Lexi Webster
Australia is surrounded by thousands of islands, including the world's largest sand island, K'gari. The islands north of Australia include the Tiwi Islands, which are located 100km north of Darwin, and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, which are a short flight from Perth. Other islands north of Australia include Norfolk Island, Lord Howe Island, and Rottnest Island, which is a short ferry ride from Perth. Many islands north of Australia are also considered part of Oceania, a geographical region that includes Australasia, Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Islands north of Australia | Tiwi Islands, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Rottnest Island, Whitsundays, Lord Howe Island, Macquarie Island |
| Number of islands | Thousands |
| Size | Range from small rocks to islands twice the size of the Australian Capital Territory |
| Largest sand island | K'gari |
| Larger islands | Several islands are larger than 1000 square kilometres |
| Location | Pacific, Indian and Southern Oceans and the Coral and Timor Seas |
| External territories | Bonin Islands, Clipperton Island, Juan Fernández Islands, Easter Island, American Samoa, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, French Polynesia, Fiji, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Pitcairn Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Wallis and Futuna, Baker Island, Howland Island, Jarvis Island, Midway Atoll, Palmyra Atoll, Wake Island |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
The Tiwi Islands
Every year in March, the Tiwi Islands host a popular football grand final and art sale event. This is the only day of the year when permits are not required, and visitors can enjoy a unique cultural experience, browsing and purchasing artworks and crafts from local artists while also taking part in the football festivities.
Peach Cultivation in Australia: Is It Possible?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Lord Howe Island
The Lord Howe Island Group comprises 28 islands, islets, and rocks. The most notable of these, apart from Lord Howe Island itself, is the uninhabited Ball's Pyramid, a volcanic sea stack located about 23 kilometres (14 miles) southeast of Lord Howe Island. The island group is recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site of global natural significance due to its unique ecosystem, biodiversity, and untouched forests.
The Lord Howe Island Act 1981 established a "Permanent Park Preserve" covering about 70% of the island. The surrounding waters are protected as the Lord Howe Island Marine Park, where commercial fishing is prohibited, resulting in an abundance of fish species.
Bees in Australia: Their Natural Habitats and Locations
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
The territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands was transferred to Australia in 1955, and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act of 1955 formalised this transfer of control. Despite this, until 1979, almost all of the territory's real estate was still owned by the Clunies-Ross family, who ruled the islands as a private fiefdom for about 150 years. The islands' current population is largely descended from the Malay workers brought to the islands by John Clunies-Ross. The Cocos Malays, as they are often called, constitute about four-fifths of the population and mainly reside on Home Island. They speak a dialect of Malay, practice Islam, and have maintained weekend shacks, known as pondoks, on the larger islands.
The climate of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands is warm and humid, with temperatures ranging from 25 to 29 degrees Celsius. The vegetation is primarily coconut palms, which were historically cultivated for copra on plantations. The islands experience a tropical rainforest climate with two distinct seasons: the wet season and the dry season. Tropical cyclones may occur in the early months of the year, and earthquakes happen periodically. The archipelago lies approximately midway between the equator and the Tropic of Capricorn.
The Cocos (Keeling) Islands offer a range of attractions, including scuba diving amidst pristine coral reefs and abundant marine life. The crystal-clear, warm waters also provide excellent conditions for kite surfing, with qualified instructors available during the trade-wind season. The islands are also a birdwatcher's paradise, with 39 resident bird species and special sightings of vagrant shorebirds and megabirds. North Keeling Island and its surrounding waters were designated as the Pulu Keeling National Park in 1995 to protect its rare ecosystems and serve as a seabird breeding ground. In 2021, the Australian Government committed $A39.1 million to establish a marine park covering up to 740,000 square kilometres of Australian waters around the Cocos (Keeling) Islands. This park aims to protect the spawning of bluefin tuna from illegal international fishers while allowing locals to practice sustainable fishing inshore.
Rats and Their Underground Burrows in Australia
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Norfolk Island
Today, Norfolk Island is a popular tourist destination, offering natural beauty, rich history, and a genuine community spirit. The island has a wide variety of flora and fauna, including geckos, bats, turtles, fish, and seabirds. The island's natural sanctuaries are home to some of the world's rarest birds. The native evergreen Norfolk Island pine is a symbol of the island and is featured on its flag. The pine is also a key export, as it is a popular ornamental tree in Australia and worldwide.
Australia's Underground Water: A Natural Wonder Down Under
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Macquarie Island
The island was discovered by Australian Frederick Hasselborough on 11 July 1810 while looking for new sealing grounds. Hasselborough claimed the uninhabited island for Britain and annexed it to the colony of New South Wales. The island was named after Colonel Lachlan Macquarie, Governor of New South Wales from 1810 to 1821. In 1890, the Colony of New Zealand requested permission to annex the island from Tasmania, but Tasmania refused to transfer the island. Macquarie Island has been governed as part of Tasmania, Australia, since 1880.
The day-to-day management of Macquarie Island nature reserve is the responsibility of the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service. In 2014, a 7-year program to eradicate rabbits, rats, and mice introduced to the island over nearly 200 years was successfully completed.
Australia's Literacy Rate: A Comprehensive Overview
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Australia is surrounded by thousands of islands in the Pacific, Indian and Southern Oceans, as well as the Coral and Timor Seas. Some of the islands north of Australia include:
- The Tiwi Islands
- Rottnest Island
- Lord Howe Island
- Macquarie Island
- The Whitsundays
- Cocos (Keeling) Islands
- Norfolk Island
- The Northern Mariana Islands
- Papua New Guinea
- New Zealand
The Northern Mariana Islands are a collection of 15 islands in the Pacific Ocean. They are a United States territory with a population of around 55,000 people.
Papua New Guinea is the largest island north of Australia.
Rottnest Island is a short ferry ride from Perth.
New Zealand is the most populous island north of Australia, with around 4.9 million people.
