Rottnest Island, Western Australia
Rottnest, or Rotto as it's called locally, is just a short ferry ride from Perth. It's home to some of Australia's best beaches, as well as unique plant and animal life, including the quokka - a small kangaroo-like marsupial. The island is a car free zone and the best way to get around is by bike. You can also explore colonial buildings, the lighthouse and visit the Rottnest Museum to learn about the island's role in World War I and II.
The island, which is about two hours by plane from Brisbane and Sydney, is a World Heritage-listed wonder. One of its 11 beaches, Neds Beach, is part of a marine reserve and was voted Australia's cleanest beach in 2004. To get close to hundreds of fish all you have to do is step into the water to see them swimming around your ankles. You can hire snorkelling equipment from the shack on the beach, which operates on a honesty system.
Cockatoo Island, NSW
If you feel like escaping Sydney then Cockatoo Island, the largest island in Sydney Harbour, is a great places to visit. The island's prison buildings were added to UNESCO's World Heritage list along with ten other Australian convict sites in 2010. Large workshops, slipways, wharves and residences retain the texture of the island's industrial past.
Bruny Island, Tasmania
Pristine and remote Bruny Island is surprisingly easy to get to - just 60 minutes by car and vehicle ferry from Hobart. On the island you can venture into the wilderness on one of the many Bruny Island bushwalks. You can also take a cruise to explore the island's dramatic coastline. Look out for fur seals, fairy penguins and white wallabies.
