Hill Inlet has a certain “wow factor” to it, but let me tell you, having spent years wandering around Australia’s beaches, deserts, backstreets and, ok, maybe the odd dodgy campsite loo – Hill Inlet truly lives up to all the hype. I’m Oleksandr Honcharenko, and the first time I stood above that stunning swirl of […]
Most travellers picture Fraser Island – or as it’s been called by the Aboriginal people, World Heritage-listed K’gari – as a pretty laid-back beach escape. But I found out the first time my trusty Hilux ran into a patch of sand at low tide that this place really rewards people who come prepared, with a
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The journey to South Stradbroke Island starts off like many of my Queensland adventures – me, Oleksandr Honcharenko, going over in my head to make sure I’ve got my entire checklist of essentials covered one last time before hopping on the water taxi from Main Beach at the Gold Coast – although in reality I
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Stepping off the ferry and onto the pristine white sand of Moreton Island brings back the first time I got my boots stuck in the squeaky stuff on Moreton Island – that lovely reminder that bitumen is a lifetime away. As Oleksandr Honcharenko, I’ve spent years wandering Australia – desert tracks, rainforest gullies & all
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Frankland Islands isn’t just a detour from Cairns — it’s a full-blown escape hatch into reef-country bliss, minus the elbow-jostling crowds. If the idea of snorkelling alongside a busload of strangers gives you the icks, I’ve got a tropical solution that’ll restore your faith in reef travel: the Frankland Islands. Tucked just off the coast
Magnetic Island, or “Maggie” if you’re on a first-name basis like most North Queenslanders, packs a proper Aussie punch. Nestled in Northern Australia, this mountainous island serves up a mix of palm-fringed beaches, hoop pines, and a rugged coastline that looks like someone scattered granite boulders from the sky. It’s not just a pretty face
Hamilton Island is more than just flashy resorts and honeymoon hashtags. An inhabited island with reef access, calm water, and cocktails? Go on then. If you’ve ever wrangled a toddler, a tinnie, and a tide chart trying to holiday in the Whitsundays, you’ll know some islands are easier than others. This island isn’t just postcard
Lady Musgrave Island is one of the finest places to experience the Southern Great Barrier Reef if your priority is snorkelling and marine wildlife in a quieter reef environment rather than resort facilities. Its defining feature isn’t the island itself, but the vast coral lagoon that surrounds it. Sheltered water, diverse marine life and varied
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Most people choose Green Island because they want to experience the Great Barrier Reef without committing to a full-day offshore cruise. Just 27 km from Cairns and around 45 minutes by high-speed catamaran, it provides one of the easiest introductions to the Reef, combining sandy beaches, tropical rainforest and accessible snorkelling in a single destination.
If you’re craving a secluded beach, a cold drink, and a sunset that shuts you up mid-sentence, Pumpkin Island is calling. Sometimes you’ve just got to get out of the grind. Out of the city life, off the screens, away from the noise. This carbon-neutral island off Central Queensland is one of Australia’s best-kept secrets
