Australian Island Guide
Jay Martin
Guest Blogger
We all know of Australia as one great, big island, but in the waters surrounding the mainland are many of the most beautiful islands in the entire world. Find out more about some of more popular ones to visit and how these diverse and remarkable islands make up a special part of Australia.
Hamilton Island
Hamilton Island is the largest inhabited island on the Great Barrier Reef. It’s pretty much just a giant resort surrounded by beaches and reefs. Cars are not allowed on the island, so everybody drives around on golf buggies!
Because the island was designed with tourism in mind, there’s always plenty to do here. Snorkelling, kayaking, paddleboarding, and windsurfing are some of the many options available to visitors.
You can reach this well-known holiday destination via direct flights from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Cairns, so you’ve got no excuse not to visit!
Philip Island
About 150 kilometers southeast of Melbourne sits Philip Island, connected to the mainland via a single concrete bridge. The island is famous for two things, its Grand Prix racing track, and the bird life that lives on its southern and western coasts.
Large populations of fairy penguins, short-tail shearwaters and Pacific gulls can be found here. Thousands of fur seals also call the island home, as do the many wallabies and kangaroos that can be hand fed as they mingle with visitors at the island’s wildlife park.
The waters just off Philip Island are home to dolphins and a number of species of whales as well. If you’d love a close encounter with some Aussie wildlife on your next trip, be sure to make plans to stop by this incredible part of Australia.
Lord Howe Island
About 600 kilometers east of Port Macquarie in New South Wales, lays this crescent shaped island. It surrounds a sheltered coral reef lagoon and is well known for its geology, plant, bird, and marine life.
To help preserve the environment on Lord Howe, only 400 visitors are allowed on the island at any one time. Popular tourist activities there include birdwatching, hiking, scuba diving, snorkelling, fishing, surfing, and kayaking.
The island is home to some of the most beautiful scenery in all of Australia. From crystal blue waters, to palm-tree lined, white sand beaches, to forested mountaintops. You can visit this amazing nature reserve via flights from Sydney, Brisbane and Port Macquarie.
Jay Martin was born in Brisbane, Australia, but has spent his life traversing the world in search of excitement and freedom. From tearing up the slopes in Canada, the U.S. and New Zealand to backpacking across Europe and living the high-life in Asia, there’s always a new challenge on the horizon for this intrepid adventurer.
After graduating from the University of Queensland with a BBM (Marketing), and working at a few advertising agencies, Jay went out to start his own digital marketing firm. Assisting other businesses build their brands through the development of interesting and exciting content has helped him fine-tune his own passion for writing.
He is currently based between Hong Kong and Australia, with his job allowing him the freedom to travel and work from wherever his next escapade begins- as long as they have internet there.