Discover Australia's best islands in style
Soft white sands, turquoise lagoons, emerald forests – and you, arriving by private yacht or seaplane to yet another idyllic isle. Island hopping in Australia can be a great way to explore the country in style. From the coral-fringed Whitsundays on the Great Barrier Reef, to a chic hotel off Perth’s coast, to the wild beauty of Tasmania’s isles – Australia’s islands are waiting to be explored.
The Whitsundays: Reefside Glamour and Secluded Beaches
The Whitsunday Islands off Queensland’s central coast are synonymous with tropical luxury. This chain of 74 islands is home to some of the world’s best beaches and high-end resorts. Start at Hamilton Island, the largest inhabited isle, which serves as the perfect launch pad. Here you’ll find qualia (one of Australia’s top luxury resorts) and the InterContinental Hayman Island Resort a short boat ride away.
Spend a few days on Hamilton Island enjoying qualia’s private beach, spa and fine dining; perhaps charter a helicopter for a picnic on Whitehaven Beach or a jet ski tour around nearby coves. Hamilton also has its own yacht club – consider chartering a sailboat or hiring a luxury skipper to begin your island-hopping via the sea.
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No Whitsundays trip is complete without visiting Whitehaven Beach on Whitsunday Island itself. Frequently voted among the most beautiful beaches in the world, Whitehaven’s 7 kilometers of pure silica sand and swirling Hill Inlet are even more stunning in person. A luxury approach could mean taking a private speedboat over in the early morning before the tourist crowds, or arriving by seaplane and landing gracefully in the aqua water. Many upscale tour operators set up private beach cabanas with gourmet picnics for their clients on Whitehaven – you might have champagne and prawns under a sun tent while looking out at that unreal vista of turquoise and white.
If you’re an adventurous couple, you could even arrange a heli-hiking experience: get dropped at a remote hilltop on Whitsunday Island, hike down through rainforest to an empty stretch of Whitehaven, then get picked up by boat. However you do it, carve out time to luxuriate on this beach; it’s a must-see.
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Next, hop over to Hayman Island, a private isle known for catering to celebrities and royals. The InterContinental Hayman Island Resort delivers sleek, modern luxury – picture beachfront pool villas with butler service. Here you can snorkel right off the beach or have the resort’s marine biologist guide you on a tour of the house reef. Fancy a unique adventure? Take a day trip by luxury launch to nearby Langford Island, an uninhabited strip of sand and coral where you can have a Robinson Crusoe moment (with champagne and canapés).
For utter tranquility, a short flight or yacht ride north brings you to Orpheus Island or further to Lizard Island. Many travelers focus on one or two, but if you truly want to “hop,” Queensland’s reef islands offer a range – from the eco-chic Bedarra Island in the Family Islands group (near Mission Beach) to the secluded Haggerstone Island in the far north for an off-grid luxe castaway vibe. Each island has its own flavor, but all share warm seas, stunning coral, and that easygoing Queensland hospitality.
Travel Tip: Consider timing your Whitsundays visit with Hamilton Island Race Week (each August) if you love a social scene – it’s a premier sailing regatta that turns the island into a whirl of glamorous parties and events. Alternatively, the shoulder seasons (April-May or late October) have blissful weather with fewer guests. Many resorts offer private inter-island transfers – for example, you can hire a helicopter to skip from Hayman to Lizard, or a luxury catamaran to cruise the Whitsundays at your own pace.
Rottnest Island: Barefoot Luxury off Western Australia
On the opposite side of the continent, Rottnest Island (or “Rotto” as locals say) awaits just offshore from Perth. While Rottnest has long been a popular day-trip spot (famous for adorable quokkas – those tiny wallaby-like marsupials), it has recently upped its luxury game with new accommodations. The pinnacle is Samphire Rottnest, a boutique luxury resort opened in 2020. Set right on Thomson Bay, Samphire delivers an “understated modern surrounds” vibe: think spacious, beachy-chic rooms that blend indoor and outdoor living, with private balconies overlooking the sea or the resort’s lagoon-like pools. By day, you can roam the car-free island on e-bikes, discovering coves and encountering friendly quokkas along the paths. (Tip: The late afternoon “golden hour” is the best time to snap a quokka selfie – and yes, they really do smile!).
After active explorations, Samphire’s poolside cabanas await. Order a cocktail from the bar and unwind in the cabana as the staff bring out gourmet bites. The resort intentionally fosters a barefoot luxury feel – no need to dress to the nines here, the vibe is relaxed and exclusive. Come evening, dine at Lontara, Samphire’s high-end restaurant serving Southeast Asian-inspired dishes (imagine fragrant curries and fresh seafood with an Indian Ocean twist). As an overnight guest, you get to enjoy Rottnest in the magical quiet of dusk and dawn after the ferry crowds have left – perhaps with a private beach picnic at twilight or a guided stargazing session.
