2 hours ago
1
The concept of an island surely holds a special place in every traveller’s heart. We long for these outcrops of land, surrounded by ocean, these isolated slices of paradise that call to the wanderer.
For many of us the idea is a stereotypical one, a tropical island: swaying palms over white-sand beaches, a secluded spot to laze and dream. But islands can be cold, inhospitable places; they can be crushingly busy; they can be hubs of culture, or they can be the subject of nightmares and tall tales.
We Australians live within easy reach of island destinations in both the Indian and Pacific oceans, even as many of us inhabit what some acknowledge is the world’s largest island, a place that’s an entire continent as well as a nation girt by sea. We understand islands, we seek them out as destinations.
But which ones are best? Among the world’s great island destinations, there tend to be assumed spots that are the finest, the one place you would always choose over myriad others – the Balis and Phukets of the world. But does that actually hold true?
Here, we look at Australian travellers’ favourite island destinations – mostly near neighbours, though some far – and ask, what is the best? If you only make one trip, where should you go? It’s not always the island you might think.
Thailand
Sign up for the Traveller Deals newsletter
Get exclusive travel deals delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up now.
Total islands 1430
People think it’s … Phuket
But really it’s … Koh Lanta
Why The attractions of Phuket are easy to understand – there are direct international flights, there’s affordable, high-quality accommodation, and plenty to do. Koh Samui is similarly popular. But how about Koh Lanta, the far more laid-back outcrop just off the coast of Krabi, in the Andaman Sea? This is the relaxed antithesis to busy Phuket, an island of secluded beaches and quiet villages, a place to properly relax.
See + do Most visitors to Koh Lanta tend to get around by scooter – ensure you’re covered by insurance – because this is a quiet island with plenty to explore. The west coast is filled with tranquil beaches, there’s a national park in the south, and Khlong Dao has a unique food scene, with influences from Thailand and Malaysia.
Don’t miss While you’re staying in Koh Lanta, take a “Four Islands” day tour, which is a speedboat trip to four remote and stunningly beautiful islands near Koh Lanta.
More Direct ferries run to Koh Lanta from Phuket, as well as nearby tourist centres such as Krabi town, Ao Nang and Khao Lak, and even Langkawi in Malaysia. Stay at Pimalai Resort, a beautiful property near the national park (pimalai.com). See amazingthailand.com.au
Japan
Total islands 14,125
People think it’s … Okinawa
But really it’s … Hokkaido
Why Okinawa is the cliched version of an island paradise – the warm, clear waters, the swaying palms – and that’s lovely, but there’s also Hokkaido, which is cold and mountainous and absolutely amazing. All the best produce in Japan comes from Hokkaido. The best beer too. And the ski fields are wildly popular for a reason.
See + do Sapporo is the capital and the key tourism hub, home of the Sapporo brewery and museum, the unique Moerenuma Park, and even the Shiroi Koibito chocolate factory. Elsewhere, there’s world-class skiing in Niseko and Rusutsu, beautiful seafood at Hakodate market, hiking in Shiretoko national park, and fields of flowers in Furano.
Don’t miss The food in Hokkaido is incredible. The island’s seafood, dairy and even vegetables are sought out throughout Japan. First-time visitors should head directly to Sapporo Ramen Street, to sample the island’s signature miso ramen for about $10 a bowl.
More Sapporo is accessible via flight from Tokyo and many other Japanese hubs; it’s also on the Shinkansen line. In the city, stay at the Keio Plaza Hotel (keioplaza.co.jp). See japan.travel
Italy
Total islands 450
People think it’s … Sicily
But really it’s … Sicily
Why Okay fine, it’s Sicily. There’s a lot to be said for many of Italy’s islands, from Sardinia to Capri to Favignana, but Sicily is big, bold, and impossible to beat.
See + do Thanks to the TV series The White Lotus, almost everyone now knows about Taormina, the once quietly charming hillside village on the north-east coast of Sicily. And it really is beautiful, though there’s plenty more to see on this island: bustling Palermo, with its amazing food scene; historic Noto and Syracuse; bubbling Mount Etna; Greek temples in Agrigento, and beach after beach after beach.
Don’t miss Sicily is well known around the world for its food, for the likes of arancini, cannoli and pasta alla norma. But don’t forget the wine: this island, thanks to the volcanic soils of Mount Etna, is producing some of Italy’s most dynamic and interesting wines right now, and a visit to a winery on Etna’s slopes is a must.
More Palermo and Catania are accessible by air from Rome; there’s also a train line that runs, via ferry, from the mainland. In Palermo, stay at the Palazzo Brunaccini Boutique Hotel (palazzobrunaccini.it). See italia.it
Australia
Total islands 8222
People think it’s … The Whitsundays
But really it’s … Tasmania
Why We love the island continent’s Whitsundays, just as we love K’gari and Kangaroo Island and Heron and Rottnest and the Tiwis and so many more, but how could you beat Tasmania? It’s almost an unfair fight, given the Apple Isle’s diverse scenery, its world-class food and wine scene, and its laid-back, friendly nature.
