AUSTRALASIA AUSSIE ISLANDS DESTINATIONS


ABOVE: Magnetic Island LEFT: Capella Lodge, Lord Howe Island BELOW: Kingfisher Bay Resort, Fraser Island


at £2,595 per person, including international flights. wildlifeworldwide.com


9


MAGNETIC ISLAND, QUEENSLAND Just off the coast of Townsville, and half


covered by national park, Magnetic Island tends to be a bit of a sun trap, and is a great spot for water sports – whether learn-to-dive courses, sea kayaking trips or jetskiing from Horseshoe Bay. It’s just busy enough to feel like a real place


rather than a holiday island, and inland there are some marvellous walking trails through the hills and up to the Second World War forts. Keep an eye out for koalas on the way – there’s a massive population of them on the island. townsvillenorthqueensland.com.au Book it: Peppers Blue on Blue, right next to the marina at Nelly Bay, comes with a spa and large outdoor pool. Prices start at about £101 per night. peppers.com.au/blue-on-blue


10


DIRK HARTOG ISLAND, WESTERN AUSTRALIA


History and nature combine on the island that acts as Australia’s most westerly point. Conservation programmes have got rid of introduced predators, and brought back native Australian marsupials, while the


gorgeous turquoise-blue waters are home to dugongs. The history is also fascinating,


and it’s well worth doing the day tour to Cape Inscription with the Dirk Hartog Island Eco-Lodge to delve in to it. In 1616, this was the site of the first European landing in Australia that had documented proof. Nearby was also the spot where the first collection of Australian plants was made, by English pirate William Dampier. dirkhartogisland.com Book it: Shark Bay Aviation arranges day tours from Denham by plane for £163 per person. Limited camping – for 4x4 drivers only – is available on the island. The other option is the homely Dirk Hartog Island Eco-Lodge, which costs from £167 a night. sharkbayaviation.com dirkhartogisland.com/ eco-lodge


12 July 2018 travelweekly.co.uk 57


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72