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Beach and island holidays

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Arriving in Rarotonga feels like stepping into a living postcard.

A short(ish) flight away, this place is like stepping into a postcard

There’s plenty to do when visiting the Cook Islands, or you can choose to do nothing at all.

  • Tatyana Leonov

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The barge and the tip of North West Island, Queensland.

No running water, no escape, but this trip became my idea of paradise

I still can’t believe we did this – camping on a remote coral cay. We cooked our own meals, slept in basic tents, spent days conducting “science” experiments. Now I realise it was brilliant.

  • Ben Groundwater
Koh Lipe, Southern Thailand.

Go west: 16 highlights of the other great ocean on our coast

The Indian Ocean stretches from WA to the east coast of Africa and offers a wealth of islands, many with white-sand beaches ringed by coconut palms and aquamarine water.

  • Lee Cobaj and Craig Tansley
An island affair only lasted as long as the holiday, but it recharged my self-esteem.

When my fiance broke up with me, he said my moods were to blame

Swinging alone in a hammock designed for two at an exotic beach resort I began to feel hopeless. Until I saw him.

  • Kathy Lette

This affordable retro surf hotel has a five-star Mexico location

On a stretch of coast where bland luxury mega-resorts dominate, this secluded (and relatively budget-friendly) stay is a beacon of ’90s nostalgia and charm.

  • Katherine Scott
The shadow of Mount Agung looms over Amed.

I found the Bali of my dreams (and it was only $45 a night)

You won’t see multi-storey hotels, corporate logos lining streets or Lycra-clad influencers in this quiet village.

  • Julia D'Orazio
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Make Airlie Beach your base.

How to do Queensland’s dreamiest islands without breaking the budget

Let Airlie Beach be the launchpad for your affordable island-hopping escape. Here’s where to eat, stay and play without spending a fortune.

  • Riley Wilson
Reflections Jimmys Beach underwent a $5 million upgrade in 2022.

No more roughing it: Aussie holiday parks aren’t what they used to be

Everything from swanky cabins to retro Airstream trailers and full-blown resort facilities are on offer, and budget-conscious travellers are flocking in droves.

  • Sheriden Rhodes
Taha’a is surrounded by a string of small islands known as motu.

There’s more to this paradise than just overwater bungalows

All the tourists in French Polynesia head to Bora Bora, which means the other islands can feel like your own private escape.

  • Emily McAuliffe
The medieval city of Rhodes.

Beautiful islands, lost cities and wonders: Three continents in a week

This cruise captures the imagination like few other adventures and all in just seven days.

  • Steve McKenna

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