Damon Mcknight
Australia is an island continent surrounded by the Pacific, Indian, and Southern Oceans, as well as the Coral and Timor Seas. Within its maritime borders, Australia has 8,222 islands, ranging from small rocks that are uncovered at high tide to islands larger than 1,000 square kilometres. The largest island in Australia is Tasmania, which is surrounded by 334 islands and islets.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of islands within maritime borders | 8,222 |
| Largest island | Tasmania |
| Number of islands in Tasmania | 334 |
| Second-largest island | Melville Island |
| Third-largest island | Kangaroo Island |
| Fourth-largest island | Groote Eylandt |
| Fifth-largest island | Fraser Island |
| Sixth-largest island | Bathurst Island |
| Seventh-largest island | Flinders Island |
| Eighth-largest island | King Island |
| Ninth-largest island | Mornington Island |
| Largest sand island | K'gari |
| Largest oceanic island | Macquarie Island |
| Most distant island | Macquarie Island |
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What You'll Learn
- Australia has 8,222 islands within its maritime borders
- Tasmania is the largest island, with 334 islands of its own
- K'gari, in Queensland, is the world's largest sand island
- Melville Island is the second-biggest island, located in the Timor Sea
- Lord Howe Island is the most remote island, 600km east of the mainland
Australia has 8,222 islands within its maritime borders
Tasmania, the largest island in Australia, is situated about 150 miles from the mainland and is surrounded by 334 islands or islets. It is the 26th largest island in the world and the only Australian state that is not part of the mainland. The main island of Tasmania, often referred to as the "Tasmanian mainland", accounts for 94% of the state's land area.
The second-largest island in Australia is Melville Island, also known as Yermainer, occupying an area of approximately 2,234 square miles. It is located in the Timor Sea, off the coast of the Northern Territory. The largest settlement on Melville Island is Milikapiti, with a population of over 559 people, followed by Pirlangimpi with 440 residents.
Other notable large islands in Australia include Kangaroo Island, the third-largest, located in South Australia; Fraser Island, the fifth-largest, situated 160 miles from Brisbane; Flinders Island, the seventh-largest, with an area of about 528 square miles; and King Island, the eighth-largest, located in the Bass Strait.
Australia is often referred to as an island continent due to its oceanic surroundings. The country boasts the world's largest sand island, K'gari, renowned for its coloured sands stained by decayed vegetation over thousands of years. Macquarie Island, located in the Southern Ocean, is one of Australia's most distant possessions, situated closer to the Antarctic continent than its parent state of Tasmania.
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Tasmania is the largest island, with 334 islands of its own
Tasmania is a large island state off the southeast coast of mainland Australia. It was first inhabited by Aboriginal peoples, who today generally identify as Palawa or Pakana. The island was discovered by Dutch explorer Abel Tasman in 1642 and was named after its discoverer in 1856. Tasmania is the 26th-largest island in the world, with an area of 64,519 square kilometres (24,911 square miles), making up 94.1% of the total land area of the state.
Tasmania is the largest island in Australia, with 334 islands of its own. The Tasmanian mainland itself is an island, and there are more than 1,000 smaller islands, which make up the remaining 5.9% of the state's land area. The majority of these islands are identified as being in island groups, including the Breaksea, Furneaux, Hunter, Kent, and Waterhouse groups. Tasmania's islands are generally distinguished by the coast that they are adjacent to, as well as the Bass Strait, which separates Tasmania from the mainland state of Victoria.
The state capital and largest city of Tasmania is Hobart, with around 40% of the population living in the Greater Hobart area. Tasmania is the most decentralised state in Australia, with the lowest proportion of its residents living within its capital city. The state has a population of about 570,000, making it the smallest and least populous state in Australia.
Tasmania has a diverse geography, with spectacular mountains, lakes, and coastal scenery. The island is known for its unique place names, which often come from lost definitions or quaint descriptions. The island also has the world's largest areas of dolerite, with many distinctive mountains and cliffs formed from this rock type.
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K'gari, in Queensland, is the world's largest sand island
Australia has 8,222 islands within its maritime borders. One of these islands is K'gari, formerly known as Fraser Island, which is located in Queensland, Australia. K'gari is the world's largest sand island, covering 1,653 square kilometres (638 square miles).
K'gari is famous for its coloured sands, which have been stained by decayed vegetation leaching into the sand for thousands of years. Some deposits are up to eight million years old. The island's sand is also home to extensive deposits of rutile, ilmenite, zircon, and monazite. The unique geology of the island includes volcanic rock protrusions, such as Indian Head, and sand dunes that have been divided into seven morphological units: the Awinya, Yankee Jack, Bowarrady, Triangle Cliff, Freshwater, Station Hill, and Cape.
