Cocos Islands are discovered in 1609, they were settled and owned by a single family from 1872 until the Australian Government acquired them in 1978. A pristine white beach is so typical of the beautiful Cocos Islands. The 27 coral islands are formed into two large, heavily vegetated atolls. They are the only atolls that Darwin ever visited but the coral ecosystem remains intact – and you can still see in their pristine conditions, exactly why they played such an important part in his theory of evolution.

North Keeling, set apart from the other islands, isn’t even inhabited, but you can come across extreme rarities like the Cocos buff-banded rail, robber land crabs, and both green and hawksbill turtles among other wonders, under its protection as Pulu Keeling National Park.

The Cocos islanders live on Home and West Islands, both given over to copra and coconut plantations that only add to their tropical glamour. There is no tourist industry at all. Wild place populated with divers and kite-surfers. However there are facilities for visitors, sponsored by the islanders who take in personal interest everyone who come. If you happen to be there, you are welcome to participate in the school fete, sports day or concert night. The tradition of hospitality is both, Australian and Malay.

The islanders, as much as the islands themselves, have retained a form of unpolluted innocence, and share a mutual respect that visitors immediately respond to. These islands are a dreamscape worthy to travel for.
When to go: Year-round. The winds last from April to September. But between that period the islands is second home for professional kite maniacs. Rain is most intense between March and July and usually falls in the evening after long sunny day. Population: 446. Getting there: By air, from Perth, to West Island, Cocos Islands. Photos by: Christian Bartens

The Barron Falls are located in the Barron Gorge National Park in Queensland, Australia. The Falls are some 900 feet wide and 825 feet high. Before getting to Kuranda the train stops so you can get off and view the Barron Falls. The once mighty flow is today diverted for hydroelectricity, so now the full Falls are only seen in flow during the extreme wet season.

The Barron’s headwaters start in the Crater National Park near Mt Hypipamee at an altitude of 1200m. Flowing north 65 km across the Atherton Tablelands, after passing under the Kuranda Range highway’s bridge down the 260 metre high Barron Falls and reaches the Cairns floodplains. The walk is well maintained, accessible to all, and is a wonderful way to view these huge falls.

The actual height of the falls is now ascertained to be about 600 feet, or four hundred and thirty-six feet higher than Niagara. From the edge of the precipice, the river falls 900 feet in half a mile. In order to see the falls in full spate (which is a very impressive sight), one would have to go during wet season.

Although many animals are nocturnal, in the morning bird activity is intense, Musky Rat Kangaroos and Cassowary stalk the forest paths. And gorgeous blue-winged butterflies emerged from the crevices of the rocks. You can take the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway which also has a stop at the falls.

Named for the red stone castle that once dominated the port, Kastellorizo is the smallest of the Dodecanese – and the largest of the archipelago of tiny islets, which gives it its other name, Megisti. It is more than seventy nautical miles east of Rhodes, Greece just a stone’s throw from Kas on the Turkish coast. It’s rocky place with a small permanent population. Supplies are shipped from Rhodes or brought from Turkey. Photo by: AbsolutelyEverything

In the nineteenth century the population of this thriving community was over 10,ooo. After the two World Wars it was left almost deserted. Now the harbour resounds in the summer to Australian accents: many migrants are returning to find their roots, reclaim and rebuild their family homes. Another to draw to tourists number has been the Oscar – wining Italian film, Mediterraneo, which was filmed on the island. Photo by: craigaio

The only settlement is the harbour village and its suburb over the hill. The waterfront is lined with graceful neo-classical houses, and the path round the headland passes Greece’s only Lycian house-tomb. Peaceful walks around the island pass monasteries and ruins. On the zigzag stepped path to the top of the crag above the town you may see flocks of bee-eaters – the migration route of these colorful birds touches the island. Photo by: craigaio

There are no beaches, but very enjoyable swimming is possible from rocks, and from the ‘lido‘ platform at the mouth of the harbour. The water there is very clear-crystal and peacock-hued. Photo by: craigaio

When to go: May, June, early July and September (because of the high temperature during the high summer time). Population: 430. Getting there: Flight from Rhodes. Ferry from Rhodes and inter island ferries. Photo by: craigaio

‘Macca‘ rests at the ends of the earth. The remote wilderness is tucked away in the southeast corner of the Pacific, halfway between Australia and Antractida. A tiny fragment of land, it is of huge significance on a world scale, yet was only discovered by accident by Frederick Hasselbrorough in 1810 while he was looking around for new sealing grounds. Photo by: ailsa45

