The Great Barrier Reef's 2000km (1240mi) collection of colourful coral reefs that stretches along the Queensland seaboard is one of the seven wonders of the natural world and makes for some of the most spectacular diving landscape imaginable. Dotted amongst its turquoise waters are hundreds of mainly uninhabited islands from low lying coral cays to steeply wooded peaks fringed by white sandy beaches. A few hand selected islands offer some of Australia’s finest holiday destinations catering to romantics, nature lovers, honeymooners, divers, hedonsists and families.

The Northern Islands of the Great Barrier Reef offer some of Australia’s finest holiday destinations catering to romantics, nature lovers, honeymooners, divers, hedonists and families.

Just a stone’s throw from Townsville and a short hop to the Reef, share in the local’s relaxed pace of island life and impressive selection of outdoor activities on Magnetic Island. The family friendly island offers dozens of stunning bushwalks through forests of eucalypt and hoop pine, with opportunities to see rock wallabies, goannas, hundreds of species of colourful birds and Queensland’s largest natural koala sanctuary.

A little further north - far from the intrusions of telephones, televisions, nightclubs, daytrippers and children, Orpheus Island is a romantic coral fringed luxury hideaway where guests can choose from a day trip to the reef, a picnic lunch on a private beach or a day by the pool enjoying doing nothing at all.

The exclusive tropical island resort of Bedarra, just south of Cairns, specialises in privacy, seclusion and indulgence. The island is idyllically blessed with stunning private beaches and impeccably equipped for all kinds of resort and water based activities.

Further north again (just off the coast north of Cooktown), Lizard Island’s 24 white powdery beaches are fringed with colourful coral reefs and spectacular dive sites, and the surrounding waters attract game fishers from around the globe, with the heart pounding opportunity to chase giant black marlin. The child-free island resort specialises in luxurious tranquillity, surrounded by the Great Barrier Reef.

There is something reminiscent of Robinson Crusoe about Haggerstone Island. 600km north of Cairns and a million miles from the cares of the rest of the world, awaits an extraordinary island experience. Remote and unspoiled, the island welcomes only a handful of guests to unwind and relax in unpretentious simplicity, surrounded by white sandy beaches and some of the most magnificent pristine coral gardens in the world.

The subtropical islands of Southern Queensland enjoy a pleasant year round climate. Tiny, low lying coral cays, both part of the Great Barrier Reef and surrounded by it, these islands are idyllic escapes for snorkellers and divers alike.

Off the coast from Rockhampton, Heron Island is a nature lover’s paradise and a haven for scuba divers. Guests can swim straight off the beach from this family friendly island resort to discover an endless garden of coral, its waters teeming with brightly coloured fish and marine life.

40 minutes by boat transfer from Heron Island, Wilson Island is a breeding ground for rare species of turtles and birdlife. Its pristine waters play host to an innumerable variety of marine life and corals. Its visitors are drawn here by the island’s natural treasures, total seclusion and freedom from the trappings of modern day living.

Just a stone’s throw from Townsville and a short hop to the Reef, Magnetic Island’s sheltered tropical beaches and endless ocean vistas provide the backdrop for stunning bushwalks through forests of eucalypt and hoop pine. More than two thirds of the island is national park, home to rock wallabies, goannas, hundreds of species of colourful birds and Queensland’s largest natural koala sanctuary.

Located between Cairns and Townsville and far from the intrusions of telephones, televisions, nightclubs and children, Orpheus Island is a romantic coral fringed hideaway where guests can choose from a day trip to the reef, a picnic lunch on a private beach or day by the pool enjoying doing nothing at all.

Occupying the same latitude as Honolulu and Mauritius, Hamilton enjoys a year round warm tropical climate. The largest of the Whitsunday’s inhabited islands, Hamilton is serviced by direct daily flights from various capitals around Australia. The family friendly island offers a wide range of accommodation, restaurants, activities, shops and daily tours to The Great Barrier Reef and Whitehaven Beach.

The 74 islands that dot the Whitsunday Passage are the peaks of a coastal range submerged by the rising seas during the last ice age. Their steep peaks are largely still cloaked with pine forests and rainforests, their waterlines blessed with glorious sandy beaches and fringing coral reefs. Almost all are preserved as national parks (only 8 in the archipelago are inhabited with resort facilities), making their turquoise waters an idyllic cruising ground.

Palm Bay, Long Island offers a tranquil tropical island holiday surrounded by national parks, sparkling blue waters and nearly 20kms of bush walks through lush tropical rainforest opening on to magnificent vistas over the Whitsunday Passage

Hayman Island sits proudly at the northern most tip of the Whitsunday Island Group; and is closest to the Great Barrier Reef. Boasting every 5 star comfort and countless prestigious awards, the island is also naturally blessed with the stunning combination of rugged forested hills footed by private white sandy beaches.