An 80-year-old Australian woman has been found dead on a Great Barrier Reef island after being left behind by the cruise ship she was travelling on.

The woman had been hiking on Lizard Island, 250km (155 miles) north of Cairns, with fellow passengers from the Coral Adventurer cruise ship on Saturday but is believed to have broken off from the group to have a rest.

The ship left the island around sunset but returned several hours later after the crew realised the woman was missing. A major search operation found her body on Sunday morning. No details have been released.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (Amsa) said it is investigating the incident and will meet the ship's crew later this week.

It is understood the woman, who has not been named, was on the first stop of a 60-day cruise around Australia, with tickets costing in the tens of thousands of dollars for the journey.

She had joined a group hike to the island's highest peak, Cook's Look, before deciding she needed to rest, according to the Courier Mail newspaper.

But she did not make it back to the ship, which then departed without her.

Traci Ayris, who was sailing near the island last weekend, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) that she saw a helicopter searching the trail using a spotlight around midnight on Saturday.

About seven people with torches went to the island to search but the operation was called off around 03:00 on Sunday, with the helicopter returning the next morning when her body was discovered.

A spokesperson for Amsa stated it was first alerted to the missing woman around 21:00 on Saturday by the ship's captain.

Coral Expeditions chief executive Mark Fifield expressed deep sorrow for the woman's tragic death, stating that they are offering full support to her family during this distressing time.

The Coral Adventurer is capable of catering to up to 120 guests with 46 crew and is purpose-built for accessing remote areas of Australia's coast. Despite this tragedy, the vessel has continued its voyage to Darwin.

A report on this 'sudden and non-suspicious death' will be prepared for the coroner, according to Queensland police.