See + do This is a big island with a lot to offer, whether you’re into outdoor activities or cultural encounters or just into feeding your face. Hobart has world-renowned art galleries and festivals, not to mention a thriving drinking and dining scene, plus easy access to wineries in the Derwent Valley and Coal River Valley. Launceston has more wineries and restaurants, as does the Huon Valley, while Tasmania’s interior is all rugged escapism.
Don’t miss Even on an island packed with memorable experiences, the wukalina Walk stands out. This four-day, three-night hike through north-eastern Tasmania is 100 per cent Indigenous-owned, and local Palawa guides weave stories and knowledge through the journey. See wukalinawalk.com.au
More Qantas flies from all major mainland airports to Tasmania (Hobart or Launceston) – see qantas.com. In Hobart, stay at The Tasman, a highlight in itself (marriott.com). See discovertasmania.com.au
Hawaii (US)
Total islands 137
People think it’s … Maui
But really it’s … the Big Island
Why Maui is still the place to go if you want big-ticket Hawaii, the luxury resorts and all the tourist-friendly facilities in a beautiful place. If, however, you want the laid-back version of Hawaii, with a little more outdoor adventure and a local vibe, the Big Island is the place for you.
See + do The Big Island is, as you may have gathered, big, and probably best known for Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, where visitors can hike through lava tubes and view active craters. The island is also known for its caves, its waterfalls, its coffee plantations, and its many beaches, some of which have white sand, some of which boast volcanic black.
Don’t miss The snorkelling off the Big Island is world-class, particularly on the west coast, where the water is calm and clear. Off the Kona coast, meanwhile, many operators offer the chance to snorkel with giant manta rays at night, a memorable experience.
More The Big Island is accessible by air from Oahu, the main island, which itself has direct flights to Australia (hawaiianairlines.com). Stay on the west coast at Royal Kona Resort (royalkona.com). See gohawaii.com
Cook Islands
Total islands 15
People think it’s … Aitutaki
But really it’s … Atiu
Why Atiu is the Cook Islands exactly as they were. There are only 400 residents and you’ll probably meet them all. See how friendly Cook Islanders truly are when you’re often the only tourist on their island (less than 1000 visitors a year). Though it feels completely isolated, Atiu is equidistant from Rarotonga as Aitutaki.
See + do Atiu is an adventure playground, with limestone caves to explore and swimming in artesian pools. Bird lovers can discover 11 rare native birds on a tour with local icon, Birdman George. Coffee lovers should join local, Mata Arai, on a tour of her plantation, or learn to catch fish off the reef with a local family.
Don’t miss Atiu’s iconic tumunus, or bush bars. A centuries-old tradition, visitors can sit in as island meetings are conducted while home-brewed beer (made from oranges) is shared.
More Air Rarotonga flies three times a week from Rarotonga, 45 minutes’ flying time, (airraro.com). Stay at Atiu Villas (atiuvillas.com), home to Atiu’s best restaurant. See cookislands.travel/islands/atiu
Vanuatu
Total islands 83
People think it’s … Efate
But really it’s … Tanna
Why All the action is here – it’s just that fewer people know it. Tanna has everything from exploding volcanoes to world-class diving to locals living in forests, worshipping pagan gods. But it’s barely 40 minutes’ flying time from Port Vila, and there are enough luxury offerings here to keep most travellers content.
See + do Most who come to Tanna are here for Mount Yasur, the world’s most accessible live volcano. Stand metres from its crater as it spews lava into the night sky. And experience the Blue Cave, a hidden sea cave accessed by a swim-through passage. Divers will love Tanna’s untouched coral, and visit villages for a real insight into Vanuatu’s history.
Don’t miss Don’t leave the Mount Yasur area, stick around and swim in hot springs on beaches nearby at Sulphur Bay and Resolution Bay.
More Air Vanuatu flies to Tanna in 40 minutes from Port Vila, (airvanuatu.com), stay in a resort built into the side of a cliff ( Rockwater Resort). See vanuatu.travel/au/explore/tanna
Indonesia
Total islands 17,508
People think it’s … Bali
But really it’s … Lombok
Why Bali’s neighbour is hardly a complete secret, but it’s more of a secret than it ought to be. Lombok offers everything you love about Bali – beaches beside forest, sunset beach bars, yoga retreats, volcanoes, world-class surf – all just a 90-minute boat ride away, depending on your ferry. Almost seven million tourists visited Bali last year, barely a million “found” Lombok.