Under Tasmania’s wing, the only human inhabitants on this extraordinary wildlife sanctuary are from the Australian Antarctic Division, based on the north of the island. Over the centuries scientist have been endlessly drawn to this unsung wonder of the natural world. Each spring, around 3.5 million seabirds, mostly penguins, and 80,000 elephant seals pull themselves up on to the rocky shoreline to breed. There are pinguins galore – rockhoppers, kings, royals and gentooes. Rabbits are a less welcome sight and are literally eating away at this World Heritage Site. Photo by: cmg099

You have to work extremely hard to get to this island, but the rewards for true lovers of wildlife and wilderness are unparalleled. It’s cold inhospitable place at the best of times, but you don’t go there for the weather. Photo by: ailsa45

When to go: In the breeding season – over the summer months and early autumn. Even then the weather can be challenging. Population: Uninhabited ( expect 20 – 40 members of the Australian Antarctic Division who are based here every year). How to get there: Very unlimited access. Most visitors spending up to two days on the island and tourist boats. Photo by: esjohnson

The island of Timor lies to the east of Sumna, and north west of Australia. It is an arid place, with a mountain range stretching across it, from end to end. Timor is divided into West Timor, which is part of Indonesia, and the independent state of East Timor. West Timor is a good jumping off point for the eastern Indonesian islands. Kupang, a busy, noisy city, is the capital of East Nusa Tenggara province. Beyond it, starkly beautiful, rugged countryside sweeps away, sprinkled with traditional villages of neat, beehave shaped, grass and bamboo nuts. Photo by: mikewhitton

While West Timor is, of course, Muslim, East Timor is about 90 per cent Christian, mainly Catholic, and churches, some well worth visiting, can be found across the whole island. Naturally however, pockets of animism still occur there. Photo by: N Takyo

Timor is ringed with unspoiled beaches, most of which are completely undeveloped. In the hills, maize, sweet potatoes and coffee are grown, while rubber, coconuts, tobacco and rice grow nearer the coast. The island has lots of potential: in time, East Timor will enjoy the financial benefits of having off- shore oil and gas fields, which are being developed with Australia and which are needed to rebuilt infrastructure and other war damage. Meanwhile, West Timor will no doubt see tourism increasing, now that hostilities are over. Photo by: Graham Crumb

When to go: The driest months are from May to November. Population: 2,220,000. How to get there: By air from Indonesia and Australia, or by sea from Indonesia. Photo by: yeowatzup

Just one kilometre long and 500 metres wide, Daydream is always popular with its easy access from Hamilton Island. The resort is located in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef. The low rise resort buildings, pools, restaurants and sporting facilities blend seamlessly with the natural beauty of the island’s waterfalls, secluded beaches, lagoons, rainforest and  gardens.

Of its three beaches one is fringed by outcrops of coral and colorful fishlife.

It has a unique outdoor aquarium, with exotic sea life from the barrier reef. The aquarium has about 80 different types of sea life.

You’ll be able to snorkel directly off the beach to the fringing reef or go sea kayaking, water skiing or even windsurfing. Budding golfer’s can practise their putting skills on the 19-hole themed mini golf course.

You can fly direct to nearby Hamilton Island from most Australian cities and transfer to Daydream by launch. Or, fly to Proserpine on the coast, travel by coach to Shute Harbour, and then by launch. Helijet or seaplane also available.

Just a few minutes walk from Ebor are the Ebor falls. Situated in the Guy Fawkes River National Park some 40km east of Dorrigo. 45 minutes east of Armidale on the Waterfall Way and 1.5 hours west from the coast high on the New England, Australia.

Ebor Falls is where the Guy Fawkes River takes a spectacular plunge over basalt rock.

The Ebor falls are falling 115 metres over columned basalt rock in two falls, the upper and lower Ebor falls, into a steep forested gorge below.

Although not very high, the two part fall presents the visitor with some great views and some interesting walks. Walking tracks lead through Antartic Beech forests below the escarpment of this ancient, extinct volcano.

The largest of the 74 islands in the Whitsundays, located off the coast of Queensland, Australia. Located on Whitsunday Island is the magnificent Whitehaven Beach – 7 kilometres of dazzling, pure white silica sand. 99% pure silica sand, You can melt it down and get pure glass.

At the northern end of Whitehaven Beach is Hill Inlet, a stunning inlet where the tide shifts the sand and water to create a beautiful fusion of colours. Access is only by boat with most vessels choosing to anchor in Tongue bay and enjoying the pretty bush walk up the northern face of Whitsunday Island.

