Scattered along the Pacific Coast, all the way from North Queensland down to New South Wales, these holiday islands are perfect destinations for Aussie families.
You can enjoy a sunny, beach escape in the tropics – and you won’t need a passport to get there! Here’s just a sample of our favourite holiday islands around Australia.
Queensland island holiday destinations
Magnetic Island, near Townsville
Planning a holiday for your family? Look no further than Magnetic Island, a.k.a. Maggie. This picturesque World Heritage-listed island is a true paradise, only a 25-minute ferry ride from Townsville. The island offers a wide range of eco-friendly experiences that are perfect for the whole family.
Two-thirds of the island is a protected national park, providing a haven for native wildlife, including rock wallabies, possums, and over 100 species of birdlife. Did you know Magnetic Island is home to Northern Australia’s largest colony of koalas living in the wild?
Connect with family and nature as you explore the island’s 23 beautiful beaches and bays in a rented topless jeep or on a discovery tour with Aquascene Charters. Include Horseshoe Bay with its thrilling activities, such as jet skis, kayaks, paddleboards, and tubing. Discover the wonders of tropical fish and marine life inhabiting the surrounding coral reefs and tranquil waters. with self-guided snorkelling trails at Geoffrey Bay and Nelly Bay.
Take a hike on the Forts Walk, with its 360-degree views and the chance to spot a wild koala. Make sure to visit Selina Magnetic Island for an unforgettable encounter with koalas, wombats, reptiles, and birdlife.
Green Island, near Cairns
Perfect for a day trip from Cairns (or even a weekend), Green Island is a protected coral cay on the Great Barrier Reef with white sandy beaches, safe swimming and amazing snorkelling. It’s about a 45-minute ferry trip from Cairns to Green Island, with two daily trips each way (pre-purchase your tickets here) or you can stay overnight at the kid-friendly Green Island Resort.
Fitzroy Island, near Cairns
Fitzroy Island’s sheltered waters are ideal for snorkelling and just messing around on the beach and in the calm waters. Stay a few days at Fitzroy Island Resort and enjoy dining overlooking the sea at the resort restaurant or casual dining at Foxy’s Bar. There’s also a shady campground with barbecues and bathroom amenities if hotel stays are not your thing.
There’s plenty to do on Fitzroy Island, such as viewing corals from the glass bottom boat, hiking trails and visits to the Turtle Rehabilitation Centre. Half-day and full-day trips from Cairns are available if time is short.
Daydream Island, The Whitsundays
As well as the natural fringing reef and great swimming beaches, Daydream Island has its very own Living Reef. Easily reached from Shute Harbour or Airlie Beach on the Whitsundays mainland, with over 140 species of fish including sharks and rays, kids can get really close and learn first-hand about the inhabitants of the Great Barrier Reef. Take the time to explore with a stay at Daydream Island Resort.
Hamilton Island, The Whitsundays
You’ll need at least a week to sample everything Hamilton Island has to offer. Try the Quads for Kids (6-14yrs) or Jet Ski for older kids. Take a day trip to the famous Whitehaven Beach, go snorkelling and meet a few turtles, cuddle a koala or bush walk to one of the many secluded bays. For the ultimate adventure, take a scenic helicopter flight over the islands and Great Barrier Reef.
Heron Island, near Gladstone
Heron Island is on the Great Barrier Reef, so snorkelling, bird watching and reef-walking are literally just a few steps from your accommodation at Heron Island Resort. Kids aged seven to 12 years can join the Junior Rangers with nature-based activities designed to nurture a sense of exploration. Between November and February, watch turtles come ashore to lay their eggs, and if you’re lucky, see the hatchlings head off back to the ocean.
North and South Stradbroke Island, near Brisbane
‘Straddie’ as the locals call it: two sand islands where you can really get back to nature and camp by one of the many beaches. A Stradbroke Island day trip is the perfect way to relax and spend some down time fishing, swimming, sunbathing or take a kayak tour.
K'gari (Fraser Island), near Hervey Bay
Formerly known as Fraser Island, kid-friendly K’gari is the world’s largest sand island, offers plenty of adventure activities for kids. Take a 4WD tour through rainforest pockets to see the famous lakes and drive on 70 Mile Beach.
Start from Hervey Bay, just 2 hours from Noosa, between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast. (Hervey Bay offers the world’s closest whale watching encounters with humpback whales!) From there, it’s easy to explore K’gari on a day trip, though you may want longer to experience the unforgettable eco-splendour of the World Heritage-Listed island. If so, choose an extended stay at one of K’gari’s resorts or campsites.
