5 Island Escapes You May Not Know About

We all love Hamilton Island and the Whitsunday’s, but there are many other islands off the coast of Queensland that have picturesque, private beaches for you to explore.

The Southern Great Barrier Reef region is a part of Queensland that is untapped and full of hidden gems that most people have never thought of exploring. In just a two hour flight you could be sitting on a private beach with a cocktail in hand enjoying a week of tranquillity and serenity.

So to make it easy we have picked the top 5 island escapes you may not have heard of but need to visit now!

Turtle Street Curtis Island

Curtis Island offers stunning unspoilt beaches, intimate north - facing bays, sparkling ocean, the Great Barrier Reef, wilderness, wetlands as well as an outback-style cattle station and remains one of the hidden secrets of the Southern Great Barrier Reef.

It is this combination of these diverse attributes and natural beauty which make Turtle Street absolutely unique in Australia and perhaps even the world. As it is situated under the Tropic of Capricorn, the climate is far less humid in summer than further north and it escapes the chill of south-east Queensland in the winter.

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The combination of beaches, wilderness, "outback" and reef all in one place can’t be found anywhere else in Australia.

• Catamaran sailing along the eastern coastline
• Bush camping under coastal she - oaks with easy access to the beach
• Coastal Exploration - 27 kilometres - including lighthouse and Yellow Patch
• Wilderness & Station Tours - 4-wheel drive tours of Monte Christo cattle station & Curtis Island - includes general information about the flora and fauna on Curtis as well as station life
• Horseback riding tours with naturalist at Monte Christo cattle station and Marine Plain

Click here for more information.

Great Keppel Island

Just north of the Tropic of Capricorn, on Australia's World Heritage-listed Southern Great Barrier Reef, lies Great Keppel Island—a true island paradise. With 17 pristine white sandy beaches and vast bushland featuring winding walking trails, it's a destination of natural beauty.

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A quick 30-minute ferry ride brings you to Great Keppel Island, where endless adventures await.

• Set sail on a Coral Cruise to uncover the stunning beauty of Great Keppel Island.
• Snorkel the pristine reefs of the Keppel Islands, part of Australia’s Southern Great Barrier Reef.
• Wander along one of the many walking trails, offering breathtaking views and picturesque scenery.
• Take your time to explore the island at your own pace with a boat charter.

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Heron Island

Start your day with a beautiful sunrise and end it with a spectacular sunset on Heron Island. This exclusive island is for guests only (no day-trippers) and is ideally positioned to take you back to nature. As part of the Southern Great Barrier Reef region in Northern Queensland,Heron Island is situated so close to the Great Barrier Reef, you can simply dive off the island and snorkel with a myriad of colourful coral and reef fish in seconds.

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At Heron Island, you’ll sense early on that you are very much a guest of the natural environment, so there is a bounty of activities for any nature lover.

• For an unforgettable experience up until March you can see two vulnerable turtle species, the Green Turtle and Loggerhead Turtle in their natural habitat at night when they are hatching and nesting
• Go diving and see turtles, mantas, rays, sharks, dolphins, tropical fish while diving the coral gardens
• Explore the island with a complimentary guided walk or nature tour

How to get there:

1 hour flight from Brisbane to Gladstone and from there you can travel by seaplane or via boat.

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Lady Elliot Island

For anyone wanting a digital detox, Lady Elliot Island is the place for you as it allows you to switch off and explore the natural wonders of the Great Barrier Reef. The island is situated in the Southern Great Barrier Reef region and is a sanctuary for over 1,200 species of marine life and is known for its abundance of manta rays, turtles, amazing array of spectacular marine life and unspoilt coral reef.

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• Explore the amazing eco system by Reef Walking, Snorkelling or Diving. Reef walking is a great way to explore the reef in the Lagoon at low tide with the assistance of reef walking poles and seascopes
• Discover the reef at night without getting wet by travelling on a Night Glass Bottom Boat. The Great Barrier Reef comes alive at night, and you are able to experience the coral polyps awake
• Get wet and try snorkelling in the lagoon (ideal for novice snorkelers) and you'll find enough tropical fish, colourful coral, sea cucumbers, starfish, sea urchins, clams and turtles to keep you entertained for hours

Click here for more information.

Lady Musgrave Island

Lady Musgrave Island is an uninhabited coral cay in the Southern Great Barrier Reef region, one of the world’s greatest natural phenomenons and a World Heritage Listed Marine Park. Lady Musgrave Lagoon’s amazing colours and beauty are unsurpassed anywhere in the world, boasting an abundance of coral, fish and turtles.

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• Lady Musgrave Cruises and Lady Musgrave Experience are two of the best ways to pack in as much action as possible into a day trip to the island.
• Hop on a cruise boat and moor alongside a floating pontoon known as ‘Reef Sanctuary’, a stone’s throw from the island.
• Cruises include such great activities as snorkelling in the lagoon, glass-bottom boat trips, guided walks, turtle and manta ray discovery, reef fishing and much more. Explore Lady Musgrave Island National Park as it is a true un-spoilt wilderness offering the ultimate ‘castaway’ experience.

Click here for more information.