20ten Islands

1. ROTTNEST ISLAND, WA
Rottnest Island is just 19km offshore from Fremantle. Perfect for a day trip or a longer stay. Rottnest is the home of the quokka. When discovered the quokka was considered to be a big rat. It is for this reason the island got its name, originally “Rotte Nest”, Dutch for “rats nest”.

Visitors wanting to take their own vehicle (car or boat) to the island must complete an application form. For visitors without their own water vessel there are ferries operating daily from Fremantle, Hillary’s Boat Harbour and Barrack Street Jetty. The Rottnest Air Taxi operates out of Jandakot Airport. Flights are on demand during daylight hours and cost from $80/person return. The 12minute flight gives passengers the perfect view of Perth and Rottnest Island.

The island offers visitors 63 beaches, scuba diving and snorkelling, bicycle riding, wildlife, a fun park golf and loads of European and Aboriginal History.

Web
www.rottnestisland.com

2. GROOTE EYLANDT, NT
This is the largest island in the Gulf of Carpentaria (between the tops of Queensland and Northern Territory). Located 50km offshore from Arnhem Land, Groote Eylandt is the home of the Anindilyakwa people. It was named s Dutch for “Large Island”

There is a large manganese mine on the island operated by BHP. It is also a great location for sport fishing. Groote Eylandt is the site for some of Australia’s best examples of Aboriginal rock paintings.

Visitors to Groote Eylandt will need to book a flight with either Bluebird Cargo or Airnorth, which both offer limited flight schedules.

3. MAGNETIC ISLAND, QLD
Magnetic Island is just 8km offshore from Townsville. Passenger ferries, water taxis and car ferries service the island regularly throughout the day. Flights are also available through Virgin Blue from Brisbane.

Activities are cram packed onto the island and in its bays. Sea kayaking, sailboards, catamarans, aqua-bikes and jet-skiing are all available along with scuba diving. On land visitors can hire trail bikes, scooters and bicycles. The most popular activity is exploring the island in a Moke, hireable on the island.

Restaurants, souvenirs and accommodation make Magnetic Island the complete tourist destination

Web
www.magnetic-island.com.au

4. HAYMAN ISLAND, QLD
This privately owned island is located amongst the Whitsunday Islands, on the Great Barrier Reef. Its location and climate means that it is home to some of Australia’s most unique tropical fish and plant life.

The island is a 5 star resort so it is all landscaped with gardens, bushland and rainforests making it great for pleasant walks. Hayman Island has diverse fauna including the endangered Prosperine Rock Wallaby.

Getting to Hayman Island is easy, with most airlines servicing Great Barrier Reef Airport. From the airport seaplanes, helicopters and luxury cruisers service Hayman Island. It is a resort and therefore offers everything one would expect an island getaway to provide; golf, spa, aquatic sports and activities walking tours, cooking classes and retial therapy – all for a price. Rooms start at $850 per person per night.

Web
www.hatman.com.au

5. FRASER ISLAND
This island is 123km long and 22km wide making it the largest sand island in the world. It is heritage listed. Amongst is beautiful natural features are the sand cliffs over 200m tall and the 100 freshwater lakes of varying colours, and of course the white sandy beaches.

Fraser Island is also the only place in the world where rainforests grow on sand. This means many of the plants, birds, animals and insects can only be found here. Snorkelling and scuba diving from Fraser Island will give swimmers the opportunity to see dugongs, turtles and tropical fish. It is a great location for fishing and four-wheel driving.

Drive or fly to Hervey Bay and then take the Fraser Island Ferry, which departs three times daily. It costs $150 return per vehicle (driver and 3 passengers). Accommodation and tours are available.

Web
www.fraserisland.net

6. FORT DENISON, NSW
This unusual island in Sydney Harbour used to be 15m high peak of sandstone rock. Convicts quarried it for construction work being undertaken in Circular Quay, gradually flattening the island over time. It was also used to gibbet convicts’ bodies after execution to deter future would-be criminals.

It was fortified to help protect Sydney from foreign waterborne attack, with construction commencing in 1839 but not completed until 1857. It includes the only Martello tower built in Australia, and the last one built by the British Empire.

It is now a museum with function room. Ferry’s depart Circular Quay regularly throughout the day, with tours available.

7. GRANITE ISLAND, SA
Granite Island is 630m offshore from Victor Harbor and is accessible by foot over the wooden causeway a horse drawn tram also services the island departing every 20minutes. The 1.5km Kaiki Walk takes visitors around the island perimeter. With many stops and lookouts along the way it is definitely worth taking the camera.

As well as Australia’s first ever breakwater, Granite Island is also famous for whale watching and the little penguins that have their rockeries on the island. Join a dusk penguin tour to see the Little Penguins return to their nests after a day’s fishing.

Guided tours and café are available.

Web
www.graniteisland.com.au

8. PINE ISLAND, ACT
This is not a permanent island. It only appears when the Murrumbidgee River floods the area around the suburb of Tuggeranong in Canberra. The area is popular for swimming and bushwalking when not in flood. The surrounding reserve is also a popular picnic spot with BBQ facilities.

It is named after the black cypress pines that grow in the area.

9. PHILLIP ISLAND, VIC
Phillip Island is arguably the most visited island in Victoria it is also home of the Australian Moto GP. The most famous attraction is the Penguin Parade (see 20ten Wildlife). It is 140km south east of Melbourne and is accessible by car. Tour companies offer day trips to the island.

Visitors to the island can also visit a day spa, koala conservation park, golf courses, fishing, cruises, helicopter rides, chocolate factory and a maze. Philip Island is also the location for the National Vietnam Veteran Museum.

Web
www.phillipisland.net.au

10. ALBATROSS ISLAND, TAS
Albatross Island is in Bass Strait off the NW corner of Tasmania. It is a rock island with no notable beaches. The strong winds can make it difficult to get ashore.

It is a breeding ground for the white capped albatross and is such a nature reserve. Visiting this island is for the brave as no tour groups service the island which means visitors will need to sail, kayak to the island through one of the most treacherous stretches of water in Australia. As it is a nature reserve visitors are limited. The island is managed by Parks Tasmania.

Web
www.parks.tas.gov.au