Australia's Best Island Destinations You Must Visit on Your Holiday

Australia is such a huge, exciting and diverse land, but believe it or not, people still get tired of the mainland.

If you want to experience life on the island and isolate yourself on a cute remote beach, here are a few Aussie islands that might provide you with just that and more.

Whitsunday Islands

Probably the most popular islands on the continent's East Coast, the Whitsundays have to offer over 70 islands right in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. The biggest island of the archipelago is called Whitsunday Island, and this magical place is home to the iconic Whitehaven Beach. This beach is famous for its sand, so pure and white.

You can use it as a teeth whitener scrub! To get to these islands, you can take a scenic flight, but there are also ocean rafting trips, day trips by boat, and sailing trips. This place can get a bit crowded due to its popularity, but if you choose the off-season, you'll have plenty of privacy.

Christmas Island

Further away from the land than any other Australian island, Christmas Island is closer to Sumatra and Java than its country of origin. It was given its name in 1615, right on Christmas Day, and it went uninhibited to the late 19th century. Today, on the other hand, the island is an important cultural center for Australians, but also Malaysian Chinese people, and Indians.

And the biological diversity is also very rich on Christmas Island. You can run into many plants and animals indigenous to the area during your explorations. You'll most likely see at least one Christmas Island red crab, but if you visit during the annual mass migration, you'll see millions of these red crustaceans running to the sea.

Magnetic Island

Just off the coast of Queensland, Magnetic Island is quickly becoming a popular destination for explorers and backpackers, so hurry up until it still has its magnetic pull and magic. Thanks to beautiful reefs, cute koalas living on the island, and plenty of walking trails, as well as beaches, bars, and festivals, this island is a true hub of life and excitement.

To get to the island, you can take a ferry, rent an open-top car, and start exploring. To get great ideas for fun spots, check out Best of Magnetic and use it to create a perfect Magnetic Island itinerary. Make sure to leave some time for just relaxing in nature and looking at koalas, rock wallabies, and other critters native to Australia.

Rottnest Island

There are many special things about Rottnest Island, but what truly sets it apart is its population of quokkas. This island near Perth even got named after these cute little marsupials; only the 17th-century explorers from the Netherlands mistook them for rats. Today, over 10,000 quokkas live on Rottnest Island, exploring, munching on food, and taking famous selfies with tourists.

The island only allows government vehicles, but you can easily rent a bicycle and have the entire island on your palm. It takes about 3 hours to complete a self-guided tour on two wheels, and after you're done, spend the rest of your time on Rottnest Island swimming, snorkeling, diving, fishing, and relaxing.

Kangaroo Island

One of the largest Aussie islands, Kangaroo Island is heaven for animal lovers. More than 1/3 of the island is under protection and given to wallabies, koalas, and kangaroos to call their home. Many penguins, seals, and sea lions also live on the island.

Take any marked walking trails and climb up to the dramatic cliffs overlooking interesting rock formations—it's breathtaking, Instagram-worthy, exciting, and rewarding.

Fraser Island

The largest sand island in the world, Fraser was born out of the ocean and has been kept alive by relying on ocean currents to deposit sand on its shores. The ocean delivered, and today, Fraser Island is overgrown with rainforests, fresh-water lakes, and natural areas full of plants and animals.

Dunes stretch along the beaches, overseen by dingos, but you can still climb them and get a clear look of the ocean and occasional humpback whale in the passing.

Final Thoughts

Whichever island you choose for your next tropical adventure, you'll have a perfect little escape to nature while also getting plenty of rest, relaxation, peace, and quiet—that's the island life for you!