Lodge, with its big sea-facing balcony terraces and impeccable service, from £2,799 per person. This includes return flights to Lord Howe Island from Sydney.
austravel.com
6
KANGAROO ISLAND, SOUTH AUSTRALIA As the name might well suggest, Kangaroo
Island’s selling point is its wildlife. But ironically, the kangaroos aren’t the main attraction. There are plenty of koalas to be spotted lounging in the trees, while sea lions hang out at Seal Bay, pelicans can be hand-fed at Kingscote and the moody Southern Ocean coastline, packed full of rock formations, is home to gazillions of New Zealand fur seals. The island is also developing a niche as a gourmet destination, with gins, honeys, wines, olives and cheeses among the goodies being made by small firms.
tourkangarooisland.com.au Book it: First Class Holidays offers a five-day Adelaide and Kangaroo Island Discovery tour, which also
drops in to the Barossa Valley wine region, from £743.
fcholidays.com
7
ROTTNEST ISLAND, WESTERN AUSTRALIA A short ferry ride from Perth or Fremantle,
Rottnest does have a bit of Second World War history to explore – well-meaning, volunteer-run tours head out to the giant gun defences. But its real charm is in the beaches, which are world-class, white-sand Indian Ocean beauties. Some are better for surfing, some for snorkelling, but the key point is that you can have one pretty much to yourself. Get the early Rottnest Express ferry over, hire a bike on board, then pedal round to the likes of Little Parakeet Bay. Once you’ve had your fun in the sun, head back to the main settlement near the ferry terminal, where incredibly cute quokkas hop about outside the cafes and shops, and the Hotel Rottnest is an excellent spot for a late-afternoon beer.
rottnestisland.com
Book it: Travel2 offers a full-day Rottnest Island by bike trip, including return ferries and lunch, for £85.
travel2.com
8
LEFT: Kangaroo Island
56
travelweekly.co.uk 12 July 2018
FRASER ISLAND, QUEENSLAND The world’s largest sand island comes with
astonishing blue, freshwater lakes, dingoes strutting serenely through sand dune canyons and surprising crops of rainforest in the interior. The main road is the beach on the eastern side of the island, and a drive along it brings you to the Maheno Shipwreck on the shore, plus impressive lookouts and the delightfully plunge-worthy Champagne Pools. It’s very popular with campers
who explore the island in 4x4s, take on the walking trails and ogle the multicoloured sand cliffs. But it’s possible to go
Kangaroo Island’s selling point is its wildlife – but ironically, the kangaroos aren’t the main attraction
the other way too, with the Kingfisher Bay Resort offering activities such as whale-watching cruises, bush-tucker talks and guided canoe trips.
visitfrasercoast.com Book it: Wildlife Worldwide offers an 11-day Wildlife of Australia’s Nature Coast trip, with three nights on Fraser Island and two nights on Lady Elliot Island at the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef. Prices start
PICTURES: CAPELLA LODGE; TOWNSVILLE ENTERPRISE; EXCEPTIONAL KANGAROO ISLAND/NATHAN DYER
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