The Butchulla people, the traditional owners of the land, originally named the island K'gari, meaning 'paradise'. In the Butchulla language, it is derived from an Aboriginal Dreaming story about a goddess named K'gari who fell in love with the earth and never wanted to leave. European settlers renamed the island Fraser Island in 1842 after Captain James Fraser, who was shipwrecked and died on the island in 1836.
K'gari has a rich history, including logging and sand mining operations. Logging began in 1863 and continued until 1991. Sand mining leases were first granted in 1950, and mining continued until 1977, despite opposition from the Fraser Island Defenders Organisation (FIDO) and the local community. In 1977, the Australian Government banned sand mining on the island.
Today, K'gari is a World Heritage-listed site, recognised for its cultural and natural significance. The island is home to the Great Sandy National Park, which covers 52,400 hectares on the northern half of the island. K'gari offers a unique blend of holiday resorts and wilderness camping, attracting up to 500,000 visitors each year.
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Melville Island is the second-biggest island, located in the Timor Sea
Australia has 8,222 islands within its maritime borders. The second-biggest island in Australia is Melville Island, located in the eastern Timor Sea, off the coast of the Northern Territory. It is also known as Yermalner in the Tiwi language. Melville Island is part of the Tiwi Islands, along with Bathurst Island, and is home to the Tiwi people and their unique culture. The island is 60 kilometres off the coast from Darwin and is known for its fishing spots.
Covering 5,786 square kilometres (2,234 sq mi), Melville Island is just outside the 100 largest islands in the world. The largest community on the island is Nguiu, with a population of 2,500. The second community is Pirlangimpi (Pularumpi, formerly Garden Point), with a population of 440, located 27 kilometres west of Milikapiti, on the west coast of Melville Island. About 30 more people live in five family outstations.
The Tiwi people have inhabited the island for thousands of years, and their culture continues to flourish. Tiwi belief holds that the creation figure Mundangkala moved across the landscape, forming the Tiwi Islands. Objects like tunga (bark baskets) and pukumani poles are unique to the Tiwi people and their culture.
Melville Island is a popular destination for those seeking an outback adventure or a cultural experience. Visitors can explore the majestic landscapes, ancient culture, and spiritual energy of the region. The Munupi Wilderness Lodge offers a unique experience, allowing guests to meet local Aboriginal people and engage in activities like fishing and exploring the cultural side of the Tiwi Islands.
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Lord Howe Island is the most remote island, 600km east of the mainland
Australia has 8,222 islands within its maritime borders. These islands vary in size, with the largest, Tasmania, covering 64,519 square kilometres, and the smallest being little more than small rocks that are not covered by water at high tide. Lord Howe Island is a small oceanic island in the Tasman Sea, 600 kilometres (370 miles) east of the Australian mainland. It is Australia's most remote island, and does not fall under external territory status.
Lord Howe Island is an irregularly crescent-shaped volcanic remnant, about 10 kilometres long and between 0.3 and 2 kilometres wide, with an area of 14.55 square kilometres. The island is named after Richard Howe, the 1st Earl Howe. It is known for its natural beauty, including its rugged coastline, pristine beaches, and crystal-clear waters teeming with marine life. The island is also surrounded by the world's southernmost coral reef.
The island's landscape features sculpted mountain peaks, including Mount Lidgbird and Mount Gower, which is the highest point on the island at 875 metres (2,871 feet). The lowlands consist of alluvial soils, and the beaches are made up of shell, coral, coralline algae, and basalt fragments. The island has a humid subtropical climate, with warm and humid summers and mild winters.
Lord Howe Island has a population of around 382 residents, with a limit of 400 tourists at any given time. It was World Heritage-listed in 1982 by UNESCO, which recognised the island's exceptional beauty, biodiversity, and unique geology. Over 70% of the island is a permanent park reserve, and the surrounding waters are a Marine Park.
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Frequently asked questions
Australia has approximately 8,222 islands within its maritime borders.
Tasmania is the largest island in Australia, with a land area of 64,519 square kilometres. It is also the 26th largest island in the world.
Melville Island in the Timor Sea is the second-largest island in Australia, with a land area of 5,786 square kilometres. Other large islands include Kangaroo Island (4,416 sq km), Groote Eylandt (2,285 sq km), Bathurst Island (1,693 sq km), K'gari (1,653 sq km), Flinders Island (1,359 sq km), King Island (1,091 sq km), and Mornington Island (1,002 sq km).
There are 334 islands or islets within the state of Tasmania, with the main islands having a land area greater than 100 hectares.
