Great Barrier Reef Island Resorts worth leaving the mainland for

If it's your first time on the Great Barrier Reef – truly a wonder of the world – then you’ll want somewhere luxurious to soak it in. Bedarra Island offers the perfect resort to pair with such an occasion, just ten kilometres off the coast of Mission Beach. A barefoot paradise hidden amongst 45 hectares of tropical rainforest, this all-inclusive resort is suited to anything form a celebration to a holiday splash-out.

A resort stay that raises your expectations of an island getaway, Bedarra Island Resort is fitted out with ten very private standalone villas, all sleeping two adults. Each villa has its own plunge pool, sun deck, and modern contemporary features that render the resort both highly functional as well as fabulous. The open terrace restaurant, bar and lounge are the heart and soul of Bedarra, where guests come together to indulge in the ever-changing menu and open bar. Sea kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, snorkelling, fishing, tennis and self-guided interactive walks are all on offer, should you wish to leave your sundeck. Outer Great Barrier Reef snorkelling or scuba trip along with deep sea fishing charters can also be arranged for your stay.

And if this isn't reason enough to visit, Bedarra makes sustainability a core part of its philosophy, working tirelessly to reduce waste and consumption with a desalination plant and solar/generator power throughout. 

Families and friends welcome at Fitzroy Island

Built on the understated Fitzroy Island - a national park island nestled in the reef off the coast of Cairns - this 99-room resort overlooks white sands, tropical warm waters and is a favourite for families looking to enjoy the Great Barrier Reef together. 

It’s home to incredible sea life, where one dive beneath the water will have you meeting the locals face to face. Snorkel amidst angelfish, parrotfish, butterfly fish, sea anemones, corals both hard and soft, alongside brilliantly hued clams and starfish. Visit reception and request the hire one of their double kayaks or take a tour out to the massive ocean trampoline or take trip on a glass-bottom boat.

Dine at their restaurant, enjoy a meal at the beachfront bistro, or grab some ingredients at the local island supermarket and cook up a hearty meal of your own to enjoy together on the balcony. You have the freedom to choose your own family adventure on Fitzroy Island.

Explore the Reef from Lizard Island

Opulent and exclusive, Lizard Island is a crown jewel stay amidst the Great Barrier Reef island resorts. It’s home to only forty rooms, all with a tranquil and natural personality waiting to welcome you. Shed your regular life and step into luxury island living while exploring any one of their 24 pristine white beaches, sink your toes into the cool sands, or dip your feet into the water where clam gardens, coral and marine life are abundant below.

Lizard Island is Australia’s northernmost island resort on the Great Barrier Reef, a truly secluded paradise which can only be discovered by a 40 minute scenic flight over the reef from Cairns. It’s one of only three true coral cay resorts dotted along the East Coast, which means you can simply walk from the beach and begin snorkelling the outer reef. A once in a lifetime experience, that you’ll promise to return for.

The food philosophy on Lizard Island is simple, seasonal and embraces the local produce. Enjoy the daily changing menu paired with a fine selection of wine at Saltwater restaurant, complete with breathtaking views sweeping over Anchor Bay. With plenty to do in and around the resort, you can settle in for an afternoon on a secluded beach, indulge in a degustation by the water, pop by the reef research station or lizard spot the local monitors that give the island its namesake. 

The secluded and serene Haggerstone Island

You’ll find Haggerstone Island about 600km north of Cairns, alongside the rugged Cape York Peninsula. An exclusive Great Barrier Reef Island resort where you can retreat to your own piece of paradise - you can even rent the whole island.

Five beachfront villas are sparingly dotted along the coastline of Haggerstone Island, offering privacy, ocean views, and a base to explore the island marine life amidst shipwrecks and age-old artefacts. Discover simple and flavoursome cuisine, caught fresh that day from your own backyard or picked from the island orchids and then prepared before you. Ground yourself in discovery as you uncover the island’s history, custodians, and culture each day you spend there.

A little something for every traveller on Green Island

Built amidst acres of unspoilt tropical rainforest, this coral cay Great Barrier Reef island resort off of Cairns holds a special place in the heart of Queenslanders. Green Island is well-known for being the only coral cay getaway surrounded by lush tropical rainforest, making this resort the best of both worlds for your Queensland island escape.

Green Island has everything to keep you occupied while you’re not lounging on the beach - making it a popular day trip or extended getaway. Sandy beaches, crystal clear waters and abundant marine life - even a crocodile farm with the world’s oldest prehistoric pal, Cassius. The Green Island Boardwalk is worth a special mention, an accessible 1.3km return trail that guides you through the history of the island and observing over 126 native species of Green Island plant life.

The tropical romance is perfect for honeymooners and romantic getaways, but not exclusionary of families either. The emphasis lies with experience and activity over dining and lounging, but with plenty on offer, you won’t be short on an expansive to-do list.

Luxury like no other at Orpheus Island

There’s plenty of beautiful islands to discover off the coast of Townsville, but none do luxury better than Orpheus Island Lodge. Accessible only by helicopter from Townsville or Cairns, this Great Barrier Reef island resort has it all: swaying palm trees, pristine reef, chef-hatted dining and some of the best dives sites in the world. 

Whether you spend your days kicking back by the pool or exploring the coves and beaches by kayak, be sure to book the  signature Dining with the Tides experience, an intimate dinner for two under a starlit canopy on the island's jetty.

Get back to nature on Heron Island

Whether you chopper in or arrive by boat, Heron Island impresses from the moment it comes into view. Nature is centre stage here: nestled in a highly protected green zone on the Great Barrier Reef, this is one of the best places to see turtles - and birdlife might even outnumber fish. 

By numbers., the island is home to 24 hectares of coral reef, 20 dive sites (Sir David Attenborough himself vouches for their beauty), and the largest island-based research station in the southern hemisphere - which guests can tour. Above the surface, there's plenty to keep couples and families active - or less active, with three restaurants to taste your way through. 

Heron Island is just a dip in the ocean of Southern Great Barrier Reef island resorts worth visiting. From eco-heroes at Lady Elliot Island to glamping on the sands of Wilson Island, discover them here.