10 Best Islands in Australia to Visit

Did you know that Australia has more than 8000 islands? It is not just one giant country but is a country with so much more than just its land mass in the middle. The islands around Australia are doused in their own natural beauty.

While there are plenty of traveling blogs telling you which territory to go and visit to see the kangaroos and the koalas, there are fewer telling you about the many Australian islands that are mind blowing enough to visit.

Below, we have got some of those amazing picture worthy places in eastern Australia to travel. So get your wallet ready to book your next break! The many reasons to visit Australia are:

1. Whitsunday Islands

The Whitsunday Islands, one of Australia's most famous tourist attractions, are strewn off Queensland's northeastern coast, surrounded by warm, enticing turquoise seas. Due to its proximity to the Great Barrier Reef, the majority of the archipelago is contained inside national parks, which means that breathtaking landscapes and picture-perfect beaches abound.

The Whitsundays are ideal for snorkelling and scuba diving due to the number of undersea treasures and vibrant coral reefs. Sailing around its 74 islands and islets, as well as lazing on its sun-kissed beaches, are also extremely popular. The archipelago's Whitehaven Beach is one of the most stunning beaches in the world.

While the Whitsunday Islands are most renowned for their breathtaking natural beauty, they also happen to be home to some of the country's oldest Aboriginal archaeological sites. Due to the fact that the beautiful islands are mostly deserted and underdeveloped, with just a few resorts and campsites strewn around, it is preferable to organise excursions and activities via Airlie Beach on the mainland.

This is one of the most popular destinations for native Australians who are looking to get away from the rat race of the cities and who crave some tranquility. There are 74 islands made up of from the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and the Whitsunday is the largest of them all.

There are activities for all tastes from excursions to paradisaical beaches in Australia such as wild Whitehaven Beach, whale watching in season, sailing or diving. The Whitehaven Beach in Whitsunday Island is another remarkable place, and it has got the purest and white sand in the world.

Located in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef, this beach is protected by the Whitsunday Islands National Park. This is the most famous beach of Australia that stretches for 7 km and it is magical to see how the beach is washed by swirls of blue, green, and turquoise water.

The sand is 98% pure white silica, giving a luminescent color. You can reach the beach via helicopter or seaplane. You can also sail to the beach with one of the many yacht excursions present in the area. You can go kayaking, or enjoy a barbeque or just stroll on the sand.

Fun fact: the sand is so pure here that you can literally brush your teeth with it!

2. Magnetic Island

Reachable by ferry from Townsville in Far North Queensland, Magnetic Island is very popular with backpackers and for good reason. The Reef, the koalas, the IslandLife Beach Festival and the many bars right along the beach are just a few of them.

3. Fraser Island

Fraser Island is the largest sand island and is probably the only place that has a sandy highway on which you can drive an all-wheel 4x4. There are so many tours that come to Fraser Island, and it is because it is the largest sand island in the world. The waters may be too rough to swim in, but there are safe lakes that are within the island and so worth going to see. You will encounter the dingo and eucalyptus forests, so bring your camera.

Fraser has a wolf called a dingo, they are now a tourist thing, but be careful, it is not a dog. There are shops, motels, camping grounds from simple to exotic, tourist resort on the northern side, ship wreck, 90 miles of beaches. There are vehicle rentals and a barge to cross the water. Eli Creek is a must.

123 kilometers (76 mi) long and 22 kilometers (14 mi) at its widest point, Frazer is the largest sand island in the world and another World heritage site and national park. It’s prized for its white sandy beaches and high ecological diversity, particularly its Green and Loggerhead turtle rookeries and population of Dingoes.

4. Phillip Island

The cities of Melbourne and Sydney are ranked as the most livable and beautiful cities to live and has an elegant mix of mature and modern-day art and engineering.

Melbourne is famous for many things, but Phillip Island is one of the most famous. Why, you ask? The PENGUINS! The penguin parade is located here, and people go to see it happen every year. It is also a very popular spot for surfers, and when you want to catch a wave and relax on the beach, Phillip Island is the place to be.

5. Lord Howe Island

A piece of paradise, Lord Howe can be found 600 KM south of Sydney and is basically a volcanic remnant. Hikers will love the walking trails and the stunning choice of peaks to scale, but it is a little outside the backpacking budget given that you can only get there by plane. It is worth the ticket, though, especially if you want to enjoy coral pools.

