is renowned for celebrating local, seasonal and artisanal ingredients to create memorable dining experiences that showcase the flavours of the region, and the team was thrilled to have been appointed to the esteemed association.
“Relais & Châteaux brings together a global community of discerning travellers and diners, and we’re looking forward to welcoming more members from around the world to the natural paradise here at Lizard Island, with its wade-in access to the Great Barrier Reef, beach house suites and fine, island style dining.
“The Relais & Châteaux UNESCO-ratified vision to protect and promote the world’s culinary and hospitality traditions and equally to preserving local heritage and the environment aligns neatly with our operating philosophy here at Lizard Island,” he says.
Lizard Island’s Salt Water Restaurant has a daily changing menu of modern Australian cuisine with an emphasis on fresh local produce. For a private dining experience, guests can choose one of two gazebos on the shore of Anchor Bay for a seven-course degustation, while changing signature culinary experiences including a masterclass on pairing champagne and caviar.
When they’re not dining, guests can snorkel straight from the beach, go game fishing, have a treatment at the day spa or laze by the infinity pool.
For an ultra-luxe experience, they can opt for ‘The House’ – a three-storey, three-bedroom property with direct beach access and complete seclusion. Larger than most three-bedroom homes in Australia, it has outdoor baths, a private swimming pool, an adjoining yoga deck and a rooftop spa. The property’s award-winning design provides panoramic views of the Coral Sea, while all meals are curated and itineraries bespoke according to the preferences of each guest.
The property works closely with the Lizard Island Research Station, a world leader in coral reef education and research, to protect and preserve the Great Barrier Reef, which most recently pioneered successful techniques to combat the spread of one of the reef’s biggest predators, the Crown of Thorns.
Guests can tour the Research Station where they can speak to marine staff who live and work in the region and learn about the day-to-day health of the marine environment, as well as advances in reef conservation and research breakthroughs.
For more information, visit lizardisland.com.au
