Queensland Islands...Hundreds of magnificent Queensland Islands are scattered along the coast of that state, many of which are set in the spectacular Great Barrier Reef. The southernmost of the Queensland islands is South Stradbroke Island, which was joined to North Stradbroke Island until the mid 1890’s when one of Queensland’s famous storms split the island in two.
You can visit South Stradbroke Island from the The Gold Coast if you want to get away from it all and relax amongst the quiet landscape or North Stradbroke Island from Cleveland just to the east of Brisbane.There are several smaller Queensland Islands surrounding the Stradbroke Islands in Moreton bay, along the coastline of Brisbane including Bishop Island, Eden Island, Fishermans Island, Green Island, Karragarra Island, King Island, Lamb Island, Macleay Island, Mud Island, Peel Island, Russell Island and St Helena Island. You can visit the National Park on St Helena Island, where you will see the remains of the high security prison which was used to house the worst of the worst convicts sent out from mother England. Just north of Stradbroke Island is another beautiful Queensland island, sandy Moreton Island, just a short ferry (or barge) trip from the Redcliffe peninsula. Further north is Bribie Island which is home to the Pumicestone National Park, and can be accessed by road from the Bruce Highway at Caboolture, just 45 minutes north of Brisbane.
As you keep travelling north the next group of Queensland Islands you’ll visit are the Bunker and Capricorn Groups of Islands which are just off of the Capricorn Coast in central coastal Queensland. Next it’s the Southern Reef Islands, which are within the southern areas of The Great Barrier Reef. These beautiful Queensland Islands offer the visitor spectacular scuba diving and snorkelling the like of which you're unlikely to find anywhere else in the world. They include Lady Elliot Island, Curtis Island, Great Keppel Island, Heron Island, North Keppel Island, Lady Musgrave Island, North West Island, Tryon island and Wilson Island. North again, off of the Whitsunday Coast, is the Cumberland Group and the Newry Group of Islands.
Brampton Island is part of the Cumberland group and like Carlisle Island (of the same group) is a mountainous island offering good beaches and fringing reefs. You can stay in the Brampton Island Resort, although you will have to camp on Carlisle Island. You can get to Brampton Island by boat or by plane, and then from there can walk across to Carlisle Island. Newry Island and Rabbit Island (both of the Newry Group) offer accommodation, Newry Island has a resort but you’lll have to camp within the National Park on Rabbit Island. To stay on Rabbit Island you need a permit so call the Mackay EPA Ph: (07) 4944 7800. Without a doubt the most famous of all the Queensland Island are the The Whitsundays, 74 different islands on the tropical Queensland coast. The Whitsundays include islands such as Border Island, Daydream Island, Hamilton Island, Harold Island, Haslewood Island, Hayman Island, Henning Island, Hook Island, Lindeman Island, Long Island, Maber Island, Mansell Island, North Molle Island, Pentecoast Island, Planton Island, Shaw Island, South Molle Island, South Repulse Island, Tancred Island, Thomas Island and Whitsunday Island.
Further into North Queensland there are still more islands with the next major island being Magnetic Island off the coast of Townsville. On Magnetic Island you can stay in 5 star luxury or at the local backpackers hostel, you can dive and snorkel to your hearts content or just laze in the sun, there are so many options you’ll never run out of things to do. North again is Orpheus Island, which is part of the Palm Group of Islands and home to magnificent National Park and fantastic wildlife. There is a small resort on the island although camping is also possible. North again is Hinchinbrook, which is also home to a fabulous National Park. You can get to the island by ferry and if you’re into bushwalking you’ll be in bushwalkers heaven with an abundance of wildlife to see.
A popular walk is the 5 day Thorsborne Trail from Ramsay Bay to George Point, via Zoe Bay. Make sure you boil all water you collect, and watch out for rats and crocodiles. There are a number of camping areas along the trail, although you need to take all your supplies and book well in advance with the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Centre in Cardwell Ph: (07) 4066 8601. There is also resort style accommodation available. The next group of Queensland Islands travelling north are the Family islands which include Bedarra Island, Combe Island, and Wheeler Island.
Nearby Dunk Island also has a resort, as well as camping facilities and there are also a number of fantastic walking trails through the island’s magnificent rainforest. In tropical North Queensland, off of the coast from Cairns, there are a number of islands from which you can visit the Great Barrier Reef. Many of the islands, including the Frankland Islands, are National Parks where the only accommodation is camping which you will need a permit for. Islands with resorts include the magnificent Fitzroy Island and Green Island. The northernmost resort island within the Great Barrier Reef is Lizard Island, off the coast from Cooktown and at the very top of the Queensland coast, off the Cape York Peninsula are the Torres Strait Islands, home of course to the Torres Strait Island peoples. As I said at the start, the coast of Queensland is lined with magnificent islands...................................enjoy, John. Our RSS feed will be updated periodically with all the latest travel deals and special offers. Please subscribe by clicking the button to the left (XML/RSS) to receive notice of these updates without any risk or obligation. PLEASE NOTE: If you don't know what an RSS feed is just click this link. Clickhere to return from Queensland Islands to The Discount Travel Guide home page. |
North again is the popular Fraser Island, the largest sand island in the world, which can be accessed from River Heads and Hervey Bay on Queensland’s Fraser Coast.
Any holiday at any of the resorts on any of the Whitsundays will send you home with memories of perhaps the best holiday you’ve ever had or perhaps you’d prefer to hire a yacht, sail it yourself and see them all... 
Camping is available on Combe and Wheeler Islands, although there is a rather exclusive, and I believe quite expensive, resort on Bedarra Island.