World's cheapest island put to test

DOES a chance to buy your own island in the picturesque Sandy Strait for less than $200,000 still sound a little far fetched? We put the island to the test.

DOES a chance to buy your own island in the picturesque Sandy Strait for less than $200,000 still sound a little far fetched?

To answer this question I set sail with photographer Nat Bromhead yesterday to check out this island sale of the century.

Danny Grasser from Boab Boat Hire provided the transport and at 8am we left River Heads for our destination.

Just 30 minutes later after avoiding 10 sandbanks through some deft chart plotting from the skipper we arrived at Suna Island.

Was it 7.8 hectares of paradise?

Well let’s just say from the start is there anywhere on the coast you can you buy 7.8ha for under $200,000?

Our arrival at low tide did not present the best option for disembarking and it was a nervous walk across the mudflats to dry land.

Once we made that without a slip we did discover a well-used camping area that could well be the perfect site for a small home-stead.

If I had a cool $200,000 sitting around in a bank account I would give it some consideration as an investment.

Unfortunately, I don’t so owning my own island is not on my horizon.

As the auction is coming up this Saturday prior inspections may be a little difficult to organise, if you do want to walk the island I suggest you arrive at high tide and leave before dusk.

The early departure is not to avoid the mudflats; it’s to avoid the mangrove’s favourite insect the sandfly.

Of course you can’t motor down the Sandy Strait and not wet a line, so I can tell you that Suna Island is a good fishing spot.

Is it also a good investment?

I am sure for someone out there it will be. Will it be you joining the likes of Nicolas Cage and Johnny Depp as an owner of your own island?

Originally published as World's cheapest island put to test