A forested koala paradise and castaways: spectacular island escapes in Australia revealed
Australia is a world unto itself – and one that is home to worlds within worlds, breathtaking islands with beaches covered in floury sand, exotic wildlife and landscapes that time forgot.
Here we present some of Australia’s most enticing island escapes, listing the inimitable Whitsundays, the car-free Maria Island, the shipwrecked nirvana that is Lord Howe Island and the koala paradise of Raymond Island.
Scroll down to learn more about these wanderlust-inducing treasures.
Which one would you most like to visit?
THE WHITSUNDAYS – QUEENSLAND
Daydream Island (immediately above) is one of 74 islands that make up the Whitsundays, which are scattered around the Great Barrier Reef
Located 34 miles (55 km) off the coast of Queensland, the Whitsundays are made up of 74 sand paradise islands scattered around the center of the Great Barrier Reef, with Hamilton, Hayman (image three and four) and Daydream (image five) – and the award-winning Whitehaven Beach on Whitsunday Island (top two images) – just some of the highlights.
It’s a trip of a lifetime territory.
Australia. com says: ‘The proximity to the Great Barrier Reef means the Whitsundays are a mecca for sailing, diving and snorkelling, and there are plenty of opportunities to tick off some worthy activities, such as swimming with turtles or flying over the famous Heart Reef.’
For more information visit www.queenland.com.
THE ISLAND OF Lord HOWE – NEW SOUTH WALES
Lord Howe Island serves up a slice of castaway nirvana, with a marine park home to 450 species of fish and pristine beaches. Above this is Capella Lodge’s infinity pool, which offers the best views on the island
Seven million years ago, Lord Howe Island was a huge shield volcano.
Today it is a ten-kilometer paradise for the 400 visitors who are allowed to stay there at any given time.
Located 700km (435 miles) northeast of Sydney, it serves up a slice of castaway nirvana, with a marine park home to 450 species of fish and 90 species of coral and pristine beaches.
Stay with Chapel Lodge for the best views on the island, offered from the infinity pool.
RAYMOND ISLAND – VICTORIA
Raymond Island is billed as a ‘forest paradise’ with a huge population of koalas
Everyone loves Raymond Island, which is located 300 km (190 mi) east of Melbourne in the Gippsland region and is described by Visit gippsland.com as a ‘forest paradise’.
Visitors are likely to spot koalas there — the 3.7-mile (two-kilometer) island is home to a huge population of the iconic marsupial — along with kangaroos, wallabies, echidnas, and parrots.
The island is easily reached from Paynesville via a five-minute ferry ride, which is free for pedestrians and cyclists.
After disembarking, passengers can take a 1.2 km signposted ‘koala walk’. Accommodation on the island is available – www.gippslandlakesescapes.com.au/gippsland-accommodation.
GABO ISLAND – VICTORIA
Gabo Island is ‘one of the most unique and spectacular islands to visit in Australia’ according to a Tripadvisor user
Located 500 meters off the pristine coast of Croajingolong National Park in eastern Victoria, remote Gabo Island is small, only 2.4 km long and 0.8 km wide, but it packs a punch.
Visitors can explore the 19th-century Gabo Island Lighthouse, which, at 47 meters (154 feet) tall, is Australia’s second tallest lighthouse, and ‘walk the island’s pink granite shoreline and rock pools… or relaxing on the sandy beach,” suggests Park Victoria.
There will be plenty of wildlife spotting opportunities meanwhile – the island is home to 21,000 pairs of breeding penguins and 20,000 pairs of white-headed petrels. Visitors should also keep their eyes peeled for passing whales, dolphins and seals.
While the island makes a great day out, it’s also possible to stay there – in the historic assistant lighthouse keeper’s cottage, which can accommodate up to eight guests.
The island has been praised by Tripadvisor users, with “Run to see the world‘ describes it as ‘one of the most unique and spectacular islands to visit in Australia’.
A handful of charter boat companies 14km (8.6 miles) away in Mallacoota provide transfers to and from the island, while a small airstrip means you can arrive by light aircraft.
TROUBRIDGE ISLAND, YORKE PENINSULA – SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Troubridge Island is described by the Troubridge Island Escape website as a place ‘where time stands still’. Photo courtesy of Creative Commons
Beautiful Troubridge Island – home to a 24.7-metre-tall 19th-century lighthouse – lies off the coast of South Australia’s Yorke Peninsula, west of Adelaide and a 15-minute boat ride from Edithburgh.
It is described by the Troubridge Island Escape website as a place ‘where time stands still’.
And what to do there while the clocks are standing still? Laze on the white sand beaches, check out the colony of penguins and resident cormorants and crested terns, hang out in the heritage-listed lighthouses that can be your home for a few nights, and generally enjoy the shipwrecked atmosphere.
Accommodation prices start at $1,144 AUD (£617 $772 US).
KING ISLAND – TASMANIA
Pictured above is the beautiful Cape Wickham golf course on King Island, billed as ‘another world’
King Island is located 80 km (49 mi) northwest of Tasmania and is according to kingisland.org.au‘another world’, a veritable mishmash of ‘iconic golf courses, boutique lodges and art exhibitions’.
The website adds: ‘When you visit, please remember: A wave from the steering wheel to any approaching vehicle is mandatory, the hotel concierge and airport baggage handler are the same person, and we have traffic lights…but only on Wednesdays. Life here on King Island is just a little bit more… life.”
Discover Tasmania notes a few other highlights – hiking in the Calcified Forest, surfing at Martha Lavinia Beach, and feasting on cheese from King Island Dairy.
MARIA ISLAND – TASMANIA
Maria Island is a wildlife utopia that is home to Tasmanian devils and kangaroos. Moreover, there are beautiful beaches and amazing patterned cliffs
Step onto car-free Maria Island, six kilometers (3.7 miles) off Tasmania’s east coast, and you’ll find yourself in a wildlife haven, where Tasmanian devils, ranger kangaroos and rare Cape barren geese roam, says Discover Tasmania.
The site adds that there are also Convict World Heritage Sites, cliffs with swirling sandstone patterns, and the 711-foot Mount Maria to conquer.
Lower elevation activities include guided hikes, biking, snorkeling, and lounging on crescent-shaped beaches.
There are no shops on the island, a designated national park, but it is possible to stay there – there are campsites and basic accommodation available in an old prison.
TIWI ISLANDS – NORTHERN TERRITORY
Most of the residents of the Tiwi Islands are of Aboriginal descent and you will meet some of them on cultural and wildlife tours
The Tiwi Islands, or the “Island of Smiles,” consist of two main islands: Bathurst and Melville, which lie 80 km (49 mi) north of Darwin.
Most residents are of Aboriginal descent and some of them you will encounter on cultural and wildlife tours, says Northern Territory. com.
It adds: ‘The people of the Tiwi Islands are known for their traditional lifestyle, stunning artwork, vibrant fabrics and textiles, plus an exuberant passion for football.’