Australian Island Getaways
Most travellers need some down time as part of their trip so why not incorporate one of Australia's islands into your visit.
Australia is blessed with thousands of km of beautiful coastline and over 8000 islands. Not every island is worth a visit but there are certainly enough to cater for all tastes, no matter how strange they might be.
Whether you need a classic tropical island getaway or fancy a wonderful walking trail, or need value for money or something that the kids will love, you will find it on one of Australia's Island Getaways.
The Whitsundays are probably the most famous of the Australian Island Getaways. They are however well and truly on the tourist trail and are very expensive. Still worth the visit though! This article will instead focus on two islands that are very popular with the locals and are not as well trodden by the tourist.
Magnetic Island In Queensland
Magnetic Island is just 12km from Townsville which is in Queensland. It's a favourite island with the locals because it is one of the most reasonably priced islands in Queensland, particularly when compared to the cost of a holiday in the Whitsundays.
This is the perfect place for lounging on the beach, swimming, snorkeling and perhaps a little bit of walking. It has its own National Park with Mount Cook protruding from its centre so there are plenty of pretty bays and small walks to enjoy. It would also be a good option if you have kids as there are plenty of activities that they can enjoy.
If you fancy some water sports action then there is plenty to choose from on Magnetic Island. Sailing around the secluded bays is a popular choice, as is sea kayaking. It is also an excellent place to learn to dive as it is relatively inexpensive compared to many areas and the marine life is excellent. For those wanting to stay dry, then why not have a go at horse-riding at Horseshoe Bay.
You can drive around Magnetic Island in half a day but it is still big enough to have enough shops and amenities. There is a good range of accommodation and it's of a good standard.
Getting around the island is easy. There's a small bus service, you can hire bikes as well as cars. The petrol on the island is a bit pricey though. You can also hire "mokes" These are like small minis and are a great way to get around the island.
There's lots of beaches to choose from here but the nicest are probably Florence Bay and Balding Bay. Spend a day at Balding Bay sun bathing and snorkeling. Bring your own food and use the barbie facilities here. Horseshoe bay offers the longest of the island's beaches and is a good place to rent kayaks.
Hinchinbrook Island
If you like your holiday to be a bit more adventurous and less about lazing around in the sun, then perhaps Hinchinbrook Island is the one for you. The big attraction here is the 32km Thorsborne Trail. This is a moderately demanding hiking track which takes in beaches, mangroves and waterfalls.
You can hike the track in just two days but it's much better to take your time and stop off along the way providing you don't mind camping. The track runs from north to south but its better to finish in the north. It means at the end of the trek you can check in to the only accommodation on the island - Wilderness Lodge. It has a pool and a bar which you will need when you have finished the walk!
The entire walk is stunning but the highlights are probably Zoe Falls and the stretch between Ramsay Bay and Nina Bay which follows the coastline and takes you through rainforests.
If you'd rather not do the walk then you can just come and stay at the Wilderness Lodge. If however the walk sounds like fun, make sure you book well in advance. Numbers onto the island are restricted so the walk gets booked up very quickly.
You really want to be here in Winter which is between June and October. Outside of these months, it is the wet season so expect to see a lot of rain. Avoid February and March when the rain is at its peak and the ferries stop running from the mainland.
The Real Australia Travel website (see below) features another 13 island getaways for you to choose from. It also gives accommodation ideas for Magnetic Island.
August 16 2009 | Travel | No Comments »