See + do Island-hop around the Gili Islands – three islands of powdery-white sand beaches and clear ocean, with some of the best beach bars in Indonesia. Feel the surf vibes along Lombok’s southern coastline where the waves are spectacular and the resorts, bars and restaurants are as impressive. For those seeking Bali’s more hectic tourist vibe, check out Senggigi on Lombok’s west coast.
Don’t miss Take a two-or-three day hiking tour to Indonesia’s second-tallest volcano, Mount Rinjani, in Lombok’s north, past crater lakes and waterfalls to its 3700-metre peak.
More There are no direct flights to Lombok from Australia, fly from Bali in 45 minutes or take a fast boat, stay in a luxury villa on Gili Air (villatokay.com) See indonesia.travel
Fiji
Total islands 330
People think it’s … Viti Levu
But really it’s … Taveuni
Why Taveuni is the Fiji you came for, with none of the crowds of Viti Levu. Dubbed the Garden Isle, locals live in picturesque villages among expansive rainforests and some of the best soft coral on the planet. But there’s plenty of luxury here as well – with five-star retreats along an empty coastline.
See + do Divers will love taking a diving tour to Rainbow Reef, in the Somosomo Strait, which offers more than 25 dive sites. Hike to waterfalls through rainforest and pass through villages along the way, on the Lavena Coastal Walk. Though there are hikes aplenty all over Bouma National Park, including tours to its best waterfalls.
Don’t miss Hike and swim the three-hour return Tavoro waterfall circuit, three distinct waterfalls which are among the most picturesque in the South Pacific, within Bouma National Park.
More Fly 70 minutes from Nadi to Taveuni with Fiji Airways (www.fijiairways.com). Soak up luxury beside the beach at Tavenuni Palms Resort. See tourfijitours.com fiji.travel/places-to-go/taveuni-island
New Zealand
Total islands 600
People think it’s … South Island
But really it’s … Stewart Island (Rakiura)
Why Like to see what New Zealand looked like centuries ago? Stewart Island is only 30 kilometres south of the South Island but 85 per cent of the island is protected in national park. Here’s the best place to see endangered kiwis in the wild. There are barely any cars and only 28 kilometres of roads. Take water taxis instead.
See + do Nature lovers rejoice. Protected within a Dark Sky Reserve, check out the Southern Lights with no pollution. Hike the 32-kilometre-long Rakiura Track – a New Zealand Great Walk – through forests full of rare, native birds. Kayak the coastline or paddle out to nearby Ulva Island, a predator-free island sanctuary.
Don’t miss Try the fresh local seafood in the island’s only township, Oban. Sample blue cod, green-lipped mussels, oysters and local mutton bird (at harvest time, in autumn).
More It’s a one-hour ferry ride from the bottom of the mainland at Bluff, or fly here, even from Queenstown. Stay in your own eco-pod within a sanctuary (Hananui PurePod). See newzealand.com
Five more underappreciated islands
Folegandros, Greece
Cast forever in the shadow of the likes of Santorini and Corfu, Folegandros is the little Greek island you have been looking for, the rugged and wildly beautiful outcrop with plenty of charm and not too many tourists. This is a place of hidden beaches and quiet villages, an island dotted with luxury accommodation but for the most part, just whitewashed homes and sparkling waters. See visitgreece.gr
For more on the Greek Islands, watch Getaway on 9now.
Exuma Cays, the Bahamas
Australians can be excused for not knowing much about the Bahamas – we have to fly over a lot of amazing islands to get all the way to the Caribbean. Make the effort, however, and you could find yourself in the Exumas, a chain of 365 islands set amid the incredibly clear, warm waters of the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park, an area ideal for boating, scuba-diving, and total isolation. See bahamas.com
Solomon Islands
They’re just … there, barely three hours’ flight time from our east coast (an hour closer than Aussie favourite, Fiji) and yet less than 10,000 Australians visited last year. Perhaps some of us are still put off by civil strife over two decades ago, but what we’re missing is the wildest, purest version of the South Seas there is. Start with the more tourist-friendly, Western Province, then work your way around its 990 islands. See visitsolomons.com.sb
New Caledonia
Amazingly, they’re even closer. Barely two-and-a-half hours from our east coast are these exotic islands protected in a World Heritage-listed lagoon, one of the planet’s largest. Recent domestic issues had the islands off-limits to tourists, but these 135 islands are back open for business, few Australians (outside cruise passengers) there. Soak up Melanesian Kanak and French traditions simultaneously. See newcaledonia.travel
Perhentian Islands, Malaysia
A long-time backpacker secret, these two islands off Malaysia’s remote north-east coast offer a little of everything to all kinds of travellers, not just budget-minded ones. Ride a speedboat in and stay at retreats beside the sand, snorkelling with turtles and hiking through jungle with endangered Dusky Leaf monkeys. They’re harder to access, but that’s part of their appeal. malaysia.travel
Agree or disagree? What did we miss? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