Rottnest also boasts luxury glamping at Discovery Rottnest’s tented pavilions on Pinky Beach, if you prefer a more nature-immersed overnight. Waking up in a deluxe tent with the sound of the ocean and then taking a dip in an infinity pool is a uniquely Rottnest indulgence.
Pair Rottnest with Perth’s city pleasures (Perth has fine dining and a growing LGBTQ+ scene in neighborhoods like Northbridge), or even with Ningaloo Reef further north (where you can do luxe “glamping” and swim with whale sharks). Western Australia has fewer islands to hop among compared to Queensland, but Rotto alone is worth the voyage west – it marries laid-back island life with high-end comfort in a way that’s perfectly “Australia met Bali” in style.
Travel Tip: Rottnest is best visited September–April for warm beach weather (though mid-summer can be hot). To arrive in style, skip the public ferry and take a private charter boat or a quick helicopter from Perth – Samphire can arrange private transfers that land you right on the island dock or airstrip. Once there, indulge in the slower pace: no cars are allowed, so cycling or golf buggies are the way to get around. Pack reef-safe sunscreen and casual resort wear – formal attire would be out of place. And do make reservations for dinner even as a hotel guest, since outside visitors can book at Samphire’s restaurants too. A sunset at Rottnest with a chilled drink in hand, watching the sky turn pink over the bay, is magic.
Tasmania’s Exclusive Retreats: Wilderness and Whimsy
Australia’s island-hopping isn’t all tropical – head south to Tasmania for a completely different, but equally luxurious, island experience. Tasmania itself is an island (a large one), and off its coast are several smaller isles that make for great add-ons.
Begin with Tasmania’s east coast, where the ultra-luxurious Saffire Freycinet resort awaits overlooking Great Oyster Bay. Its modern architecture mirrors the Hazards mountains in the background, and each of the 20 private suites has floor-to-ceiling views of sky, sea, and pink granite peaks. Activities are tailored to showcase Tasmanian wilderness: you might don waders and step into an estuary to shuck and eat fresh oysters paired with local sparkling wine, all while standing knee-deep in the bay! Or take a guided hike to Wineglass Bay’s lookout for that famous view of curving beach. After days spent exploring, Saffire’s spa and its acclaimed restaurant Palate will ensure your relaxation and gastronomy needs are met – the menu celebrates local produce like Tasmanian oysters, grass-fed beef, and cool-climate wines.
For the “hopping” part, consider a trip to Maria Island or Bruny Island. While these don’t have resorts, they are fantastic day excursions via private guide – think wildlife, winery visits, and secluded landscapes. If you want an overnight island escape, Tasmania even has private island rentals. Notably, Satellite Island in the D’Entrecasteaux Channel: you can hire the entire island, complete with a chic boathouse accommodation and personal chef. It’s just you and 34 acres of Tasmanian wilderness surrounded by crystal waters. Imagine feasting on freshly caught abalone by a bonfire, then retiring to a luxury cliffside tent or the cozy homestead.
Alternatively, stay on the Tasmanian mainland but with an island vibe at Pump House Point on Lake St. Clair. This boutique hideaway places you literally in the lake – rooms are in a converted pump house at the end of a long jetty. It’s moody, romantic, and utterly unique (perfect for couples). You can take their rowboat out at sunrise amid misty mountains, then enjoy local whiskies by the fire at night.
Travel Tip: Tasmania’s peak luxury season is summer (Dec–Feb) for mild weather, but consider spring or autumn for fewer crowds and verdant foliage. Many upmarket Tasmanian experiences include all-inclusive dining – savor that farm-to-table freshness! If you’re an LGBTQ couple traveling in Tassie, you’ll find the atmosphere generally very welcoming, especially at high-end lodges where staff are seasoned in hospitality for all. (Fun fact: Tasmania was the first Australian state to legalize same-sex adoption and has strong anti-discrimination laws; the scene is smaller than Sydney, but it’s friendly.)
Pack layers – even luxury gets chilly at night down south – and prepare for possible adventure: Saffire, for instance, might suit you up in waders or take you out on their boat for wildlife spotting: Incidentally, Tasmanian devils are real – they’re not just cartoon characters like Taz from Looney Tunes. Sadly, they are now endangered so it’s unlikely you’ll get to see one.
Crafting Your Island-Hop Itinerary
To tie it all together, you could create an epic island-hopping journey spanning multiple regions. For example:
- Start in Sydney, get your city fix (perhaps include a heli flight to a winery as mentioned), then fly to Hamilton Island.
- Whitsundays for 4–5 days: Hamilton Island & Whitehaven, then Hayman or a private yacht to outer reef. From Hamilton, catch a direct flight to Perth (it’s a long hop, but Qantas offers nonstop).
- Rottnest Island via Perth for 2–3 days of quokka-filled relaxation.
- Then fly to Tasmania (Perth to Hobart, with a stop in Melbourne or Sydney).
- Tasmania 4 days: Saffire Freycinet and maybe Satellite Island overnight.
Ready to start planning your dream island-hopping trip around Australia? Get in touch and one of our luxury travel experts will craft the perfect itinerary for you.
