Feast your eyes: TripAdvisor names its top Aussie islands

Feast your eyes: TripAdvisor names its top Aussie islands

If island life is the life for you, but you’re a bit skint on your holiday funds this year, why not check out check out something a little more close to home?

Somewhere you can get a bit sandy as you gaze out at Emerald green and turquoise shades of ocean without having to fork out for international airfares.

Sounds grand, right?

Lucky for you, TripAdvisor has released its top-rated small islands around Australia for you to explore.

And the best part: they’re all located near major cities, so perfect for day trips or weekend jaunts.

Green Island, Cairns

1a. Green Island
This cute lil guy is a protected coral cay in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef.

A short cruise from Cairns opens a gateway to an underwater world where one might spot giant clams, tropical fish and coral gardens.

There’s also emerald rain forest to explore on land!

Check out TripAdvisor’s top-rated tour: Green Island Day Trip from Cairns from $94.

Frankland Islands, Cairns

2d. Frankland Islands
Totally uninhabited, the Frankland Islands consist of five isles: High, Normanby, Mabel, Round and Russel.

Each isle is part coral cay, part continental island, with a healthy and vibrant fringing coral community.

Check out TripAdvisor’s top-rated tour: Frankland Islands Cruise and Dive from $169 (adults) or $99 (children).

Lady Elliot Island, Bundaberg

3b. Lady Elliot Island
Lady Elliot is a coral cay located at the southern tip of Australia’s iconic Great Barrier Reef, north of Fraser Island.

The island is regarded as one of the best diving and snorkelling locations on the Reef and is famous for its unspoilt coral reef and an amazing array of spectacular marine life.

Check out TripAdvisor’s top-rated tour: Lady Elliot Island Day Tour from $375 (ex Hervey Bay).

Heirisson Island, Perth

4c. Heirisson Island
Named for a French midshipman François-Antoine Boniface Heirisson, who was on the French ship Le Naturaliste, was a scientific expedition.

Today the island is still used as the main crossing from one side of the river to the other, using the causeway bridge.

The island has many facilities, such as seating barbecues, picnic shelters, a children’s playground, a kangaroo sanctuary and toilets.

Penguin Island, Rockingham

5a. Penguin Island
45 minutes south of Perth is Penguin Island – a beautiful, unspoiled nature reserve home to WA’s largest colony of little penguins, as well as dolphins, sea lions, stingrays, pelicans, and ospreys.

It’s also fantastic for swimming, snorkelling, having a picnic or just enjoying some of the best coastal scenery in Perth.

Granite Island, Adelaide 

6a. Granite Island
Enjoy the coastal scenery and discover the island’s interesting history along the Kaiki Walk or go fishing from the jetty or causeway.

You may even spot a southern right whale between June and October.

Cockatoo Island, Sydney

7d. Cockatoo Island
Retaining all its character and heritage from decades of human endeavour by convicts and shipbuilders alike, Cockatoo Island has opened its doors to all, with a mission to re-energise history.

Now a place to escape the every day, a canvas for creatives and cultural events, the world’s first urban waterfront campground and beautiful holiday accommodation, Cockatoo Island has undergone a renaissance in every sense of the word.

I guess the only real question is: which one first?

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