Best overseas islands for Australians: Bali; Phuket; The Maldives; Singapore
These are the overseas isles we’re longing for while international borders remain closed.
BALI As our No.1 overseas destination, many Australians are desperate to return to the sunshine of Bali. The island has been closed to foreigners for about 15 months but the Indonesian government has optimistic plans to reopen Bali to tourists next month, which of course is academic for locked-in Aussies. Still, good to know it’s there waiting. The island’s trademark villas are perfect for those seeking post-Covid space and privacy. There are hundreds to choose from but few capture the romance of the Island of the Gods like Villa Asli. Set among rice paddies at Batu Belig, not far from the W Bali resort, its five suites occupy antique buildings from Java, Sumatra and Bali, their interiors rich in local textiles and Indonesian artefacts. The vibe is tranquil but, with a full staff of 14, plus a cinema and 25m pool with bar, Villa Asli’s the ultimate party pad too.
PHUKET From tattoo parlours and tourist touts in the backpacker hub of Patong, to pristine beaches, jungle trails and some of Asia’s most exclusive resorts, Phuket is an island for all reasons. Few lodgings are more discreet, with decadent villas, infinity pools and fantastic food, than Sri Panwa. Perched on the southeast tip, its rooftop bar captures views across the Andaman Sea, home to the Phi Phi islands, Phang Nga Bay and the “James Bond’ island of Ko Khao Phing Kan. Phuket’s most underrated virtue is its cuisine, especially in the Old Town. There you’ll find Raya, the shop-house restaurant serving traditional Thai food, the 24-hour Cantonese restaurant Hong Kong, renowned for the quality and diversity of its seafood, and Mor Mu Dong beside the Rawai fish markets, where diners feast on local seafood and vegetables.
THE MALDIVES No beach destination is as mesmerising as The Maldives. This charmed island chain in the Arabian Sea is the world’s honeymoon capital for good reason. Reopened since last July, the archipelago’s most coveted islands are those in the Baa Atoll, designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve for its marine biodiversity. Choose from homestays as well as private island resorts and nine-bedroom residences with adult waterslides into the sea (hello Soneva Jani), dive magnets (try the pioneering Baros with its excellent house reef), surf meccas (such as the Yin Yang break, just offshore from Six Senses Laamu) and snorkelling (at the famous Blue Hole, near Amilla Fushi resort). Despite its elite reputation, The Maldives cater to all classes of island lover.
SINGAPORE The pleasure of Singapore is in its many possibilities, whether shopping on Orchard Road, wandering through the Botanic Gardens (or the fantastical Gardens by the Bay), hawker breakfasts at Tiong Bahru Market, browsing Southeast Asian art at the National Gallery, bar-hopping around Club Street, catching a classic film at arthouse cinema The Projector … there’s never enough time to fit everything in. Known for its high-end hotels, from Raffles to Marina Bay Sands, my favourite’s the Fullerton Bay Hotel, on the water in the historic Clifford Pier precinct. The restaurant dishes up the Lion City’s best rickshaw noodles.