Cruise Whitsundays have created several different cruises, all featuring Whitehaven, island visits and the corals and fish life of the ‘inner reef.

Part of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, the reefs contain an outstanding variety of corals. If you are lucky you may spot turtles, baby sharks, sea eagles and spotted stingrays..

Enjoy swimming, snorkelling, beautiful beaches and bays.

Shark Bay, Western Australia. This World Heritage Area is of extraordinary global significance. Communities of corals, sponges and other invertebrates, together with a unique mix of tropical and temperate fish species.

Shark Bay is also home to five species of endangered mammals, as well as 35 percent of Australian bird species and abundant marine flora and fauna. Shark Bay is home to approximately 13% of the world population of dugong.

The area has a population of fewer than 1,000 people and a coastline of over 1,500 kilometers. In 1699, William Dampier gave the area the name Shark Bay.

Shark Bay also contains the largest number of seagrass species ever recorded in one place.

Bottle-nose dolphins abound in Shark Bay. At Monkey Mia , they come close to shore and interact with visitors who wade into knee-deep water.

Pearling, once important, has given way to fishing (prawns, crayfish, whiting, snapper).

Jim Jim Falls is in the heart of the Australia’s Northern Territory’s Kakadu National Park. Situated about 240km east-southeast of Darwin.

It plunges about 200m off the escarpment and flows spectacularly in the Wet Season. But the amount of water flowing over Jim Jim Falls depends on seasonal conditions.

The nearest sealed road to Jim Jim Falls is the Kakadu Highway (47.8km away). The first part of the walk is a very steep climb up the side of the hill, but most of the walk is an easy stroll through the bushland along the top of the escarpment.

The walk from the car park to the plunge pools at the bottom of Jim Jim Falls is only 900 metres long. The plunge pools are a Natural habitat of the Saltwater Crocodile. Right at the top of the falls is another large deep plunge pool which is perfect for swimming.
 

Access to Jim Jim Falls may be seasonally impossible when you are travelling (November to May).

Dividing Australia from Papua New Guinea, the Torres Strait is one of the frontiers on earth and is sprinkled with stepping-stone islands. Of these islands, 17 are inhabited and Thursday Island is seen as the ‘capital’. This tiny speck of an island, just visible from the Australian mainland, was once called the ‘Sink of the Pacific’, reflecting the sheer variety of people who have passed through since its pearling heydays – Aboriginal, Malay, Chinese, Japanese, Melanesian and Anglo. In this now lies its charm. Photo by: bauplenut

In the 19th century, Europeans quickly discovered the Strait’s rich pearl beds and Thursday Island was once a thriving centre for pearl diving. For decades this was the only job on the island and Japanese pearl divers tragically lost their loves there, and are buried in the local cemetery. Most died of compression sickness. Photo by: ailanpair

Many foreigners have influenced the island’s history. In the late 1800s the London Missionary Society landed on Darnley Island – and the advent of Christianity stabilized the community, but also led the demise of traditional life. South Sea Island teachers also came, and brought with them a new dance culture and crops, and intermarried with the locals. Photo by: ailanpair

Access to the smaller more remote islands is limited, but a few are little gems. Badu is fringed by mangrove swamps and is the centre of the Straits burgeoning crayfish industry. Saibai, just 16 km from New Guniea mainland is the only one place in Australia from which you can see another country. In many ways Thursday Island is the easiest and most interesting island to visit with the laid-back attitude and multifunctional mix. Here the hotel clock has no hands – paying homeage to the leisurely pace of life. Photo by: philippe_wt

When to go: Avoid the monsoon season. Population: 8,089 (2001). How to get there: Ferry from the mainland to Thursday Island. Access to other islands limited and more expensive. Flights form Cairns to Thursday Island via Horn Island – a few minutes by water taxi from Thursday Island. Small airlines operators service other islands. Photo by: ailanpair

Frazer Island is a World Heritage Site and much emerged as one of the Australian’s great natural treasures. From the Queensland coast, it appears cloaked in lush, deep green forest. But for all rainforests and lakes, Frazer Island is in fact the largest sand island in the world – 120 km by 15 km – with more sand than the Sahara Desert, and with dunes up to 224 m high. There is no where like it on planet Earth. Photo by: geoffman4242

