The 15 Best Hotels and Lodges in Australia - AFAR

"Lizard Island is the sole resort on its namesake island, about an hour by charter flight from Cairns in Tropical North Queensland. With just 40 rooms and 24 private beaches, guests are all but guaranteed their own pristine sliver of paradise. Accommodations include posh villas set apart from one another. They range from a two-bedroom cliff-top villa, with its 26-foot pool and endless views of the Coral Sea, to garden-view rooms with private terraces and pathways leading directly to Anchor Bay beach. Guests also receive their own motorized dinghy, stand-up paddleboards, clear-view sea kayaks, and snorkeling gear for exploring giant clam gardens and the colorful fish and turtles in the surrounding waters. The more adventurous can even arrange for private deep-sea dives to locations accessed exclusively by the Lizard Island Marine and Dive team. From $2,175, includes all meals, unlimited nonalcoholic drinks, and premium Australian wine." - Laura Dannen Redman, Jennifer Flowers, Krisanne Fordham