With its crystalline waters and pearly sand backed by lush rainforest, it’s not hard to see why Whitehaven Beach is regularly voted the world’s best. Accessed by boat, helicopter or seaplane (a flight from Brisbane to Whitsunday Coast takes about 90 minutes), this seven-kilometre stretch makes for a photogenic stop en route to Reefsuites, Australia’s first underwater hotel.

In this sleepy paradise, a four-and-a-half hour direct flight from Brisbane, postcard-perfect beaches are just the beginning. Take a dip in To-Sua Ocean Trench (translation: giant swimming hole), snack on juicy star fruit at the Fugalei Fresh Produce Market and see the traditional fire knife dance at a fiafia night held at hotels like Taumeasina Island Resort.

The Great Barrier Reef is brimming with luxe escapes but Hamilton Island, a two-and-a-half-hour direct flight from Sydney, surely ranks as the top spot. Embark on a romantic helicopter tour of picturesque Heart Reef (a popular way to propose), practise your swing at Hamilton Island Golf Club or just chill by your private plunge pool at qualia.

Less than a four-hour flight from Sydney, this archipelago of more than 300 islands is a favourite for families thanks to its abundance of fun activities. Pick from snorkelling, kayaking, surfing and zip-lining through the jungle. The newly refurbished Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort even has coral planting and paintball on offer. 

A remote archipelago off the tip of Cape York, the Torres Strait Islands are home to a rich Aboriginal culture and pristine coral cays. Of the 300 islands, only a handful permit visitors, but book with majority-owned Indigenous Strait Experience to comb idyllic beaches previously untouched by tourism. Two-hour flights from Cairns are included in multi-day tours.

A two-hour flight from Sydney, this World Heritage-listed sub-tropical island is a favourite for those looking for adventure and romance. Climb Mount Gower (the island’s highest peak), dive to underwater caves or simply lay back in luxury at Capella Lodge, where nine suites offer jaw-dropping views of the glimmering Pacific Ocean.

Known as the "Galapagos of the Indian Ocean", Christmas Island is about a four-hour flight from Perth. Watch millions of crimson land crabs scuttle from the forests to the ocean and spot some of the world’s rarest birds from your deck at Swell Lodge, the only accommodation inside the island’s sprawling national park.

Rottnest’s cutest and most famous residents — the grinning, camera-ready quokkas — are just one of the reasons to visit this nature-lovers playground. Also on the list: marine sanctuary zones teeming with tropical fish and more than 40 kilometres of walking trails. Visitors can even sleep under the stars in one of Discovery Rottnest Island’s glamping tents.

4WD along wide-open beaches, tube down the burbling waters of Eli Creek and explore the magnificent Valley of the Giants rainforest on K’gari (formerly Fraser Island). Located some 30 minutes by ferry from Hervey Bay on the Queensland mainland, the world’s largest sand island has stays from basic camping grounds to upscale Kingfisher Bay Resort.

The 83 islands that make up Vanuatu have something for everyone: warm seas, world-class diving, hiking trails dotted with waterfalls and sunsets just begging to be enjoyed with a cocktail. Fly into Port Vila (it takes about two-and-a-half hours from Brisbane) and head straight to the Havannah Boat House, a private waterfront estate that sleeps eight.

With 17 beaches to stroll, humpback whales to spot, hiking tracks for all experience levels and epic snorkelling right off the sand, this blissful island makes for the ultimate beach day. Plus, it’s just a 30-minute boat ride from Yeppoon on Queensland’s Capricorn Coast. Families and groups will love the affordable waterfront cabins at Great Keppel Island Hideaway.

Independent travellers can diverge from the crowds by visiting the Solomon Islands, a three-and-a-half-hour flight from Brisbane. Seclusion is the name of the game at eco-stay Sanbis Resort, which caters to only 12 guests at a time. Sipping a Mai Tai on your private beach, you might imagine you have the entire place to yourself.

Magnetic Island boasts 23 golden sand beaches, 5,184 hectares of rugged national park (78% of the island is protected) and over 300 sunny days a year. Just a 20-minute ferry ride from Townsville, it’s also home to the Instagram-famous S.S. City of Adelaide, a 1916 shipwreck now overgrown by mangroves.  

Australia’s favourite Indonesian island is synonymous with Bintangs and beach clubs, but there’s plenty to fill in the gaps. West Bali National Park and the nearby protected marine reserve of Menjangan Island is a welcome change of pace and home to Bali’s best snorkelling. The kaleidoscopic marine life is outstanding and you’re likely to spot sea turtles, colourful fish and even eagle rays.

The ‘Island of Smiles’ lies 80km north of Darwin bordering the Timor Sea, and is all beaming faces and beguiling coastal landscapes. The two main isles, Bathurst and Melville, are famous for their thriving Aboriginal arts scene and love of Aussie Rules football. Take a cultural walking tour with Tiwi Design to learn about the local people and make your own art.

One of 74 islands that make up the Whitsundays, the widest point of this finger-like 9km-long isle is just 400 metres. As well as boasting the 100-percent-solar-powered eco-retreat Elysian Retreat, the island has 13-km of bushwalking trails, secluded coves and snorkelling straight off the beach. Cue turtles, fish and coral.

If your idea of a perfect day begins with a picnic on a private island and ends with a massage on a floating bed in the Great Barrier Reef, look no further. The Whitsundays’ northernmost island is teeming with sandy beaches and blue coves,  where luxury resorts such as the Intercontinental Hayman Island Resort can organise everything from wildlife tours to a pampering in the spa.

Of the 15 tropical islands that make-up this South Pacific country, Rarotonga is the largest and most famous. It’s also disarmingly picturesque, with crystal-clear aquamarine water and pristine white beaches. Grab a snorkel to meet the marine life in Muri Lagoon, then feast on barbecued seafood and chicken curries at the Muri Night Markets, held four nights a week.

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