5 Australian honeymoon islands to love

Island vibes and tropical cocktails await at these dreamy offshore escapes. And lucky us, these 5 Australian honeymoon islands to love are all located in Queensland!

K’GARI (FRASER ISLAND)

With the world’s largest sand island as your playground, you’ll be dialling down to honeymoon-time stat. K’gari (from the Butchulla language meaning ‘paradise’), is 122 kilometres of jaw-drop photo-ops. Nowhere else will you find rainforest growing in sand dunes, a 75-mile beach, and a hidden freshwater lake fringed by wedding-white sand.

Getting there: Catch the Kingfisher Bay Ferry from RiverHeads and cross the Great Sandy Strait in just under an hour. Or fly in from the Brisbane or Hervey Bay Airports. Lake McKenzie, photo Tourism & Events Queensland

FITZROY ISLAND, GREAT BARRIER REEF

Located off the coast of Cairns, Fitzroy Island is a tropical treasure cradled within the sheltered waters of the Great Barrier Reef. A place where you can scuba dive straight off the shore, roam pristine bush walking tracks, and snap a selfie at one of Australia’s most-photographed stretches of
sand, Nudey Beach.

Eco hideaway Fitzroy Island Resort has you covered for a beautifully barefoot honeymoon. There’s a beachfront bar (find it enroute to Nudey Beach), resort pool and swim-up bar, and choice of perfectly positioned suites and beach cabins. Their Zephyr Restaurant overlooks the calm waters of Welcome Bay, with alfresco dining terraces that are magical after dark.

Honeymoon adventurers are well catered for with loads of on-island and seaborne activities including day cruising to the outer GBR, snorkelling with turtles and clown fish, glass-bottom boat tours, fishing charters, kayaking, and a choice of five walking trails.

Not in the honeymoon phase yet? Fitzroy also does fabulous destination weddings (hint, hint).

Getting here: It’s an easy 45-minute transfer from Cairns on the Fitzroy Flyer. Fitzroy Island Resort, photo @mitch.dann

TANGALOOMA, MORETON BAY

Seen Ticket to Paradise? You might recognise the gin-clear waters of Moreton Island from the movie’s memorable ‘dolphin scene’. In fact, most of the film’s swimming scenes were filmed here! Even though it’s right on Brisbane’s doorstep, Moreton Island (Mulgumpin to the Quandamooka traditional owners) is one of the region’s most underrated escapes. Encircled by marine park waters, it’s a haven for fish, turtles, dolphins and honeymooners alike.

Looking for adventure? See the island’s soaring sand dunes and resident shipwrecks for sand tabogganing, snorkelling and diving, with beach quad biking, clear-bottom kayaking, and sea scootering also on offer. You can also drop by Queensland’s oldest lighthouse, picnic at Honeymoon Bay, or seek out the island’s freshwater lagoon.

On Moreton’s western side, Tangalooma Island Resort offers a selection of beachfront villas and holiday houses. The resort is renowned for its resident pod of wild bottlenose dolphins which guests hand-feed each evening. But it’s also home to a calm-water beach and is walking distance from the Tangalooma Wrecks.

Getting here: Just 40 kilometres off the Brisbane coast, Moreton can be reached in around an hour aboard the resort passenger ferry. Photo: Tourism & Events Queensland

LONG ISLAND, THE WHITSUNDAYS

When honeymooning in The Whitsundays, deciding which island to choose is half the fun. The region’s supermodels (looking at you Hayman and Hamilton) naturally spring to mind. But dive a little deeper and you’ll find another must for your look list: Long Island.

This beauty recently took a starring role alongside Julia & George in Ticket to Paradise, and its cinematic surrounds offer plenty for nature lovers and newly minted couples. As well as everything you’d expect from a tropical island (sugar-sand coves, fringing coral reefs, and swaying palms) it’s also the closest Whitsunday isle to the mainland and home to two boutique escapes. Elysian Island Retreat and Palm Bay Resort have been thoughtfully positioned so they’re completely private from one another. And, just like the island, they’re both sublime.

Getting here: Go the full celeb with a helicopter arrival from Hamilton Island’s Whitsunday Airport, or Coral Sea Marina to either resort. Palm Bay Resort also offers sea transfers from Shute Harbour or the option to moor your boat. Palm Bay Resort, photo Tourism and Events Queensland

BEDARRA ISLAND, GREAT BARRIER REEF

The very words ‘private island’ transports us to honeymoon heaven. Tucked away in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, Bedarra Island is one such beauty, with no roads, capped visitor numbers, and romantic seclusion in spades. This GBR gem can be found just off Mission Beach (between Townsville and Cairns) with its two exceptional hideaways positioned on opposite ends of the island.
Take your pick of ten luxe villas (we’re talking reef views, private pools, and barefoot luxury on tap) at Bedarra Island Resort. Or embrace the full honeymoon experience at the just-for-two East Bedarra Island Retreat.

Picture it: soaking up the sun on your own palm-fringed beach with views to the Coral Sea and islands beyond. Unwinding in your villa as you await a daily delivery of gourmet feasts from the on-water concierge. And sipping Champagne beneath the stars in a tidal rock pool that replenishes with the balmy waters of the Coral Sea. No sharesies.

Getting here: Take the private water taxi from Mission Beach. Or helicopter in from Cairns Airport in under an hour. Photo: Bedarra Island Resort

[Feature image: Nudey Beach at Fitzroy Island. Photo by Kylie Slack]

For more honeymoon inspiration, grab the latest issue of Holidays for Couples magazine – out now and free to read!

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