Australia’s 9 most captivating islands

With over 8,000 to choose from, Australia’s islands are both bountiful in number and in natural beauty. And you don’t necessarily have to venture far from the mainland to chance upon them.

From the tropical Whitsunday Islands in the north, to a cloud forest-covered, volcanic wilderness just off the coast of Tasmania, here are nine of the nation’s most captivating island escapes.

Fraser Island

Fraser Island is an astonishing place. The world’s largest sand island, it covers nearly 2,000 square kilometres, so you can spend days exploring its subtropical interior, including hiring a 4×4 to drive the length of its east coast along 75 Mile Beach. It’s the only place in the world where rainforest grows on sand, with monumental trees shading crystal-clear creeks, and ancient giant ferns sprouting out of the dunes. Inland, you’ll find over 100 freshwater lakes, the most astounding being Lake Mackenzie; here, gnarled eucalyptus trees stand in gleaming white sand offset by the radiant blue of the water. You can visit on a day trip but most visitors book a four-day safari camping tour. Keep your eyes peeled for possums, wallabies, sea turtles, dolphins and the island’s most famous resident – the dingo. Camp in comfort on the island at The Beachcamp Eco Retreat, where canvas tents are furnished with double beds, wooden flooring and plush bedding.

Whitsunday Islands

This archipelago of 74 islands off the coast of Queensland frequently tops lists of the world’s most naturally-beautiful places. The luminous brightness of the powder-soft sand here is down to it being 98% pure silica, which also keeps it relatively cool, even in the Australian sunshine. So you’ll be able to stroll barefoot along the 4-mile long Whitehaven Beach – the most famous stretch of Whitsunday coastline. Or book a sailing trip to explore more of the islands, discovering rainforested, uninhabited landscapes and fringing coral reefs, anchoring from time to time to swim in aquamarine seas. But the best way to see it all is by air (helicopter trips can easily be arranged), when white sand spits and blue water swirl around the bottle-green islands, and you can see stingrays swimming in the shallows. Relish the view from the infinity pool of Beach Club, a highly rated accommodation on the Whitsunday’s Hamilton Island.

Rottnest Island

Rottnest Island is a car-free paradise just offshore from Perth, known primarily for its friendly and tame population of quokkas (small, native marsupials that have a surprising fondness for selfies). Aside from posing for pictures with adorable animals, you can sunbathe on over 60 glorious beaches, swim, kayak, snorkel and scuba dive in crystalline sea, or cycle the trails crisscrossing the island (cycling is by far the most popular way to get around). Stay in Fremantle, at Apartment Faro, and eat breakfast on the sun-dappled terrace before taking the 25-minute ferry ride to Rottnest.

Lord Howe Island

A crescent-shaped island in the Tasman Sea, Lord Howe Island was formed from the remnants of a 7-million-year-old volcano. Today, only 400 tourists are allowed to visit its remote, tropical shores at a time, with planes landing on a single airstrip and passengers entering via a tiny passenger terminal. In addition to its cloud forest-covered volcanic peaks, impossibly-perfect beaches and location by the world’s southernmost barrier coral reef, the island is treasured for its abundance of totally unique flora and fauna; 60% of its insect species and 47% of its plants are found nowhere else on earth. For panoramic views of this untouched paradise, hike through ancient forests of banyan trees and endemic kentia palms up to the top of Mount Gower. Bask in the evening sun while surrounded by rainforest, on the verandah of Beachcomber Lodge.

Kangaroo Island

The imaginatively-named Kangaroo Island is one for the animal-lovers. The third-largest of all of Australia’s islands, it’s home to thousands of wallabies, koalas, wombats and kangaroos, amongst others. It’s just a 45-minute ferry ride from Cape Jervis (just south of Adelaide), and you can book tours to show you the island’s highlights; visit Seal Bay to view a colony of endangered sea lions, see the impressive formation known as Remarkable Rocks (orange lichen-covered granite boulders that have eroded over 500 million years), and hike through sugar-gum forests and windswept scenery in the Flinders Chase National Park. End a day of exploration in the hot tub with ocean views at Sea Dragon Lodge.

Magnetic Island

Just offshore from Townsville in northeastern Queensland, Magnetic Island – or ‘Maggie’ as the locals endearingly refer to her – is a backpacker hub with a slow-paced atmosphere. Over half the island is a protected national park, providing a sanctuary for native Australian species, including the nation’s largest wild koala colony. Snorkel the island’s coral reefs, scuba dive around the wreck of the SS Yongala (a passenger ship that sank in only 100 feet of water in 1911), sunbathe on one of the island’s 20-plus dreamy beaches, and head to one of its laid-back bars in the evening. Stay at True North B&B, a green- and cream-painted wooden mansion just a 1-minute walk from the island’s popular Horseshoe Bay.

Phillip Island

An easy day trip from Melbourne, Phillip Island is mostly visited for its consistently-good surf and the daily penguin parades that happen on the beach at sunset. Every evening, after a day spent fishing, hundreds of these little penguins waddle home across the sand to look after their nests, greeting each other with enthusiastic sounds in an enchanting spectacle. Another must-see on the island is The Pinnacles on Cape Woolamai, a collection of pink granite colonnades created 360 million years ago when molten rock forced itself up from the earth’s core. At sunset, the rocks glow orange in the golden light, with waves crashing dramatically against them. The best way to plan your visit is according to the tides; low tide allows easier access to explore the rocky shoreline on foot. Spend the night on the island at Silver Waters B&B, or head back to Melbourne and check into Apartment 88 in the city’s Southbank.

Flinders Island

Amid the choppy Bass Strait, northeast of Tasmania, the wild Flinders Island is the ideal destination for a nature escape. With only 700 residents and over 100 beaches, you can expect to spend most of your time here revelling in solitude, bushwalking across its rocky terrain from one deserted beach to another. Follow the newly-established Flinders Island Trail, a hike that winds its way through valleys and mountains between the island’s tips. Most travellers arrive by plane from Melbourne or Launceston (there is a bi-weekly ferry service but it is dependent on weather, so can be less reliable). Spend a few nights at the Mountain Seas Art and Wilderness Retreat, backed by mountains and just moments from the beach.

Fitzroy Island

Despite being one of the most accessible islands in Queensland (just a short ferry ride from Cairns), Fitzroy remains relatively undiscovered. There’s only one resort, one shop and two restaurants, but plenty of accommodation options for those looking to lap up its low-key appeal. Snorkel fringing coral gardens located right off the beach (the best places to swim with shoals of colourful fish and sea turtles are near the boulders framing both ends of Welcome Bay), hire a paddleboard or sea kayak, hike national park trails, or just relax with a fresh tropical cocktail with an over-saturated coastal backdrop; Fitzroy Island Resort has some of the best beach views on the island.