In 1770 Captain James Cook first ventured into these uncharted reaches as the last chance for a crew seeking freedom from the beautiful but deadly coral reefs of the Great Barrier Reef. Cook anchored in one of the island's bays and climbed to the top of the hill now known as Cook's Look. There he surveyed a suitable passage away from the island.

On Lizard Island, goannas can be found almost everywhere, and were so common when James Cook first landed that it didn't take him long to name the island after them.

Lizard Island is a National Park covering over 1000 hectares, the highest peak being Cooks Look at 359 meters, and the prolific bird life will amaze.