There are hundreds of awesome vacation spots around the world, but none of them matches the island getaway experience you can find in Australia. With more than 8,000 islands in its territory, travellers will have all they can handle in making an itinerary detailed enough to contain the best locations in the continent.
Australia is famous for its beautiful beaches, as is naturally the case when your country is home to almost a thousand different beachfront. However, the paradise islands of Australia are also well-known for World-Heritage sites, tropical rainforests and unique plants and animals, great for tourists looking for a little diversity in their vacation. If you want to spice things up on your next vacation, try visiting the following islands in Australia to get yourself started on your next great island-hopping adventure:
The Whitsunday Islands
The Whitsunday Islands are a pack of smaller islets clumped together along Australia’s eastern coasts. The most popular attraction spot in these areas is Whitehaven Beach, recognized worldwide as one of the most unspoiled and wonderful beaches. With blue-green waters and white sands full of silica, Whitehaven Beach has been awarded as the best beach in Australia multiple times by various trip advising websites. The beach gets visited by thousands of tourists on a daily basis, so you know what to expect with that reputation.
Just thirty minutes away from Whitehaven Beach is Hamilton Island, arguably the biggest draw among the Whitsunday Islands. Accommodation on the island can be heavy on the dollar, but you can be sure that you will get your money’s worth with the island’s top-notch luxuries. Most famous for the qualia accommodations, Hamilton Island is a great choice for people looking to get away from the busy city life and just delve into an environment of serenity and pure relaxation. Part of the calming program is a trip to the spa, an authentic dining experience at the resort’s top-rated restaurant, and a night bar for late-night drinks. Depending on the season, you might also get to take part in certain events, such as the Hamilton Island Race Week.
Fitzroy Island
Fitzroy Island is quite the opposite of the Whitsundays: travellers come here for adventure instead of relaxation. Situated just along Cairn’s shores, Fitzroy Island is full of different mountain treks and walking trails ideal for the energetic backpackers. Most of the activities on the island are known to be physically tiring, so it’s highly recommended to find a place to stay in first so that you won’t have to worry about accommodation once you’ve tired yourself out.
With a number of mountain ranges high and low, travellers will have the option to go for casual trails or all-out trekking adventures. Either way, you will be rewarded at the finish line as most of the island tracks lead to picturesque mountain views or jaw-dropping beachfront. The famous Nudey Beach has a trail named after itself, which is a common starting point for tourists as the trail is very straightforward and only takes twenty minutes to complete. If you want a more difficult trail, the Summit Track has been known to punish unfit travellers with its three-hour trekking combined with a little boulder-climbing and some forest trails.
Bedarra Island
One of the more exclusive locations in Australia is Bedarra Island, just a stone’s throw away from Cairns along the coasts of northern Queensland. Bedarra Island is an ideal attraction for couples seeking a romantic getaway for solo travellers wanting quality alone time next to the island’s undisturbed private waters and tranquil rainforests. The heavy recluse ambience of the island has been rumoured to attract even big-name celebrities as the uncrowded beaches make for a perfect escape from unwanted noises and bustle.
There aren’t a lot of resorts on the island, largely because they don’t receive as many guests as the other beaches nearby. If you really want the ultimate seclusion, you can stay at Bedarra Island Resort to get yourself complete access to the beach together with amenities for scuba diving, sailing and snorkelling, among others. While the luxury suite can be quite expensive, the private sundecks, plunge pools and luxury baths alone should be enough to convince you to book a night or two.
Rottnest Island
Fondly called “Rotto” by the locals, you can find Rottnest Island on the northern side of Perth in Western Australia. Rottnest Island is a favourite among most tourists because of the peaceful environment – even cars are prohibited on the island, so you can imagine just how different the ambience is without the pollution and noise brought about by traffic. Instead, tourists are encouraged to explore the local attractions on foot or by bicycle, which can be rather tiresome for travellers unprepared for physical activity. Try to book the best accommodation in advance to ensure you’ll have a place to rest after a busy day.
See this for a great guide on exploring all that Rottnest has to offer.
Rottnest Island is home to over sixty beaches, with each offering different specialties: some beaches are top spots for diving and kayaking, while others are better suited for fishing and swimming. Additionally, the island is famous for being the only place in the world where the quokka reside. The quokka almost single-handedly spiked the tourism rates in the island in the past decade after pictures of the cuddly marsupials went trending online, with the quokka smiling next to the tourists in every photograph. As such, people started coming into the island with one thing in mind – to obtain a selfie with a quokka.