6. Kangaroo Island

Australia's third-largest island, Kangaroo Island in South Australia, is truly a nature's paradise. Once you reach, you would want to stay longer than you thought. It boasts of amazing wildlife. You can spot koalas on the trees, seals on the beach, dolphins in the sea, and kangaroos bouncing around here and there. Also, discover the rugged cliffs and coastline, dense national parks, sand dunes, and beaches on the island.

Travelers who happen to be hardcore animal lovers will love exploring Kangaroo Island. A number of people are choosing to explore offbeat destinations such as this and not just sticking to the popular ones such as Adelaide among others. This is among the best places you can head to if you wish to experience the exotic wildlife of Australia undisturbed.

Kangaroo Island is the ideal place to meet the Australian fauna, where we can see sea lions, koalas, wallabies, kangaroos, penguins and various birds. In their real environment, the animals are free and uninhibited so you can enjoy watching and perhaps interacting with a few of them, with expert supervision of course.

It is a bit of an obvious name, but Kangaroo Island is famous for its wildlife. There are also koalas aplenty and seal colonies and wombats that live here, meaning the animal lovers out there will never want to leave. Take a couple of days on the island to truly revel in the experience.

There’s a hot spring called Paralana Springs near Arkaroola in South Australia. In an often desolate environment, it can be an attractive sight. However, unlike almost every other hot spring on earth, the water is not heated by geothermal activity. It’s heated by radioactive decay. The gases bubbling up through the water include radon. Being a very heavy gas, it tends to stick around near ground level. Bathing and camping are not recommended.

7. Kippel Islands

If you are a beach lover who needs to see some new ones, there are seventeen to be taken in when you get to Great Keppel Island. You can go beyond the backpacker trail and take in the sunshine while you are hopping between islands.

8. Cockatoo Island, NSW

Located at the heart of Sydney Cockatoo Island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Known in the Dharug language as Wareamah, meaning ‘women’s land’, the island is a fascinating place to visit.

9. Rottnest Island

For an incredible day trip experience, head over to Rottnest Island, also known as Rotto by the locals. In Rottnest Island there are quokkas practically in all the island but it is certain that sometimes they are difficult to see. When you are pedaling observe well on the sides of the road, they are usually put under trees where there is good shade.

If you see that there are people standing still, it's probably because there are quokkas there. Be patient, you'll get sick of seeing them! How to move around the island? Wondering what the best way to explore Rotto is? The best way is to rent a bicycle. Grab yourself a bike! Bicycles are recommended as there are no cars on the island. Wearing a helmet when you go by bike is mandatory in the state of Western Australia, Rottnest Island is no exception.

All it takes is a short ferry trip, and you can see the serene waters by swimming, kayaking, diving, and fishing. There are several ferry companies that depart both from Fremantle and from Perth to Rottnest Island. They are mainly found around the village and in the northeast (for example in Geordie Bay).

Missing tennis or golf? You'll have no problem as Rottnest Island offers such activities to its visitors too. There are quite a few areas with cabins to stay. The types of accommodation range from simple campsites, to bungalows, hotels, apartments and a hostel.

Parker Point and Little Salmon Bay are protected areas with excellent snorkeling options. It is best to come here in the morning. In the north there are other beaches in Australia to snorkel, although not as good as the previous ones. They are Little Armstrong Bay, Parakeet Bay and the popular The Basin. It is best to come in the afternoon.

9. Stradbroke Island, Queensland, Brisbane

Only 30 km from the southeast of Brisbane and you are in the world's best island. Known as Minjerribah to the traditional owners (the Quandamooka People), Standbroke Island has a natural beauty that will definitely blow your mind. From endless summer adventures to whale watching it is just a perfect place to explore.

10. Ningaloo Reef

As Australia is known for its abundance of reefs, it's no coincidence that the largest fringing reef is located right there! Being a part of the UNESCO World Heritage protection programme, this reef is an ideal jaw-dropping sight for those who want to get to know marine life better. Spreading over 260 kilometres, Ningaloo Reef is luckily quite accessible from the shore, which makes it a better option for families!

Check out the marine park where you’ll get to learn all about Ningaloo marine life. It consists of over 300 species of corals and over 500 species of fish. On top of that, turtles, whales and sharks are not a rare sight there either. It’s truly an unforgettable moment getting a chance to spot magnificent marine life.