Australia doesn’t just do beaches — it does islands with character. From reef-wrapped tropical isles to windblown wildlife outposts, these escapes serve up sea breezes, slow mornings, and plenty of room to breathe. 

Some are even close enough for a weekend dash; others feel like the edge of the world. All of them invite you to slow down, dig your toes in, and see what happens when the mainland melts away.

Best for: reef lovers, poolside dreamers, and tropical honeymooners Where is it? Whitsundays, Queensland How to get there: Fly into Hamilton Island Airport or Proserpine Airport and take a ferry from Airlie Beach

Hamilton Island brings the full package: coral reef, cocktails and colour-soaked sunsets. You’ll cruise to Whitehaven one day, and sip wine by the water the next. It’s polished, sure — but it doesn’t skip on nature. The reef is right there, the trails are green and quiet, and the stargazing? Pretty out of this world.

Best for: beach-hoppers, day-trippers, and quokka paparazzi Where is it? Off the coast of Perth, Western Australia

How to get there: Fly into Perth and then take a ferry from Fremantle or Perth

Perth locals are in the know: Rotto is where you go when you need salt air and a slower pace. No cars, just bikes and turquoise coves. Spend the day cycling, swimming and selfie-snapping with the island’s iconic quokkas. Finish with fish and chips as the sun disappears behind the dunes.

Best for: wild-at-heart explorers and freshwater floaters

Where is it? Off the coast of Hervey Bay, Queensland How to get there: Fly into Hervey Bay and take a ferry across to the island

K'gari is the world’s largest sand island, where ancient rainforest grows straight out of dunes and the lakes are much clearer than any hotel pool. You’ll need a 4WD (or someone who does), but that’s part of the charm. K'gari is for the adventurous.

Best for: nature-loving families and surf-side snackers

Where is it? Southeast of Melbourne

How to get there: Fly into Melbourne and then drive (it’s connected to the mainland via a bridge) or join a tour from the city

It’s close to Melbourne but with far cuter residents (sorry). Penguins waddle ashore each evening, seals nap on rocky outcrops, and surfers carve up the southern swells. It’s equal parts wildlife haven and nostalgic beach-town throwback — a sweet combo for quick getaways.

Best for: off-grid luxe and reef-meets-mountain drama

Where is it? About 600km the coast of New South Wales

How to get there: Fly to Lord Howe Island from either Port Macquarie or Sydney.

Tiny, protected and capped at just 400 guests, Lord Howe is the kind of place that rewires your tempo. Walk barefoot to dinner, snorkel with turtles before lunch, hike through cloud forest after. It's UNESCO-listed for a reason — nature comes first, and it shows.

Best for: Brisbane escapees, water babies and thrill-seekers

Where is it? In Moreton Bay, off the coast of Brisbane

How to get there: Fly into Brisbane and take a ferry from Port of Brisbane or Pinkenba (the latter is closer to the airport)

An hour from the city, Moreton shifts the gears with rusted shipwrecks, towering dunes, and dolphins at the dock. You can snorkel, sandboard and swim in freshwater lagoons — all before sunset. It’s rugged, ridiculous fun with just enough room to relax.

Best for: slow travellers, stargazers and story-chasers

Where is it? About 1,400km off the coast of Queensland

How to get there: Fly to Norfolk Island from Brisbane or Sydney 

Floating out in the Pacific, Norfolk is calm, green and steeped in history. It’s where convict ruins meet lush cliffs, and where dinner might come from the farm up the road. Bring your binoculars too — Norfolk is a hotspot for rare seabirds, from masked boobies to white terns circling the pines.

Best for: wildlife nerds and windswept romantics

Where is it? Off the south of South Australia, south of Adelaide

How to get there: Fly into Kingscote or take a ferry from Cape Jervis, about an hour south of Adelaide

South Australia’s big island plays hard to get — but it’s worth the ferry or flight to get here. There are honey farms and gin distilleries, but also untouched beaches and cliffs that drop into blue. It’s where echidnas amble and kangaroos have the right of way.

Best for: food-first travellers and foggy coastal feels

Where is it? Southwest of Hobart, Tasmania

How to get there: Fly into Hobart then drive to the Bruny Island ferry terminal in Kettering

Hop the ferry from Hobart and roll into a land of cheese, oysters, whisky and wild coastlines. Bruny is half foodie trail, half wilderness escape. You’ll find wallabies, wind, and cell reception that politely drops out — in a good way.