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Beach and island holidays

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Bribie Island, Queensland’s “least-likely island paradise”.

Queensland’s ‘least likely paradise’ is not your standard resort island

Craig Tansley discovers that the McDonald’s and Bunnings outlets on Bribie Island just add to its unusual and secret charm.

  • Craig Tansley

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On the terrace at Hotel Marianna.

Greek seaside stay isn’t luxe but you’ll feel like you won the lottery

In a town of sleek, boutique options, the charming family-run Hotel Marianna in Nafplio stands out for old-style hospitality, where nothing is too much bother.

  • Kate Armstrong
Rarotonga, Cook Islands, a six-hour direct flight from Sydney.

No jet-lag required: The 10 greatest short-haul holiday destinations

These 10 countries offer a great holiday without having to take a long, exhausting flight. You’ll barely even need to change time zones.

  • Ben Groundwater
The Mondrian, Gold Coast.

The Gold Coast’s newest five-star hotel is not where you’d expect

It stands to reason that Mondrian hotels’ entry into Australia on Queensland’s Gold Coast isn’t among the skyscrapers of Surfers Paradise.

  • Jane Reddy
A string of coral-fringed islands strewn across the western Pacific, the Philippines is full of natural wonders.

Thailand and Bali may attract the big crowds, but this island offers better diving

Located at the centre of the “Coral Triangle”, the Philippines can legitimately lay claim to some of the best diving on the planet.

  • Paul Ewart
The dormant volcano Le’ahi or Diamond Head next to downtown Honolulu.

As a first-time visitor to Hawaii, one thing surprised me most

Blame The Brady Bunch. I’d always imagined Hawaii as “America in the Pacific”, but I was totally wrong.

  • Kate Armstrong
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Ocean pool at Cable Beach Club Resort & Spa in Broome, WA.

The only resort located on one of Australia’s most famous beaches

A stay at the finest resort in Broome makes me wish I had more time to spend in this remote town.

  • Kristie Kellahan
Mandira Beach Resort & Spa, Legian, Bali.

This ’80s Bali resort blends nostalgia with bargain-priced luxury

Bali Mandira Beach Resort & Spa in Legian is one of the best and most affordable in Bali.

  • Jenny Hewett
Waikiki beach in Honolulu, Oahu island.

Cheap eats are (thankfully) delicious in this wallet-draining paradise

Dining out in Honolulu doesn’t need to be a pricey affair. You can eat delicious local and Hawaiian cuisines without it taking a huge bite out of your wallet.

  • Kate Armstrong
Lava flow on Banda Neira, formerly known as the Spice Islands.

A beautiful region so quiet and pristine, it freaked me out

It’s in one of the world’s most populous nations, on Australia’s doorstep and a former centre of global trade. Yet the Maluku Islands now feel untouched.

  • Julietta Jameson

Original URL: https://www.smh.com.au/topic/beach-and-island-holidays-l5j