June 4th, 2021 | Updated on February 12th, 2022
Australia has more than 8000 islands within its maritime borders whose natural beauty is unparallel. Many of these islands are world-famous attracting tourists from all over the world. There are too many islands to explore in Australia. If you are confused about which island to visit, then this list of the 10 best islands in Australia will really help you.
1. Bruny Island
Bruny Island is a 362-square-kilometre island located off the south-eastern coast of Tasmania, Australia. The island is separated from the Tasmanian mainland by the D’Entrecasteaux Channel, and its east coast lies within the Tasman Sea. Storm Bay is located to the island’s northeast.
2. Magnetic Island
Magnetic Island, known to its Indigenous inhabitants as Yunbenun, is an island 8 kilometres offshore from the city of Townsville, Queensland, Australia. This 52 km² mountainous island in Cleveland Bay has effectively become a suburb of Townsville, with 2,335 permanent residents.
The island is a holiday destination with many hotels and several resorts in operation to cater for all levels of service. The island is part of the electoral district of Townsville in the Legislative Assembly of Queensland.
Boasting a unique natural environment of palm-fringed beaches, large granite boulders, hoop pines, sandy beaches and fringing coral reefs, Magnetic Island is an island paradise of endless sunshine, koalas, hiking trails, topless cars, snorkelling adventures, and more.
3. Christmas Island
This tiny dog-shaped island was named on Christmas Day, 1643 by an English sea captain. Today it’s a lush, off-the-beaten-path tourist destination famed for its caves and coral reefs. The biggest yearly attraction is the migration of fifty million red crabs down to the sea to spawn.
Christmas Island lies south of Java, Indonesia. A national park covers most of the 135-sq-km island, offering rainforest hikes to wetlands and waterfalls like Hugh’s Dale. Native wildlife includes nesting seabirds and the red crab, a land species known for its late-fall migration to the sea. The island is ringed with snorkelling and diving reefs.
4. Phillip Island
Phillip Island offers visitors the chance to see incredible Australian wildlife amongst spectacular landscapes. The Penguin Parade, Koala Conservation Centre, Churchill Island Heritage Farm and Nobbies Centre are just a few of the island’s unique attractions.
Phillip Island lies just off Australia’s southern coast. At Summerland Beach, spectators gather daily at sunset to watch the Penguin Parade. The Nobbies outcrop is the viewing site for Seal Rocks, home to a large colony of Australian fur seals.
Celebrate the annual arrival of some of the ocean’s most majestic creatures as Phillip Island’s coastal waters play host to humpback and southern right whales and even the occasional killer whales. The Island Whale Festival is taking place on 2 – 4 July at various venues across Phillip Island.
5. Rottnest Island
Rottnest is well known for its population of quokkas, a small native marsupial found in very few other locations. The island is also home to colonies of Australian sea lions and southern fur seals.
Rottnest Island sits just offshore from the city of Perth, in Western Australia. A protected nature reserve, it’s home to the quokka, a small wallaby-like marsupial. White-sand beaches and secluded coves include the Basin, with its shallow waters, and Thomson Bay, the main hub and ferry port. Strickland Bay is known for its surf breaks, while reef breaks occur at Radar Reef, off the island’s far western tip.
6. Lord Howe Island
Lord Howe Island is a tiny Australian island in the Tasman Sea east of Port Macquarie. It’s characterised by sandy beaches, subtropical forests and clear waters. In the south, a trail winds up soaring Mount Gower. The island is home to seabird colonies, including masked boobies. Dive sites surround the nearby Admiralty Islands.
Winter on Lord Howe Island showcases an array of unique activities that highlight the wildlife and biodiversity of our World Heritage listed Island.
7. Kangaroo Island
Just a short distance off the coast of South Australia, Kangaroo Island is internationally celebrated for its pristine wilderness and wildlife as well as a thriving food and wine industry. KI is Australia’s third largest island at 155 km long by 55 km wide, and over 540 kms of spectacular coastline.
Kangaroo Island is one of the world’s great nature-based destinations, which also offers brilliant local cuisine, small batch wines and a leisurely way of life.
Kangaroo Island lies off the mainland of South Australia, southwest of Adelaide. Over a third of the island is protected in nature reserves, home to native wildlife like sea lions, koalas and diverse bird species. In the west, Flinders Chase National Park is known for penguin colonies and striking coastal rock formations, like the sculpted Remarkable Rocks and the stalactite-covered Admirals Arch.
8. Fraser Island
Fraser Island, off Australia’s eastern Queensland coast, is the world’s largest sand island, stretching over 120km. Panoramic viewpoints include Indian Head, a rocky outcrop on the island’s easternmost tip, and the Cathedrals, a cliff famous for sculpted ribbons of coloured sand. It’s a camping and ecotourism destination, with beaches and swimming sites at Lake McKenzie, Lake Wabby and other freshwater pools.
Fraser Island (or K’gari) is located just off the Southeastern coast of Queensland, Australia, and is the number one most dangerous beach in the world.
9. Whitsunday Islands
The 74 Whitsunday Islands lie between the northeast coast of Queensland, Australia, and the Great Barrier Reef, a massive stretch of coral teeming with marine life. Most of the islands are uninhabited. They’re characterized by dense rainforest, hiking trails and white sand beaches. The town of Airlie Beach on the mainland is the region’s central hub.
With only eight of its 74 islands inhabited, staying on a tropical island in the Whitsundays is an enticing prospect. There’s one to suit every mood, from the popular Hamilton Island, to the secluded luxury of Hayman Island, it’s easy to find paradise.
Visitors travel to the Whitsundays from all around the world to relax on the pure white sands of Whitehaven Beach, soar over Heart Reef in a sea plane and stay in world-class accommodation on luxury islands. The clear, protected waters around the island’s secluded beaches and hidden bays are also ideal for sailing, snorkelling, diving and swimming.
10. Tasmania
Tasmania is an island state of Australia. It is located 240 km to the south of the Australian mainland, separated by Bass Strait. The state encompasses the main island of Tasmania, the 26th-largest island in the world, and the surrounding 1000 islands.
Tasmania is considered a relatively safe place to visit, but you should take precautions when enjoying the island’s outdoor activities. Be mindful of any undertows at Tassie beaches.
Tasmania’s natural beauty is captivating, its cultural experiences are diverse, and its food and drink offering is enviable. Get a true taste of Tasmania in its fresh apple cider, cheeses, wine and oysters, and experience a dose of its serenity with its powder-white beaches and laid-back luxury.
