Best Islands in Australia 2024

Australia is a region that is surrounded by water. There are more than 8,000 islands in the water around Australia. There are big land masses like Tasmania, which is about the same size as Ireland, and small rocky rocks that disappear when the tide comes in.

Many islands in Australia are great vacation spots where people come from all over the world. Australia’s islands are also full of wonders, thanks to their unique geology, plants, and animals. From the powder-soft sands of Whitehaven Beach to the penguin parade on Phillip Island, the best of the bunch offers events you can’t find anywhere else.

List of Best Islands in Australia:

Bruny Island

Bruny is a famous day trip for people who are visiting Australia’s largest island, Tasmania. It is just off the southeast coast of Tasmania. The most interesting natural aspect of the island is the narrow isthmus that connects North Bruny to South Bruny.

The Trugani steps are a steep set of wooden steps that lead up to a tribute to the island’s first people. They are in the middle of a thin piece of land called the “Neck.” If you climb the 279 steps, you’ll get a great view of the whole area. Dolerite cliffs and rock formations add drama to the beaches that face the Tasman Sea, while the protected channel side of the island has a lot of boating and fishing possibilities.

Magnetic Island

Magnetic Island is home to Australia’s unique wildlife. It is off the coast of the city of Townsville in northeastern Queensland. More than half of the island is a national park, which is a safe place for animals like wallabies and wild koalas. “Maggie” is a famous place for snorkeling because of its coral reefs. The island is also well known for fishing. Captain Cook named it “Maggie” because it made his ship’s compass go off course.

With more than 20 beaches along its shores, the island is a great place to relax and enjoy the sun. The people who live there, most of whom work in Townsville or serve tourists, must pinch themselves when they get home to such a beautiful island.

Christmas Island

Christmas Island is farther out to sea than most of Australia’s islands. It is closer to Java and Sumatra than it is to Australia’s mainland. The island was named on Christmas Day in 1615, but most people didn’t live there until the late 1800s. Today, the island is home to people from many different cultures, such as Indians, Chinese, and Australians.

The island is also known for the variety of life that lives on it. Many of the plants and animals on Christmas Island were born there, and more than 60% of the island is protected as public parkland. The Christmas Island red crab is probably the most well-known native species on the island. People have said that the mass movement of red crabs to the sea every November is one of the most amazing things in nature.

Phillip Island

Phillip Island, which is close to the city of Melbourne, is visited by more than three million people every year. The biggest draw is the chance to see penguins in their natural environment. At dusk, people gather in the amphitheater above Summerland Beach to watch the penguins march to their nesting places.

The island is also known for its wallabies, wombats, kangaroos, and koalas, as well as its big colonies of fur seals. Phillip Island is also a great place to ride waves because the waves are always good. Hiking, biking, fishing, and sailing are also very common.

Read More: Best Places to Stay in Australia 2024

Rottnest Island

Rottnest is the most famous of the many islands off the coast of West Australia. It is best known for the 10,000 quokkas that live there. The cute and friendly marsupials made Dutch travelers in the 17th century think they were rats. This is how the island got its name. It is near the city of Perth.

On the island, only government cars are allowed, so most visitors ride bicycles to get around. It takes about three hours to bike around the island on your own. Free walking trips are also given by guides who are not paid. Rottnest Island is a famous place to swim, snorkel, dive, and fish. It has many beaches where you can enjoy the sun.

Lord Howe Island

Lord Howe Island is a remote tropical island between Australia and New Zealand. It looks like a half-moon. Since the island wasn’t found until 1833, most current changes haven’t happened there. At any given time, only 400 people are allowed on its shores. Those who are lucky enough to visit the island can stay at one of several high-end resorts.

Lord Howe’s clear seas are great for swimming, snorkeling, and diving, and the island’s many nesting birds make everyone who visits an avid bird-watcher. Hard-core explorers can take an organized climb up Mount Gower, the tallest point on the island, to take in the beauty of this protected paradise.

 Kangaroo Island

Kangaroo Island is the best place to see Australia’s wildlife up close. It is the third biggest island in the country. More than a third of the island is a national park where thousands of wallabies, koalas, and kangaroos are free to roam. There are also a lot of animals that live in the sea, like penguins, fur seals, and sea lions.

Landscapes on the island are just as amazing, with windswept cliffs and beautiful rock formations. You can walk through sugar gum forests and Mallee scrub on paths that are marked and lead to the rocky shoreline. Kangaroo Island is a must-see for all nature fans. It is easy to get to Adelaide in South Australia.

Fraser Island

Fraser Island is the biggest sand island in the world. It is off the coast of Queensland, Australia. Ocean currents have been putting sand on its warm shores for a very long time. But the island is not a desert. Fraser has old woods, freshwater lakes, and wetlands that are full of life.

You can also discover huge dunes and have fun on long stretches of sandy beaches. There is also a lot of animal life. Fraser is known for its dingos, and it’s one of the best places in the world to see humpback whales. Fraser Island is a natural gem that is safe because it is part of Great Sandy National Park.

Whitsunday Islands

The Whitsunday Islands are the remains of volcanoes that exploded a long time ago. They have some of Australia’s most beautiful scenery. The mostly deserted isles are between Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef. Snorkeling, diving, and sailing trips often stop there. Nature fans are also drawn to lush rainforests and picture-perfect beaches.

Whitehaven Beach, which is on one of the 74 islands that make up the Whitsunday group, is the best place to go to get some sun. The bright white sand is made of silica, which doesn’t keep heat, so you can walk on it barefoot without getting too hot. From Airlie Beach on the shore or the resorts on Hamilton Island, you can take a boat to the Whitsundays.

Tasmania

Tasmania is the largest and most populated island in Australia. It is home to more than 500,000 people. From the Georgian buildings in the capital city of Hobart to the lush rainforests and white-sand beaches, the island state has a lot of natural and cultural sights to see.

There are many old colonial houses in Launceston. Port Arthur is a powerful look at Australia’s past as a penal settlement. Some of the most beautiful scenery in the world can be found in Tasmania’s 19 national parks. Best of all, Tasmania is a great place to visit in every season because of its different microclimates.

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