Australia is an island nation, featuring 8,222 isles scattered from the tip of Cape York to sub-Antarctic latitudes and flung deep into the Indian and Pacific Oceans. They range from gorgeous coral atolls to wild, windswept islands sculpted by the waves of the mighty Southern Ocean.
Read on for our list of the most beautiful and intriguing islands in Australia, many of them empty, all of them abundant in nature...
UNESCO Heritage-listed K’gari (Fraser Island) is 75 miles (120km) long and 15 miles (25km) wide, making it the world’s largest island made entirely of sand. It supports a surprisingly diverse ecosystem from lush rainforest and enormous sand hills to iridescent lakes and wildflower heaths, as well as abundant birdlife and small packs of dingoes. 75 Mile Beach runs along the east side of the island and is officially a national highway. Watch out for the eerie wreck of the SS Maheno about halfway along.
Anchored in the middle of the Bass Strait off Tasmania’s northwest coast, King Island is a place of wild seas, empty beaches and famously good produce. The island’s shipwreck trail recalls its early history of maritime explorers, sealers and shipwrecked castaways. The pioneer farmers who came here after the Second World War are celebrated in the world-class beef, seafood and cheese you can sample metres from the source. Life moves at a slower pace here. There is one set of traffic lights – but they only operate on Wednesdays.
It’s hard to imagine, but this paradise island 877 miles (1,412km) off the east coast of New South Wales was once a brutal penal colony where only the very worst offenders were sent. Two hundred and fifty years later the place dubbed ‘Hell in the Pacific’ in convict times is a beguiling mix of rolling farmland, dramatic seascapes and towering pine trees. Incongruously grand convict buildings in Kingston are the only reminder of the island’s dark past.
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Bigge Island sits 3.7 miles (6km) off the Kimberley Coast in northwest Western Australia. It is the biggest island in the Bonaparte Archipelago, cut off from the mainland during the last Ice Age. Today it is a haven for rare flora and fauna, including monjon, a type of rock wallaby that bounds among the striking red rocks here. Set in a cobalt blue sea, it is an island of caves, many of which are decorated with Wandjina (spirit) art, depicting ancestral beings that travelled through this region during the very beginning of time, known by Aboriginal peoples as the Dreamtime.
Serene Magnetic Island is a true natural paradise just a 20-minute ferry ride from Townsville in northern Queensland. It is littered with granite boulders, hoop pines, sandy beaches and fringing coral reefs. Explore the island’s stunning 23 bays and beaches (that’s Radical Bay pictured). Or take to one of the bushland trails that criss-cross the island. Keep an eye out for koalas too – introduced in the 1930s and now the largest colony in northern Australia, you might spot them sleepily munching eucalyptus leaves in the trees.
The largest island in Sydney Harbour is a former convict jail and naval shipyard. Visitors come to Cockatoo Island by ferry to wander among the heritage buildings built by convicts, soak up the breathtaking views back towards the city and enjoy a rustic pizza at the island’s cafe. There is also the opportunity to camp overnight. Lonely Planet described it as “one of the world's most spectacularly located campsites”.
Billed as 'Australia’s last unspoilt paradise', the Cocos (Keeling) Islands are but a mere drop in the Indian Ocean. Consisting of two atolls of 27 islands, of which only two are inhabited, the Cocos officially became an Australian territory in 1955. With just 144 visitors allowed at any given time, this tranquil place is like the Maldives before tourism. The Cocos are a tropical oasis of coconut palms, endless white-sand beaches and azure waters with a unique Coco-Malay culture.
Often described as ‘Australia’s Galapagos’, Kangaroo Island in South Australia is a place of otherworldly landscapes, gorgeous empty beaches and wildlife at every turn. There are kangaroos, of course – they outnumber human residents by 12 to one and can be spotted bouncing along the beaches here. But you’ll also find colonies of fur seals and sea lions, 260 species of bird and a colony of koalas, brought to the island in the 1920s and unaffected by the diseases that plague their cousins on the mainland.
Just a 90-minute drive from Melbourne, Phillip Island has always been a holiday hotspot for stressed-out Melbournians and visitors alike. The island is packed with idyllic beaches, secret fishing spots, scenic hikes and delicious local food and wine, while the villages here still exude a distinctly relaxed vibe. The main attraction, however, is the nightly Penguin Parade and the chance to see the world’s largest colony of Little Penguins return from the sea to their burrows in the sand dunes.
