Damon Mcknight
Australia is home to thousands of islands, ranging from small rocks that barely stay above water during high tide to islands larger than the Australian Capital Territory. These islands are scattered across the Pacific, Indian, and Southern Oceans, as well as the Coral and Timor Seas. Due north of Australia, you'll find the island of New Guinea, which is part of the country of Papua New Guinea, as well as numerous smaller islands that are part of Indonesia and East Timor.
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What You'll Learn
Lord Howe Island, a small island in the Tasman Sea
Australia is surrounded by thousands of islands, ranging from small rocks that are submerged during high tide to islands larger than twice the size of the Australian Capital Territory. One such island is Lord Howe Island, a small island in the Tasman Sea.
Lord Howe Island is an irregularly crescent-shaped volcanic remnant in the Tasman Sea between Australia and New Zealand. It is part of the Australian state of New South Wales. The island is about 600 km (370 mi) east of mainland Port Macquarie, 702 km (436 mi) northeast of Sydney, and about 772 km (480 mi) from Norfolk Island to its northeast. It is about 10 km (6.2 mi) long and between 0.3 and 2.0 km (0.19 and 1.24 mi) wide, with an area of 14.55 km2 (5.62 sq mi). The island is named after Richard Howe, the 1st Earl Howe, and was discovered in 1788 by Lieutenant Henry Lidgbird Ball of the British Navy.
Lord Howe Island is the highly eroded remains of a 7-million-year-old shield volcano, the product of eruptions that lasted for about 500,000 years. It is one of a chain of islands that occur on the western rim of an undersea shelf, the Lord Howe Rise, which is a 3,000 km (1,900 mi) long and 300 km (190 mi) wide continental ribbon extending from New Zealand to the west of New Caledonia. The island is well-wooded but has little arable land. National parks cover about three-fourths of the land area, harbouring rare vegetation and birdlife. The island's southern end is dominated by forested hills, with two volcanic mountains, Mount Lidgbird (777 m or 2,549 ft) and Mount Gower (875 m or 2,871 ft), the highest point on the island.
The island is a popular tourist destination, with a semi-enclosed, sheltered coral reef lagoon with white sand along its west coast. It is known for its spectacular subtropical terrain, featuring caves, lofty mountains, a tranquil lagoon, and a verdant interior crisscrossed with walking trails. Lord Howe Island is also renowned for its diverse marine life, with at least 500 species of fish and 83 species of reef-building corals. The island has an airstrip with regular flights to and from the mainland, and its main source of income is tourism.
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Fraser Island, the world's largest sand island
Australia has 8,222 islands within its maritime borders. Fraser Island, also known as K'gari, is the world's largest sand island. It is located off the coast of Queensland, near Hervey Bay, just north of the Sunshine Coast on Australia's eastern shore. The island is about 123 km (76 mi) long and 22 km (14 mi) wide, with an area of 184,000 hectares (710 sq mi). It was inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 1992 and is recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Area.
Fraser Island is a popular destination for backpackers and four-wheel drivers who enjoy driving along the empty beaches. Seventy-Five-Mile Beach serves as an actual highway with a speed limit of 49 mph (80 km/h), while the inland roads have a speed limit of 21 mph (35 km/h). The driving conditions vary with the tide and weather. Fraser Island also offers rainforest that runs down to the beach, as well as beautiful freshwater lakes such as Lake McKenzie with its powder-white sands, and the vivid green Lake Wabby, surrounded by sand dunes.
The island is part of the traditional lands of the Butchulla people, who named it "K'gari", meaning "paradise". European settlers arrived in 1847 and named the island Fraser Island after Captain James Fraser, master of Stirling Castle, who was shipwrecked and died on the island in August 1836. In 2017, the Queensland National Parks and Wildlife Service began referring to the Fraser Island section of the Great Sandy National Park as the K'gari (Fraser Island) section, in recognition of the Butchulla name. In June 2023, the Queensland Government officially announced that the island would return to its traditional name, K'gari.
Fraser Island is also known for its abundant wildlife and beach fishing locations. It is home to the Maheno shipwreck, which has become severely rusted with almost three and a half storeys buried under the sand. Up to 500,000 people visit the island each year, and it is a popular place for hiking, surfing, and fishing.
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Tasmania, a large island state off the southeast coast of mainland Australia
Tasmania is a large island state of Australia, located off the southeast coast of mainland Australia. It is separated from the mainland by the relatively shallow Bass Strait. Covering an area of about 26,410 square miles (68,401 square kilometres), Tasmania is the 26th largest island in the world and the largest island of Australia. It is bordered by the Indian Ocean in the west and the Tasman Sea in the east. Tasmania is the smallest and least populous state in Australia, with 573,479 residents as of June 2023. The state capital and largest city is Hobart, situated along the Derwent River in the Southeast region of the island. This region features a mix of coastal landscapes and rugged mountainous terrain, including the Tasman Peninsula, known for its towering sea cliffs and unique rock formations. Tasmania is known for its pristine wildlife, water and air, and is a popular destination for ecotourism.
The geography of Tasmania is divided into several distinct regions, each with its own unique topography, climate, and natural features. The West Coast, for example, is predominantly rugged and mountainous, characterised by dense rainforests and steep terrain. This region was once a significant centre for mining due to its abundance of mineral resources. Other major rivers in the West Coast region include the Franklin, Gordon, and Pieman Rivers. Tasmania's Central Plateau is studded with over 4,000 lakes, similar to the landscape of northern Canada and Finland. The deepest lake in Australia, Lake St. Clair, is also found in Tasmania, reaching a depth of more than 700 feet (215 metres).
