INTO THE BLUE

BOASTING CLOSE TO 2000 ISLANDS, IT’S EASY TO FIND A PIECE OF PARADISE IN QUEENSLAND. HERE ARE SIX REASONS TO VENTURE INTO OUR BIG BLUE BACKYARD

FRASER ISLAND

Best for: family fun

Home to more than 100 freshwater lakes, desert-like sand blows and one of just two places in the world where rainforest grows from the sand at elevation, Fraser Island is an accessible treat for nature lovers. Family-friendly eco base Kingfisher Bay Resort has just launched a new fast boat, Sea Explorer, with cruises departing daily to discover the island’s remote western coast. After a day of exploring, sample Queensland produce at new restaurant Sand and Wood or book into Island Day Spa for a massage or facial.

ORPHEUS ISLAND

Best for: the VIP treatment

Accommodating just 28 seriously indulged guests, Orpheus Island Lodge sits pretty in 1300ha of paradise. A 30-minute scenic helicopter flight from Townsville drops guests in a wonderland of national park fringed by coral reef, sugary sand and turquoise water. Director of sales and marketing Rachel Crowley says the tariff includes gourmet meals, an all-inclusive mini bar and gourmet snacks, a daily Orpheus experience, and the use of motorised dinghies, paddle boards, kayaks, catamarans, fishing and snorkelling gear. “Take a dinghy to a neighbouring secluded cove and feast on a gourmet picnic on a deserted beach, allow your senses to surrender to the sound of lapping tides as you indulge in a massage under the rustling palm trees, or dive or snorkel in a diverse marine wonderland in the fringing and outer reefs,” she says. “You can also take a day trip to Jurassic-like Hinchinbrook Island and discover mangrove-lined estuaries, rainforests, waterfalls and natural infinity pools, or a helicopter joyride and land on a pristine sand cay in the middle of the Great Barrier Reef to enjoy chef-hatted dining for breakfast, lunch and dinner.” Speaking of food, Orpheus Island Lodge is pretty famous for it. “The executive chef meets with each guest upon arrival to ensure each dish is lovingly crafted to the unique tastes of every individual,” Rachel says. “A must for any guest is the island’s signature dining experience, Dining with the Tides, an intimate six-course degustation dinner served on the island’s starlit pier.”

HERON ISLAND

Best for: close encounters

No need for lengthy boat trips out to the reef when you stay on Heron Island – you’re already there. Snorkel straight off the beach at this biodiverse coral cay, accessed by ferry, chopper or seaplane from Gladstone. Within World

Heritage-listed Marine National Park, Heron is home to incredible dive sites, but you can meet many of the island’s residents on a beach stroll. The water is so clear you’ll see reef sharks and shovelnose rays cruising the shallows. Witness green and loggerhead turtles nesting between October and March and hatchling eruptions from December to April, or wander the pisonia forest to spot the prolific birdlife. Book one of the laidback beachside or point suites for box seats on the beachfront.

HAYMAN ISLAND

Best for: poolside perks

Reopening last year after a $135 million refurbishment, InterContinental Hayman Island is where Whitsundays wishes come true. The private island resort features 166 rooms, suites and villas across three distinct wings, or splash out on the three-bedroom Hayman Beach House fronting Hayman Beach. Ensuring poolside privacy, each of the three suites has its own plunge pool. If you prefer swim-out access to Hayman’s showpiece pool, opt for the onebedroom Pool Access Suite. There’s plenty to explore further afield for guests who manage to drag themselves from the daybeds. A sevenminute speedboat journey will get you to Langford Island or Blue Pearl Bay. Swim with green turtles and explore coral floors in two of the best snorkelling locations in the world before settling down on pristine sands for a picnic.

FITZROY ISLAND

Best for: basking on the beach

A visit to Fitzroy Island is the perfect complement to a Cairns stay – a high-speed ferry will whisk you to paradise in just 45 minutes. The majority of Fitzroy Island is national park, ensuring the mangroves, open woodland, tropical pristine rainforest and coral beaches are unspoilt. Swim and snorkel at Welcome Bay and Nudey Beach, or see the reef via glass-bottom boat.

GREAT KEPPEL ISLAND

Best for: choosing your own adventure

Just 30 minutes from Yeppoon’s Capricorn Coast, Great Keppel Island serves up a smorgasbord of 17 secluded white-sand beaches to snorkel, sail, dive, fish and swim. The island’s rugged interior is brimming with native flora and fauna, with happy snappers kept busy looking for the elusive rainbow bee-eater or olive-backed sunbird. It’s also a popular hiking destination, with a range of trails ribboning the entire 1454ha. Stay the night in a tent, cabin, bungalow or a private waterfront beach house. Ferries depart daily from Rosslyn Bay Harbour.