With its sand dunes, shipwrecks and sparkly beaches, Moreton Island is Brisbane’s playground. Jump on the ferry at Brisbane’s Holt Street Wharf, and 75 minutes later you’ll be swimming among rainbow-coloured fish, whizzing down a sand dune, bathing in a blue lagoon and hand-feeding wild dolphins. Highlights include the Champagne Pools, where ocean waves crash over the volcanic rock to create a sparkling effect; Dolphin Lake, named because it’s the shape of a dolphin; and the breakwater at Tangalooma, formed of several shipwrecks and an excellent snorkelling spot.
Rottnest Island got its name in 1696 when Dutch captain Willem de Vlamingh mistook the island’s famous quokkas for giant rats. Now people flock from all over the world to take photos of these adorable marsupials, their grinning faces earning them the title of 'The Happiest Animals on Earth'. The pristine beaches and aquamarine bays are a delightful bonus, as is the sight of humpback whales breaching as they migrate past the island from September to November. Only a 30-minute ferry ride from Fremantle, Rottnest Island is easily accessible too.
Lord Howe Island is a crescent-shaped island in the Pacific Ocean, covered in lush greenery and surrounded by aquamarine waters that are home to a pristine coral reef teeming with marine life. Sitting between Australia and New Zealand, it is technically part of New South Wales but only 400 people are allowed to visit at any one time. There’s a sandy, sheltered coral reef on the west coast, Mount Gower in the south and untouched forest that's home to plants and animals found nowhere else in the world covering much of the rest of the island.
Bruny Island sits off the southeast coast of Tasmania and is made up of two land masses, each connected by a narrow isthmus known locally as 'The Neck'. The island is a mix of grazing land, pristine national park and dry eucalypt forest. It's famous for its stunning beaches, infinite wilderness and a booming farm-to-table scene. William Bligh (of HMS Bounty fame) planted Tasmania’s first apple trees here, a fruit that would later become synonymous with the state.
Known as Galiwin’ku by its traditional owners, Elcho Island sits at the southern end of the Wessel Islands group off Arnhem Land in Australia’s Northern Territory. It is home to one of the most remote Aboriginal communities in Australia and is famous for its untouched native flora and fauna, beaches backed by deep-red cliffs and a strong culture where artistic traditions flourish. The Elcho Island Arts centre features the work of over 200 artists including Banumbirr (Morning Star Poles), bark paintings, fibre art, yidaki (didgeridoos) and jewellery.
Whitsunday Island is the largest in the Whitsundays, a group of islands just off the coast of Central Queensland. It is home to Whitehaven Beach, a blindingly white strip of sand lapped by deep turquoise water that is regularly voted as the most beautiful beach in the world. The beach is so white because the sand is 98% pure silica. Unlike regular sand, it doesn’t retain heat, so you can wander barefoot along it even on the hottest of days.
The Shoalwater Islands Marine Park sits less than an hour's drive south of Perth and is easily accessible by ferry from Rockingham. This gorgeous collection of pristine Islands, reefs and shipwrecks are perfect for diving, snorkelling and wildlife watching. In its shallow lagoons and on its rocky shores you’ll find dolphins, sea lions and penguins, plus many species of seabird. It’s easy to know where to find them: Penguin Island for Little Penguins and Seal Island for a colony of rare Australian sea lions (pictured).
Life moves slowly on Dangar Island and that’s entirely its charm. This tiny island in the middle of the Hawkesbury River, just north of Sydney, can only be reached by ferry. The 313 residents either walk or cycle to wherever they are going and there’s a line of wheelbarrows at the dock to cart supplies that come in on the ferry. Take a dip at Bradley Beach. Brunch at Dangar Island Depot (pictured). Or play barefoot bowls at the ramshackle bowling club.
Taking its name from the wild goannas that roam its 2,500-acre national park, Lizard Island in the Great Barrier Reef is also home to Australia's northernmost island resort. It sits secluded among palms, with its own private beach where guests are treated to spectacular sunsets. Elsewhere on the island there are 24 white sand beaches to explore and a hidden lagoon to find. There are also tropical birds aplenty and waters full of spectacular marine life.
Located just off the rugged coastline of the Fleurieu Peninsula, Granite Island is reached by crossing a wooden causeway on a horse-drawn tram (pictured). Known as Nulcoowarra by the local Indigenous Ramindjeri people, the island takes its European name from the orange-tinged granite boulders that are scattered along its coast. A popular day trip from Adelaide, visitors can enjoy such activities as fishing off the jetty, wandering along the Kaiki Walk to learn about the Indigenous history of the island or spotting southern right whales just off shore during whale-watching season (June to October).
