Striking colours of the Reef from a scenic flight from Airlie Beach and Whitsundays Island. Photo by Ayan Adak
The Great Barrier Reef is one of, if not THE most coveted tourism destination in Australia. Spanning 2,000 km and considered the largest living structure on Earth, and the only one visible from space, it is not hard to understand why the reef commands this tag. But with limited time, the gigantic reef may have the problem of plenty – it may seem challenging to decide where to head, and why.
Here is a quick list of the top 10 islands (with the best tourism infrastructure) to consider for your trip to the Reef, arranged from north to south, along with their most important features:
1. Green Island
Accessible from Cairns, via Ferry
Cairns, at the very northern tip of Australia, serves as the capital and the prime gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. You can always take day-tripping ferries to the reef, but if you prefer an island getaway, the two easiest options here include Green Island and Fitzroy Island.
Green Island takes only 45 minutes by ferry and is a coral cay (sandy island on the reef) covered with lush green rainforests, justifying its name, while the reef sprawls in relaxed, warm tropical waters all around. Grab your snorkel and look out for hawksbills and green sea turtles that abound the waters here. The island itself has an eco-resort if you prefer to stay longer, while there are myriad walks and an aquatic centre where you can see crocodiles and other marine wonders of the sea.
2. Fitzroy Island
Accessible from Cairns, via Ferry
The second option from Cairns, also a short 45-minute ferry, is Fitzroy Island. This beautiful little gem deserves more than a day trip and the Fitzroy Island resort lies just at the end of the long jetty with spectacular sea-facing rooms. The white sand coral beaches stare straight out of postcards, with Nudie Beach being the undisputed champion (requiring a short hike through rainforests).
You can indulge in snorkelling, sea diving, stand-up paddleboarding or just swimming while there are also hikes to the Summit Lookout or a Lighthouse for those interested in activities above water. The island also houses a Turtle rehabilitation centre that helps you get closer to these testudines, waiting to be nurtured back and released into the wild.
Other Island Options from Cairns
The other island options from Cairns include day trips to the Frankland Islands, the Low Isles, and Michaelmas Cay that are easily accessible through travel agencies in Cairns.
3. Dunk Island (and Bedarra Island)
Accessible from Mission Beach, via Ferry
About 140 km south of Cairns – a 2-hour drive along the exotically named Cassowary Coast – lies Mission Beach (on the mainland) that forms the gateway to the Family Islands – a group of continental islands, once joined to the mainland but turning insular as sea levels rose at the end of the last mini-Ice Age. Ensconced within the Family Islands National Park, the archipelago’s most popular members include Dunk Island (the father) and Bedarra Island (the mother), all accessible via ferry. Interestingly, the large family also has ‘twins’ and ‘triplets’ and many other small islands, many of which were named by Captain Cook on his voyage of the 1770s.
Dunk Island, the largest island of the group, offers stunning natural beauty with lush rainforests, pristine beaches, and vibrant marine life. Visitors can explore scenic hiking trails like the Mount Kootaloo track for breathtaking views, relax on golden beaches such as Brammo Bay, or snorkel in the Great Barrier Reef waters teeming with colourful coral, fish, and dugongs. The island is also home to diverse birdlife, making it a haven for nature lovers. Whether you’re kayaking, fishing, or simply soaking in the serenity, Dunk Island is a perfect getaway for adventure and relaxation.
Great Barrier Reef Tours and Tickets
4. Hinchinbrook Island
Accessible from Cardwell, Lucinda via Ferry
Hinchinbrook Island is a very offbeat destination, meant for adventurous travellers. Accessible by a short ferry from Cardwell and Lucinda, Australia’s largest island national park is a haven for nature lovers and adventure seekers – with the caveat that travellers need to camp here and carry everything on their own, for the remote island has no accommodation options.
The result of daring to conquer Hinchinbrook is rugged mountains, lush rainforests, and secluded beaches, with the famous Thorsborne Trail offering an unforgettable multi-day hike through breathtaking landscapes – shared only by 40 visitors at any time, ensuring you are well transported in a time capsule to this part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Wet Tropics of Queensland. Hinchinbrook does not offer organised boat-trip-based reef escapades, but on the flipside, visitors get the privilege of cascading waterfalls like Zoe Falls, with crystal-clear natural pools below and an unforgettable infinity pool at the top.
Nonetheless, the island’s mangrove-lined estuaries and fringing reefs make it perfect for kayaking, fishing, and snorkeling, ensuring an immersive experience in one of Australia’s most pristine wilderness areas.
Read More: Australia Unplugged: Best Camping Destinations
5. Orpheus Island
Accessible from Townsville via Flight
If raw Hinchinbrook Island is for adventurous souls, just south of it lies Orpheus Island (And its younger cousin, Pelorus Island) which is the ultimate luxury destination on the Great Barrier Reef. Orpheus Island Lodge provides the only accommodation on the island – with its five-star suites all beach and ocean facing for the ultimate tropical pampering.
With stunning coral reefs and white sandy beaches, snorkelers and divers can explore vibrant marine life at spots like the protected Pioneer Bay, while kayakers and paddleboarders can glide over crystal-clear waters. Other options include day trips to nearby Hinchinbrook or Pelorus or other islands of the surrounding Palm Island archipelago, reef ecotours including a visit to the Pioneer Bay Research Station or the spectacular Museum of Underwater Art near Townsville.