Junior Eco-Rangers (5 -14 yrs) get to try the low ropes course, experience canoeing, and go bushwalking to see and learn about the mangrove colonies and inter-tidal zones. Kids will also enjoy the Aboriginal storytelling around the campfire and cooking damper, followed by spotlighting for nocturnal wildlife through the dark forest, and amazing stargazing.
Moreton Island, near Brisbane
Moreton Island’s is one of the best places in Australia to see bottle nosed dolphins in the wild. Take a desert safari tour and go sand tobogganing, then cool off with a snorkel or Banana Boat ride. Ferries and day tours depart up to four times daily from Brisbane’s Holt Street Wharf for the 75-minute journey to Moreton Island.
A beautiful, family-friendly resort famous for its dramatic sunsets, Tangalooma Island Resort even has its own Eco-Rangers and Marine Education Centre. The resort is also famous as the place where guests can safely feed wild dolphins – just one activity in a seemingly endless list of optional land and water-based activities for all ages, including fun entertainment like movie, trivia and karaoke nights.
The resort offers a wide range of accommodation options – hotel rooms and units, 2-storey, 2-bedroom beachfront villas, holiday houses that sleep up to 12 guests, family suites with living room and full kitchen, and luxury apartments that can accommodate up to 10 people!
Lady Elliot Island, Capricorn Coast
Lady Elliot Island calls itself the Home of the Manta Ray, but you’re just as likely to see turtles and (in winter) hear whales around this island sanctuary within the Great Barrier Reef’s Green Zone. Whether snorkelling, reef-walking or aboard a state-of-the-art glass bottom boat, this eco-resort’s activities also include plenty of bird watching, with nesting shearwaters around your feet, noddies in the trees and crested terns in the air.
New South Wales island holiday destinations
Cockatoo Island, Sydney Harbour
Cockatoo Island is Sydney Harbour’s own UNESCO World Heritage-listed island. Hop on a ferry from downtown Sydney and explore Cockatoo Island on a day trip or stay overnight in a cabin or a tent, and join the spooky Haunted History night tour.
Montague Island, near Narooma
Montague Island is famous for its seals and Little Penguins. Snorkel with the seals and watch the nightly penguin parade when 12,000 Little Penguins come ashore at dusk. Get to Montague Island from Narooma where there’s lots more fun in store – see our family-friendly guide to the NSW South Coast.
Lord Howe Island, near Port Macquarie
Lord Howe Island is a World Heritage-listed island paradise that’s easily explored by bike, you can also snorkel with turtles at Settlement Beach, feed the fish and snorkel with baby reef sharks at Ned’s Beach, or hike up into the rainforests of Mount Gower for spectacular views. For an eco-friendly stay, book in at carbon-neutral Pinetrees Lodge.
More island holiday destinations around Australia
Phillip Island, near San Remo, VIC
A popular day trip from Melbourne, Phillip Island is best known for its Penguin Parade. spectators gather daily at sunset on Summerland Beach to watch Little Penguins come ashore in groups. Nobbies outcrop is the viewing site for Seal Rocks, home to a large colony of Australian fur seals. Make it a weekend trip with a beachfront cabin or camping spot at NRMA Phillip Island Beachfront Holiday Park.
Kangaroo Island, near Fleurieu Peninsula, SA
It’s not just kangaroos you’ll find on Kangaroo Island – it’s home to all kinds of native wildlife like sea lions, penguins, koalas and a variety of bird species. Take the ferry to Kangaroo Island for a day trip (or longer) to see the striking coastal rock formations, like the sculpted Remarkable Rocks and the stalactite-covered Admirals Arch where fur seals play in the rock pools below.
Wadjemup (Rottnest Island), near Perth, WA
Take a ferry from Perth or Fremantle to Rottnest Island (known by the locals simply as Rotto). The island is best known for its population of quokkas. They might look cute and even smiley but – beware – the little marsupial critters do bite! On the north western tip of Rottnest Island there’s also a colony of New Zealand fur seals, so where do you think the Australian sea lions hang out? On Dyer Island in the south east, of course! Explore the main settlement by Segway and stay overnight at beachfront Discovery Resorts Rottnest Island.
Christmas Island
This little island in the Indian Ocean will surprise even the most adventurous wildlife fan. Snorkel Flying Fish Cove and count the approx. 200 fish species, wander through the rainforest and be outnumbered by crabs – by 50 million to one! Explore the caves and the Christmas Island Grotto (though Santa’s rarely there!)
Main image: Aquascene Charters, Nelly Bay