The Buchulla tribe, who called the island K’gari, or Paradise, lived in harmony with their environment for thousands of years. In 1991, the island become part of the Great Sandy National Park and its future was secured. The east coast form the main highway, and other tracks criss-cross the interior and pierce the island’s wooded heart. Towering kauri pipes and cycads encircle the blue and even tea-tinted lakes. Lake turtles are joy to encounter, and will sometimes pester you for bread. The west coast is given over to mangrove swamps and, with its more treacherous soft sand, is pretty inaccessible. The real Fraser experience can only come with walking – and a three day hike, with camping overnight, reveals the hidden depths of this paradise island. Photo by: vogm@i

Fraser Island is one of the few remaining strongholds for a pure race of wild dingoes. Sadly, in recent years these dingoes have gained something of a reputation, but some of the blame for their aggression seems to point back to tourism. Visitors are just asked never to feed them and admire them from afar – to be ‘Dingo Smart’. Photo by: petes_pics

When to go: Anytime, but the whale watching months are rightly busier (August to October) so book ahead. Population: 1, 378. How to get there: Flights from Brisbane to Harvey Bay, then boat to the island. Day trip – fast ferry from Urangan Marina to Kingfisher Bay Resort. Or barge from Urangan Harbour for more serious exploration by vehicle. Photo by: shotleyshort

The Twelve Apostles are giant rock formations lies along the majestic coastline of Port Campbell National Park, app.230km from Melbourne, Australia. It is Victoria’s second largest marine national park and covers 7,500 hectares including some of the most spectacular underwater scenery – incredible underwater arches, canyons and caves.

Millions of years of constant sea erosion and blasting winds have battered the soft limestone cliffs, creating grottoes and gorges, arches, caves and sea-sculptures. The caves eventually became arches and when they collapsed rock stacks up to 45 meters high were left isolated from the shore. The Twelve Apostles have been created by erosion that began 10–20 million years ago. The cliff top road gives occasional glimpses of the drama below – the Australia’s most famous rock attractions.

Micronesia consists of some 600 small islands spread across nearly 2,900,000 sq km of the Western Pacific just above the Equator. For all that Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) can only muster around 700 sq km of terra firma. The four states are Pohnpei, Chuuk, Kosrae, and Yap. Each consists of one or more high volcanic islands. Photo by: martylaycock

Pohnpei is the FSM’s largest island with a margin of 130 km. It hosts a mixed population – as home to the national government it has attracted employees from other states to join a hotch-potch of different Pacific islanders, Japanese, Americans, Australians and Europeans who have settled over the years. In addition to Pohnpei itself, whose reef encloses 25 islets and has eight atolls, the state consists of another 137 wide atolls. Kolonia is the island’s commercial centre and capital. Photo by: zuccarelliphoto

Most of the Pohnpei’s shoreline is covered with mangrove swamps, but artificial beaches have been created on the mainland and the reef atolls have excellent natural beaches. The island is rich in coral reefs that delight divers and snorkelers, while the Palikir Pass Reef has a reputation as a surfing hotspot. Rugged mountains and beautiful rain forests cover the inner side of the island. There are some fine nature trails and trekking opportunities with lots of rushing steams, waterfalls and cooling pools. Photo by: ctsnow

This is an island where guest are welcomed by very friendly and kind people, that retains much original character, simply because it has not yet become a well-known international resort destination. Photo by: tropical.pete

When to go: The very rainy season (July to October) is best avoided – otherwise the warm tropical climate doesn’t vary much. Population: 35,000. How to get there: By air, considerable expense, flying Continental Micronesia from Guam Or island-hop from Hawaii. You should know: Waterproof clothing is obligatory – Pohnpei is one of the wettest places on earth with annual rainfall of 1,000 cm (400 in). Photo by: tropical.pete

Tasman Peninsula is located around 75 km by road south-east of Hobart , at the south east corner of Tasmania, Australia . The Tasman Peninsula is easily accessible by road from southern and eastern Tasmania. The peninsula comprises three arms bounded by Storm Bay(west), Norfolk Bay (north), and the Tasman Sea .

There are some beautiful bays around the peninsulas, as well as some unique and amazing rock formations. The cliff height on the east coast averages 250 metres.

One island, the diversity and abundance of wildlife and plant-life is truly remarkable.

To the south of the Tasman Peninsula is Remarkable Cave and the pretty Tasman National Park. The Park comprises most of the eastern coastline of the Tasman. Waterfall Bay is considered the best boat diving area.

The most famous attraction of the Tasman Peninsula is the Port Arthur historic site.

Cruising An unforgettable way to view the sea cliffs on the 3 hour eco-cruise by Tasman Island cruises or Sealife experience, departing daily from Port Arthur and Eaglehawk Neck.