Lizard Island is the Great Barrier Reef island named after the European lizard because of its monitor lizards.
Captain James Cook named Lizard Island in 1770 after seeing large monitor lizards on the island. These reptiles are commonly called goannas in Australia. The name does not refer to a native European species living there; it reflects Cook’s descriptive comparison.
Lizard Island is located off the far north Queensland coast and is surrounded by reefs, beaches and clear tropical waters. The island is part of a national park and is also home to the Lizard Island Research Station.
A frequent mix-up is assuming that every island name in the region describes its geology or Indigenous origin. In this case, the English name records an observation made during Cook’s voyage.