fabulous five

Our top picks for an island getaway

Photo: James Welch - Kayak Khao Sok

Think for a minute about the ingredients of your perfect island getaway – the warm breeze, the impossibly blue waters, blinding white-sand beaches, colourful marine life and hammocks overlooking the water. Whatever you fancy, our top five islands have it!

FABULOUS {ISLAND NO01}

WORDS & PHOTOGRAPHY RACHEL GREAVES

Photo: Shutterstocks/ Erikdegraaf Fotografie

Beautiful Bali

The island of Bali is one of those rare holiday destinations that has something for everyone. Known as the ‘Island of the Gods’ and the ‘Land of a Thousand Temples’, it’s so picturesque you could mistake it for a painted movie backdrop. And it offers a killer package: sophisticated hotels, classy restaurants, an upbeat nightlife and unlimited shopping, plus a paradise of sandy beaches, hand-carved rice terraces, fast-flowing rivers, volcanoes and primeval rainforests. Combine that with a colourful history and cuisine and a rich spiritual culture – it’s the only Hindu society in South-East Asia – and punctuate it with palaces, temples, flower-scented festivals and gorgeous arts, and there are few places on earth where you can celebrate life with such gusto!

From the moment you arrive, Bali’s colours, sights, smells, sounds and tastes greet you with the same intensity as the hot, humid air.

As one of the smallest, yet most visited, of Indonesia’s islands, its compact size means that most of the wonderful scenery and tourist attractions are easily accessible on day trips. The sunny tropical climate is characterised by half-yearly alternating wind patterns; the ocean has a flourishing ecosystem, and the surf breaks are legendary. Outdoor activities abound, from watersports, golf and diving, to adventure tours, ecotours and theme parks. What’s more, just about every attraction on the island is child-friendly!

FABULOUS ISLAND{ISLAND NO02}

WORDS JOANNA HALL
PHOTOGRAPHY BEN HALL

The Wonderful Whitsundays

The Whitsundays are a 74-island group in North Queensland that epitomise the tropical getaway cliché, with sandy beaches and gorgeous weather. But it’s the sapphire blue of the sea which makes the biggest first impression – and is the islands’ main attraction. With all the tours and activities available out in the warm water offshore, the main problem is resisting the urge to try and do it all! Snorkelling, scuba diving, sailing, whale watching, reef fishing, water-skiing, jet-skiing, parasailing, sea kayaking, hiking and fish feeding – it’s an adventure-lover’s heaven.

To see the Whitsundays from a different angle, treat yourself to a helicopter flight: it’s the perfect way to gain a full appreciation of the scale and beauty of the islands. After a quieter break? Enjoy a picnic on one of the secluded beaches, or just indulge in sitting by the resort pool, sipping on a cocktail and catching a few rays.

FABULOUS {ISLAND NO03}

WORDS JOANNA HALL
PHOTOGRAPHY BEN HALL

Magnificent Maui

“Stand up! Stand up! That’s it, woo-hoo!” The surf instructor successfully gets another novice surfer to his feet, and his nearby mum and dad scramble from their beach picnic to photograph the momentous occasion.

There’s no doubt Maui is a surfing haven – from the benign beginners’ breaks at Lahaina to classic big-wave locations like Jaws – but there’s more to this island than its endless aquatic pleasures. Beyond the surfing, snorkelling and scuba diving, there’s 190km of coastline and 50km of beautiful beaches and, towering regally over the

island, one of the Pacific’s most stunning natural wonders: Haleakala. It’s the world’s largest dormant volcano at 3,000 metres, with a massive crater that measures more than 30km around. Visitors to Haleakala National Park are warned to rug up for the ascent to the volcano – many refuse to believe there are parts of the Hawaiian Islands that can drop below freezing. Forget sarongs and frangipanis, this place is all about skivvies and fog. And it’s just one of the island’s many surprises!

FABULOUS {ISLAND NO04}

WORDS KERRIE HALL

Perfect Phuket

Phuket first gained international notoriety from the James Bond film, The Man with the Golden Gun. Thailand’s gateway, Phuket is an adventure playground of boating, snorkelling, diving and kayaking.

Magnificent limestone karst formations soar from its waters like magical mountains. Sunrise and sunset offer a spectacular palette of vivid gold, purple, red and blue. And for day trips or live-aboard cruising, Phang Nga Bay off the east coast is unbeatable, with over 100 islands to explore.

Like any popular developing region, Phuket is growing up fast. Gone are the days of backpacker’s bamboo beach bungalows – though you can still find a few on outer islands like Koh Yao Noi. The island’s rapidly expanding range of designer shopping, accommodation, and its natural attractions, draw a more diverse crowd. Downtown Phuket is a must for market shopping and fascinating glimpses of old Phuket life.

On any day, Surin’s beachfront will be alive with friendly football matches, beach volleyball, kite flying, and even surfing during the monsoon months from April to November. On less crowded seafronts, smiley Thai vendors still offer massage and manicures, tantalising seafood dishes and cocktails under thatched salas. Laem Singh is a popular spot for lounging: a short trek down a forest trail, this stunning, palm-fringed cove has funky bars and a regular Sunday beach party featuring local DJs. Think regular Phuket visitors Kate Moss, Sarah Ferguson and Jamie Durie might be onto something?

FABULOUS {ISLAND NO05}

WORDS SHERIDEN RHODES

Photos: Phillip Island Park/Visions of Victoria

Playful Phillip Island

If you’re craving balmy air, tropical sunsets and warm, languid waters, Phillip Island is probably not the best place to come – you’d be hard-pressed to find water warm enough for swimming most of the year. Instead, you get an island bursting with pristine natural beauty, incredible wildlife and low-key tourism – all just 140km from Melbourne’s CBD.

Without question, Phillip Island’s star attractions are its nature and ecotourism experiences. Where else do penguins parade themselves nightly, as if on cue, for hundreds of appreciative tourists? You can also view sleepy koalas in towering gums, hand-feed wallabies at the Wildlife Park and get up close and personal with the second-largest fur seal colony in Australia at the new Nobbies Centre, overlooking the wild waters of Bass Strait. “The amount of wildlife that lives on the island is staggering, given how accessible it is to a major city,” comments Ranger Sally O’Neill, who has lived and worked on the island for 17 years.

One of O’Neill’s favourite things to do is to hike along the rugged beach to Cape Woolamai, the island’s highest point. Layer up in the cooler months and head to the viewing platforms that take in the Pinnacles, the Cape Woolamai Light and the old granite quarry. Cape Woolamai is home to a spectacular colony of Short-tailed Shearwaters; it’s also one of the best surfing beaches in Australia.

Apart from its furred and feathered critters, Phillip Island is known for motorbikes and supercars. It’s anything but sleepy when the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix rolls into town in October, followed by the V8 Supercar Championships in November and the Superbike World Championship next March!