Raja Ampat, Indonesia. In this archipelago of 1500 islands you’ll find 75 per cent of the world’s marine species.Credit: iStock
Our writers have weighed up the options and voted for their favourite islands of all time, ranging from beach escapes to art hubs and foodie hotspots. Here’s the 12 best, including the overall winner.
Raja Ampat, Indonesia
With its biodiversity including thousands of species of fish, 75 per cent of all known types of coral and its famous red birds of paradise among its many birds, this collection of white-sand-and-palm-fringed islands may just be the most beautiful place on Earth.
K’gari, Queensland
Lake McKenzie on K’gari.Credit: Tourism and Events Queesland
K’gari, formerly known as Fraser Island, is not just home to a headline-making dingo population, and not just the largest sand island in the world, but it is also a unique landscape of freshwater lakes diverse wildlife and cultural significance. There are shipwrecks, rainforests growing on sand and a dozen different ways to explore.
Kangaroo Island, South Australia
Remarkable: Kangaroo Island.Credit: SATC
A blueprint for preservation, fortitude and cohabitation has surely been forged in this crucible of Australian flora and fauna off the South Australian coast. It’s also a remarkable culinary destination and home to one of Australia’s most famous and lauded stays, Southern Ocean Lodge.
Hokkaido, Japan
Hokkaido is Japan’s last frontier.Credit: iStock
Japan’s thinly populated, second-largest island is its last frontier. It may lack the temples, Zen gardens and ancient architecture of the rest of Japan, but it is rightly famed for untouched wilderness and natural beauty.
Magnetic Island, Queensland
A step back in time: Radical Bay, Magnetic Island.
“Maggie” as the locals call this island off Townsville and within the UNESCO Great Barrier Reef World Heritage area. Hikes with koalas and sunbirds, swimming in scooped bays: this Australian idyll is a simple and sweet step back in time.
Sicily, Italy
Anywhere you go in Italy you will find amazing architecture, rich history, fantastic food and the fine art of weaving beauty into the everyday – but nowhere packs quite as much into its confines as Sicily does, all the while wearing rich cultural influences, from the Greeks to the Arabs, lightly but proudly.
The Greek Islands
Culture, sunshine, great food … Mykonos, Greece.Credit: iStock
By all means hit Santorini and Mykonos, though sensitively so, but be cognisant there are more than 200 other options to include on a Greek island-hopping adventure. Many, like Syros and Amorgos, flaunt ravishing coastlines, bougainvillaea-draped villages, chic beach bars, rustic seafood tavernas, and relatively few tourists.
Tasmania, Australia
For an island tucked in the basement of the planet, Tassie punches way above its weight when it comes to traveller offerings. It’s home to five of Australia’s 10 Great Walks, one of the planet’s most talked-about contemporary art museums, stunning lodges and a highly regarded food, wine and spirits scene thanks to exceptional local produce. What’s keeping you?
Lord Howe Island, NSW
This World Heritage listed island which lies between Australia and New Zealand is arguably the most beautiful in the Pacific. Volcanic pinnacles tumble down to pristine inlets and secluded bays hugging a lagoon. It’s also home to many unique and endemic species.
Svalbard, Norway
Aurora Borealis in Ersfjordbotn, Tromso Norway.Credit: iStock
At 78 degrees North, this is an Arctic fairy tale. With polar bears and other beautiful wildlife, glaciers, the Northern Lights and a vast array of outdoor activity opportunities, it’s Christmas all year for adventurers. The tiny capital Longyearbyen on Spitsbergen Island, part of the Svalbard archipelago, is as quirky as it gets.
Galapagos, Ecuador
A place like no other … Galapagos sea lions.Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto
There is no place like the Galapagos – although many try to draw a comparison – but plant and animal species not found anywhere else put pay to such efforts. Swim, snorkel or dive over pristine reefs, follow the legacy of Charles Darwin, explore volcanic landscapes and support conservation efforts. It’s a year-round destination, too.
The winner: Fiji
Fiji is just three hours away.Credit: iStock
Fiji is such a gift to Australian families. It’s the place where a love of travel is instilled for many young people. Only three hours from Australia, yet a world away, the resorts are mostly internationally run with Fiji still somehow managing to maintain its culture and authenticity, making a beautifully low-key style of holiday.
CONTRIBUTORS Kate Armstrong, Keith Austin, Ben Groundwater, Shaney Hudson, Belinda Jackson, Julietta Jameson, Brian Johnston, Ute Junker, Nina Karnikowski, Katrina Lobley, Rob McFarland, Steve McKenna, Catherine Marshall, Justin Meneguzzi, Julie Miller, Sheriden Rhodes, Tim Richards, Craig Tansley, Lee Tulloch, Kerry van der Jagt, Penny Watson and Sue Williams