“Hamilton: the island that’s spoiling Australia” was one of the more persistent travel slogans of the early 2000s. The line positioned Hamilton Island as the country’s answer to tropical indulgence: a glossy, self-contained escape in the Whitsundays so luxurious it supposedly “spoiled” you for everywhere else.

Visitors agreed. The privately owned island, purchased for a reported $1.2 billion by US private equity firm Blackstone in late 2025, became shorthand for the Australian island holiday.

It’s hardly alone either. Travellers reliably flock to the rest of the Whitsundays and to K'gari (formerly Fraser Island) in Queensland. To the west, there’s Rottnest Island. To the south, Kangaroo Island. In Victoria, families gather on Phillip Island for the nightly penguin parade.

Yet these are just a fraction of the islands Australia lays claim to.

Image by Brigitte Werner from Pixabay — *Image by* *Brigitte Werner* *from* *Pixabay*

Wait, how many islands does Australia have?

More than 8,000 islands sit within Australian maritime waters. Let that sink in for a moment. If you want the precise figure, the current tally stands at 8,222 as of 2026. Tasmania — itself an island — has another 334 off its coastline. Western Australia counts more than 1,000 gazetted islands. The Whitsundays alone? Seventy-four.

These islands stretch across the Pacific, Indian and Southern Oceans, as well as the Coral and Timor Seas. Some are rugged and remote; others are eco-tourism hubs like Bruny Island, known for local produce. Many function as wildlife sanctuaries. Others are sacred places for First Nations peoples and Torres Strait communities.

I daresay, most Australians couldn’t name more than a handful and I very much include myself in that.

10 Australian islands you should know about

Maria Island (Tasmania) - Ideal for long walks and Australian animals

Maria Island is the opposite to Tasmania’s Bruny Island. There are no shops. You need to take a ferry. But there are animals. So. Many. Animals. Pronounced by the locals as ‘Mariah’ (as in Carey), the former penal colony has been a centre of sealing and whaling, a cement factory, and farming. The concrete silos looming over whale bones speak to this. Now, it is a natural habitat for kangaroos and wombats, for long hikes and exploring the iconic Fossil Cliffs. Check out our report on a full day on Maria Island.

Rottnest Island (Western Australia) — Ideal for quokka spotting

Quokkas. You’ve seen them on social media. They are called the happiest animals in Australia. Why wouldn’t they be when they have Rottnest Island (Wadjemup) as a playground? These little critters have no natural predators on the island, so they will come right up to you for a look. The island is also ideal for long walks, but hiring a bicycle is the best way to get around. You can cool down for a swim in the crystal clear waters, enjoy a drink or a bite by the water or even stay overnight.

Macquarie Island (Tasmania) — Antarctica and all the penguins

Sitting halfway between Australia and New Zealand, Macquarie Island is Australia’s closest point to Antarctica. At about 1,500 km from the Antarctic mainland, it’s an exposed meeting point of the Australian and Pacific tectonic plates. Even more exciting, you will find the entire royal penguin population during their nesting season each year. All of them!

Boigu Island (Queensland) - Australia’s northernmost inhabited island

From one extreme to the other, Boiju Island is part of the Torres Strait Islands just off Queensland. It’s just six kilometers from Papua New Guinea — so can practically step into our geographically closest neighbour from there. Given that the population is around 199 people, the majority of whom are indigenous Torres Strait Islanders, the local language is Kalau Kawau Ya.

Magnetic Island (Queensland) — An island with a brewery

Magnetic Island isn’t unique in having a brewery. Lord Howe Island and Kangaroo Island have them for example, and Phillip Island has multiple ones. But if you’re looking for some tropical North Queensland vibes, beers and quality beverages, this is one place you could head. The brewery is actually called Maggie Island Brewery, proving there are even islands within islands.

Heard Island and McDonald Islands (Western Australia) — Australia’s only active volcano

Yes, that’s technically two islands, but you’re missing the headline here. These landmasses, located some 4,100 kilometres southwest of Perth, are home to Australia's only active volcanoes. The Summit of Big Ben (Mawson Peak) is higher than the mainland’s Mt. Kosciuszko. The presence of glaciers means you might get the rare sight of lava flowing alongside glaciers. More likely, the island’s king penguins will see it as there are no permanent humans there.

Norfolk Island (NSW) — A place to celebrate Thanksgiving

You might know that Norfolk Island was founded by the descendants of mutineers from the infamous HMS Bounty, but did you know that it celebrates Thanksgiving? Norfolk Island is one of the few spots outside of North America to celebrate the holiday, reportedly after Isaac “Ike” Robinson, the somewhat mysterious former US consular agent, seafarer, postmaster, councillor and many other hats. If not for pumpkin pie, you can always visit for what their official press calls a “quiet paradise”, trademark Norfolk pine trees and cows having the right of way. Why aren’t we there now?

Satellite Island (Tasmania) — A secret private island

Satellite Island is not Australia’s only private island, but it’s certainly got the air of being one of the more exclusive. Located Tasmania’s D’Entrecasteaux Channel, you can have the entire island to yourself for $2950 a night for 2 guests with a 2 night minimum stay (as at early 2026). You can find more details about them on their site.

Tiwi Islands (Northern Territory) - The second largest island

In the language of the Tiwi people, the islands they call Ratuati Irara literally mean ‘two islands.’ About 80km north of Darwin, these are made up of two islands: Bathurst and Melville. Fun fact: Melville is Australia’s second largest island after Tasmania! Entry requires a permit. The local AFL team regularly produces elite players, and the art carved here is an important part of the Tiwi culture and economy.

Deal Island (Tasmania)

Deal Island sits in the middle of Bass Strait like something forgotten. Home to Australia’s highest lighthouse, standing 305 metres (1,001 ft) above sea level. Talk about a post for a lonely lighthouse keeper! Today, you can rent the keeper’s cottage. We’ll leave the getting there up to you.

And that’s only the tip of the iceberg

Most of us could probably name a handful of islands without pausing. Tasmania. Rottnest. Kangaroo. Maybe K’gari. After that, the map gets hazy.

Yet the coastline fractures into thousands more: some sacred, some hard to reach, and some barely bigger than a suburban backyard. So, the real surprise isn’t that Australia has 8,222 islands. It’s that you’ve now only got 8,212 left to explore.

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