The island state of Tasmania encompasses about 334 surrounding smaller islands, including Bruny Island, King Island, Flinders Island, and subantarctic Macquarie Island. The main island of Tasmania was first inhabited by Aboriginal peoples, who today generally identify as Palawa or Pakana. Tasmania has a wide range of restaurants and scattered vineyards, and its beer brands, such as Boags and Cascade, are known and sold in mainland Australia. The state also produces a significant portion of Australia's hydroelectric power and possesses a diverse range of natural resources.
Tasmania has a temperate climate, with mild to warm summers and mild winters in most settled areas. However, the southwest experiences rugged weather, while the southeast can suffer from droughts. The island is located in the mid-latitude westerly wind belt and is dominated by southern maritime air masses, resulting in a moist and equable climate. Tasmania is in a unique position geographically, situated in both the Southern and Eastern hemispheres of the Earth.
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Rottnest Island, located on Australia's west coast
Australia is surrounded by thousands of islands, ranging from small rocks that are submerged during high tide to islands larger than the Australian Capital Territory. Rottnest Island, located off the west coast of Australia, is one of the larger islands. Colloquially referred to as "Rotto", Rottnest Island is a popular holiday destination for both local and international travellers. The island is located 18 kilometres west of Fremantle, Western Australia, and is accessible by ferry or plane. Rottnest Island is known for its stunning natural scenery, including white sandy beaches, turquoise waters, and unique shoreline platforms. The island offers a range of activities such as hiking, surfing, fishing, snorkelling, boating, and cycling, with 63 beaches and 45 kilometres of walking trails to explore.
Rottnest Island has a rich history and cultural significance. The island was traditionally known as Wadjemup by the Noongar people, meaning "place across the water where the spirits are". It served as an important meeting place and ceremonial site for the Whadjuk people, who recognised it as a place of transition between the physical and spiritual worlds. Artefacts found on the island date back at least 30,000 years, indicating a long history of human presence in the area.
During the late Pleistocene epoch, Rottnest Island was connected to the Western Australian mainland by a low-lying carbonate sand plain. As sea levels rose around 7,000 years ago, the island became separated from the mainland. This separation led to the formation of salt lakes in the centre of the island, which are now home to brine shrimp and a diverse range of bird species. The hypersaline lakes also feature fragile microbialites, including stromatolites, thrombolites, and leolites, which are living organisms composed of millions of microbes.
Rottnest Island is classified as a state reserve, the only area in Western Australia with this classification. The island is protected as an A-class reserve, the highest level of protection afforded to public land. It is known for its diverse wildlife, including coastal birds such as the pied cormorant, osprey, and reef heron. Reptiles such as the dugite, southern blind snake, and King's skink can also be found on the island, along with several species of frogs. The surrounding reefs provide habitat for various fish, crustaceans, and coral. Additionally, cetaceans such as bottlenose dolphins and migrating humpback whales can be observed off the island's coast.
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The Whitsunday Islands, located within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park
Australia is surrounded by thousands of islands, including the world's largest sand island, K'gari, in Queensland. The Whitsunday Islands, located within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, are a collection of 74 islands that are the tops of all that remain of a coastal range that was submerged when sea levels rose at the end of the ice age. Situated between Townsville and Mackay, about 900 km north of Brisbane, the Whitsundays offer a harmonious blend of natural wonders and modern comforts.
The islands boast turquoise waters teeming with colourful tropical fish and over 1,400 species of marine life and coral. Visitors can snorkel, swim, dive, or explore the reef through underwater observatories and guided semi-submarine tours. The Whitsunday Islands also cater to a range of lifestyles, from backpackers to luxury seekers, with resorts like Hamilton, Hayman, Daydream, Brampton, and Long Island offering dedicated Kids Clubs and organised activities for families.
The Molle Group, one of the many National Parks in the Whitsundays, features extensive walking tracks that offer breathtaking views of the surrounding islands and the distant mainland. The region experiences a well-defined dry season during winter, with average temperatures ranging from 10°C to 20°C. This comfortable climate makes it an ideal time to explore the islands and immerse yourself in their natural beauty.
The Whitsunday Islands are also a hub for ridge-to-reef restoration initiatives. The Great Barrier Reef Foundation has been working closely with local communities, including Traditional Owners, reef managers, and tourism operators, to co-design and pilot new approaches to restoration. Their vision is to ignite a local movement grounded in science and evidence, encouraging edu-tourism and reef restoration upskilling within the community. The Foundation also aims for reef industry sustainability by investing in and showcasing climate-friendly projects, technologies, and tourism activities that promote behaviour changes towards a more sustainable future.
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Frequently asked questions
There are no islands due north of Australia. However, there are thousands of islands surrounding the country, including the world's largest sand island, K'gari (Fraser Island).
Some islands off the coast of Australia include Tasmania, Kangaroo Island, Rottnest Island, and Magnetic Island.
The Whitsunday Islands are the most popular islands to visit along the East Coast of Australia. Other popular islands include Fitzroy Island, Rottnest Island, and Fraser Island.
Each island offers unique experiences, such as exploring historic sites, enjoying nature and wildlife, swimming and snorkelling, visiting museums and monuments, and partaking in outdoor activities like hiking and four-wheel driving.