6. Magnetic Island
Accessible from Townsville, via Ferry
Further south from the Palm Island group lies ‘Maggie’, or Magnetic Island, just 8 km off the coast of Townsville, a tropical paradise a stone’s throw distance from urban Queensland and known for its stunning beaches, rugged landscapes, and abundant wildlife. Visitors can explore the iconic Forts Walk, which offers breathtaking coastal views and the chance to spot wild koalas (Maggie boasts northern Australia’s largest koala colony).
The island boasts 23 secluded beaches and bays, perfect for swimming, snorkeling, and sunbathing, with Alma Bay and Horseshoe Bay being favorites. A walk to the Arthur Bay Lookout is another must-do for one of the most stunning vantage points on the island and to admire the white granite boulders that bedeck the island. Adventurers can go jet skiing, kayaking, or hiking through the island’s national park, while history buffs can explore WWII ruins.
Interestingly, Magnetic Island is not magnetic despite its name given by Captain Cook himself, who thought that the island had a strong magnetic force that affected his compasses, (which was a misconception). Nonetheless, with vibrant marine life, local markets, plenty of cozy accommodation, and a laid-back island vibe, Magnetic Island is a must-visit. On the mainland, Townsville – efficiently connected to Sydney and Brisbane – is a charming destination, deserving a few days of its own.
7. Whitsunday Island
Accessible from Airlie Beach, via Ferry
Whitsunday Island, the largest in the Whitsundays archipelago, is famous for its breathtaking Whitehaven Beach, renowned for its pure silica sand and crystal-clear turquoise waters, rated as the whitest beach in Queensland and one of the most striking in Australia. Visitors can hike to the Hill Inlet Lookout for panoramic views of swirling white sands blending with the ocean, creating a mesmerizing natural spectacle. Snorkeling and diving opportunities abound in the surrounding Great Barrier Reef waters, teeming with vibrant marine life.
Though spectacularly beautiful and the grandest island in the archipelago, Whitsunday Island itself offers only camping options – however, there are plenty of resorts in nearby Hamilton Island, Daydream Island, Long Island, and Airlie Beach on the mainland. If here, it is also worth taking a scenic flight to be mesmerized by the wonders of the outer reef and the popular Heart Reef – the most photographed in the entire Great Barrier Reef!
8. Heron Island
Accessible from Gladstone, via Ferry
Heron Island, a true coral cay on the Great Barrier Reef, is a paradise for marine lovers and nature enthusiasts. Surrounded by vibrant coral reefs, it offers world-class snorkeling and diving right off the shore, with an abundance of sea turtles, reef sharks, and colorful fish. Travelers need to head to Gladstone on the mainland, from where Heron Island is a 2-hour ride by ferry. The island is also a prime location for witnessing sea turtle nesting and hatching, particularly Green turtles and Loggerhead turtles.
Turtles come to the same beach where they were hatched decades back and it is one of nature’s wonders to see them coming back to where they were born – in large numbers to lay eggs. The egg-laying season is typically in summer from December – March, while hatchlings emerge thereafter till May, with a very good chance of witnessing this miracle on Heron Island. Also worth visiting is the University of Queensland research station, the largest island-based research institute in the southern hemisphere, that works extensively towards the preservation of coral reefs, a lot of which is in danger of bleaching from rising sea temperatures. Accommodation of varying budget is available on the island.
9. Lady Musgrave Island
Accessible from Bundaberg, via Ferry
Further south from Heron Island lies Lady Musgrave Island, accessible via a 2-hour ferry from Bundaberg. It lies the delectably heart-shaped Lady Musgrave Island, another island paradise deeply ensconced in the Great Barrier Reef. At the center of all its activity lies a three-storied pontoon that offers luxury glamping options on the top with an underwater viewing platform and observatory, powered fully by solar and wind energy.
Staying on this pontoon, is an unforgettable experience, where you go to sleep listening to the lapping waves at night, while waking up to an enthralling sunrise right on the reef. The island is also a prime spot for birdwatching, with nesting seabirds creating a unique wildlife experience. With its crystal-clear waters and pristine ecosystem, Lady Musgrave Island is a true tropical paradise.
10. Lady Elliot Island
Accessible from Bundaberg, via Flight
Lady Elliot Island lies at the very southern tip of the Great Barrier Reef and is very remote, making accessibility a bit difficult, only through flights from Bundaberg (also from Hervey Bay, Brisbane or Gold Coast). This gem of an island is the only cay at the Great Barrier Reef with its own airstrip, that stretches almost across the entire little island. The descent via flight is spectacular and also offers amazing views of the island, surrounded by reef and a placid blue lagoon.
Besides the usual splendour of an island on the Reef, Lady Elliot has yet another faunal wildcard – manta rays, the largest of the stingrays, about 700 of which abound in these waters around the island. Known as the “Home of the Manta Ray,” the island offers encounters with these graceful creatures, as well as sea turtles, reef sharks, and vibrant coral reefs teeming with fish. Lady Elliot Island provides an unforgettable, environmentally friendly escape into one of the world’s most spectacular marine ecosystems.
Further South
Further south lies Kgari or Fraser Island, the world’s largest sand island, and just beyond the southern edge of the Great Barrier Reef.
Conclusion
With over 1000 islands and 3000 individual reefs, the Great Barrier Reef is one expansive wonder with an endless list of must-visit destinations. The list above captures some of the more accessible, and popular hotspots – needless to say, there are many, many more options to seeing this paradise. Whatever you choose, the reef will not fail to mesmerise and as you tick off that bucket list destination on the Reef, rest assured, you will already be planning for your next one already!
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Author Bio: Ayan Adak is a professional consultant who loves traveling and has been to nearly 30 countries. He likes writing about his travel experiences, besides scribbling poetry, short stories, and essays.
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