Perched off Tasmania’s northeast tip, Flinders Island rises from the Bass Strait in a spectacular line of beaches and mountains. At the southern end, the Strzelecki Peaks rise directly from the sea. The rugged west coast boasts white sandy beaches crowned by granite headlands. In the east you’ll find a landscape of lagoons and wetlands. It is wild and untamed, with only 800 residents. But this is Tasmania, so expect a thriving foodie scene too, based around ingredients that are as fresh as can be.
Thursday Island, or TI to the locals, is one of the 274 islands scattered between the tip of Cape York in Queensland north to Papua New Guinea. It’s the administrative capital of the region but remains suitably sleepy. The cannons at Green Hill Fort once guarded the island’s main approaches, first from the Russians in 1890 and then the Japanese in the Second World War. The Gab Titui Cultural Centre celebrates the vibrant local Indigenous art scene. And there are reminders everywhere of the island’s strong connection with the pearl trade.
Just off Narooma on New South Wales’ beautiful south coast, Montague Island was first spotted by Captain Cook in 1770, who thought it was attached to the mainland and called it Cape Dromedary. The local Aboriginal people call it Barunguba and the island is dotted with sites important to them. The island’s famous lighthouse was built in 1881 and guests can stay overnight in the Lighthouse Keeper’s Cottage. Most people visit for the incredible birdlife, including NSW’s largest colony of Little Penguins, and to swim with the fur seals as they frolic just off shore (pictured).
Stunning Christmas Island sits in the Indian Ocean about 224 miles (360km) south of Java and 870 miles (1,400km) northwest of Western Australia and is administered as an external territory of Australia. It is perhaps best known for the annual red crab migration where up to 50 million of these scarlet crustaceans swarm across the island. The rest of the year you’ll find a sleepy paradise, rich in culture and blessed with azure waters teeming with technicolour sea life and picture-perfect tropical vistas like those at Dolly Beach (pictured).
Hindmarsh Island in South Australia is where the mighty Murray River meets the sea. It faces fresh water on one side and salt water on the other, making it an ideal destination for fishing and bird-watching. The island makes the perfect base to kayak into the Coorong National Park, regarded as one of South Australia’s top eco-tourism experiences and one of the best places to go bird-watching in the whole of Australia, with migratory birds travelling from as far afield as Siberia and Alaska.
Beautiful Maria Island is a mountainous island located in the Tasman Sea just off the east coast of Tasmania. Thanks to Instagram, its most famous residents are its cute and garrulous wombats, some of whom get a little too friendly. But you’ll also find painted cliffs, a vast empty beach at Riedel Bay and reminders of both the Indigenous and European history of the island. There are no shops or hotels or anywhere to charge your phone, but that is all part of this gorgeous island’s appeal.
Gorgeous Dunk Island lies just off the coast of Mission Beach on the Cassowary Coast in Far North Queensland. Most of the island is a national park full of lush tracts of rainforests, pristine beaches and abundant species of wildlife. There are plenty of walking trails on the island, including a path to the top of Mount Kootaloo offering spectacular views of the mainland. Most visitors, however, find it hard to drag themselves away from the island’s famous stunning spit (pictured).
This beautiful island reserve, with a protected lagoon as its heart, sits at the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef and makes for the ultimate day trip for birdwatchers and divers. You’ll find 70% of the reef’s birdlife here, and the lagoon is teeming with giant clams, tropical fish and sea turtles. Stay longer and enjoy a three-day cultural experience learning about the island’s Aboriginal history and culture with a Taribelang Bunda guide.
Dirk Hartog Island sits just off the Gascoyne coast of Western Australia and is reachable from the town of Denham. It was one of the first places in Australia visited by Europeans when Dutch explorer Dirk Hartog famously erected a post and nailed a pewter plate to it to mark his two-day visit to the island in October 1616. Today it is part of the Shark Bay Marine Park and a perfect place to snorkel and swim or explore the island’s famous sand dunes (pictured).
Heard Island is Australia’s most remote territory and home to the country’s only active volcano, Mawson Peak, and its highest mountain, Big Ben. It is located in the Southern Ocean about 2,485 miles (4,000km) southwest of mainland Australia and managed by the Australian Antarctic Division. In 2002, the federal government created the huge, 6.5 million hectare Heard Island and McDonald Islands Marine Park, the largest fully protected marine area in the world, to keep these remote sub-Antarctic islands as biologically pristine as possible.
Finally, to one of Australia’s most exclusive islands. The resort on gorgeous Orpheus Island only accommodates 28 people at a time, each staying in beachfront villas overlooking the Coral Sea. Guests are taken to secluded bays by boat where they can picnic on empty sugar-white beaches or snorkel among colourful tropical fish just offshore. Much of the island is a national park, but there are three camping spots for us mere mortals. The views are still five-star at least.