8 of the dreamiest tropical island wonders of the world

Settle into island life with these stunning tropical wonders.

Think palm trees dancing in a warm sea breeze. Azure waters full of bright-coloured coral and marine life. Sandy hair and sun-kissed skin. If your ideal holiday is an escape to an exotic atoll, look no further than these island wonders spotted throughout our oceans.

1. Mauritius

Travelling with: Elizabeth Whitehead

There’s no denying Mauritius has a certain magic quality to it. In fact, the island itself came into being through some alchemical force; a volcanic eruption 10 million years ago forced mountainous peaks to jut from the Indian Ocean like blades through a billowing blue sheet of silk.

The spectacular underwater waterfall on Mauritius Island is what dreams are made of.

Here, velvety frangipanis sweeten the air and the fronds of palm trees dance in the breeze. The island continues to enchant visitors with its tropical beaches, vibrant melting pot of cultures and hearty Creole cuisine. Moor yourself at one of its blissful resorts, such as The Oberoi on the island’s serene west coast. Or SALT of Palmar on the eastern side, a member of Design Hotels, where designer Camille Walala’s exuberant interiors echo the vibrance of the island.

Salt of Palmar, Mauritius, is an adults-only boutique hotel. (Image: Bookings Through designhotels.com)

2. Fiji

Travelling with: Megan Arkinstall

Scattered like jewels through the South Pacific Ocean, the 330-plus islands of Fiji are a favourite holiday territory for Australians. We love slowing down to the languid rhythm of Fiji time, dipping into staggeringly blue-green waters, soaking up the genuine warm hospitality, the excellent surf and theatrics of a traditional meke (dance and storytelling) ceremony.

Find your own secluded jewel in Fiji.

Anchoring one corner of the Coral Triangle, Fiji also claims the world’s third-longest continuous barrier reef, home to more than 1000 fish species, hundreds of corals and soft sponges, swim-through reefs, canyons and wall dives. It’s an underwater world just as alluring as the surface.

Discover Fiji’s enchanting underwater world.

3. Raj Ampat, Indonesia

Travelling with: Sarah Reid

Indonesia is made up of more than 17,000 islands, and few would disagree that those found in the easternmost province of West Papua are among its finest.

Tropical islets dot Indonesia’s aquamarine waters.

For all its beauty above the water, where densely forested islets rise out of the aquamarine sea, the real highlight of Raja Ampat lies below the surface, with its smorgasbord of macro life in particular cementing its status as one of the most vibrant corners of the Coral Triangle. Go on, book that liveaboard.

Spot the likes of Nemo in the watery depths.

4. Réunion Island

Travelling with: Sarah Reid

Among the unexpected joys of visiting Mauritius’s underrated Indian Ocean neighbour is the shock of its dramatic natural beauty, which rarely appears in tourism brochures outside of mainland France (connected by the world’s longest non-stop domestic flight).

On Réunion Island, vast lava fields ooze down steep mountains, waterfalls tumble through lush valleys and an idyllic coral lagoon on the west coast provides excellent snorkelling. And we haven’t even started on the food yet.

Admire the towering volcanic calderas on Reunion Island.

5. The Cook Islands

Travelling with: Angela Saurine

The soft strum of a ukulele being played by a crew member onboard the Polynesian-style double-hulled catamaran Vaka-Titi-ai-Tonga drifts out across the vivid turquoise waters of Aitutaki Lagoon. As I feast on a lunch of barbecue tuna and salad, I repeatedly marvel at the beauty of my surroundings.

The porcelain-white sands of The Cook Islands are breathtaking.

Stepping off the boat at One Foot Island and strolling along the white sand beach lined with coconut palms cements this Cook Islands archipelago as the epitome of tropical paradise.

Step off the boat and set foot in paradise.

6. Socotra, Yemen

Travelling with: Sarah Reid

Some 350 kilometres south of the Arabian Peninsula, Socotra has been fortunate to avoid the conflicts that continue to plague mainland Yemen. And what relief, for this World Heritage site shelters remarkable diversity: more than 700 of the islands’ native species are found nowhere else on Earth.

Diksam or Dixam is a limestone plateau in Socotra, Yemen.

Walk amid its iconic dragon blood trees, climb giant sand dunes and float over teeming reefs fringing the main island of this small archipelago, safely accessed by direct flights from Abu Dhabi.

Off the northwest coast near Qalansiyah lies the saline lagoon of Detwah.

7. Rapa Nui

Travelling with: Angela Saurine

Staring up at the row of imposing stone figures with their backs to the ocean on Easter Island is one of those moments that stays in your memory forever. There are more than 1000 moai spread throughout the rugged volcanic island known as Rapa Nui, a Chilean territory, that have been standing watch over its inhabitants for millennia in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. While archaeologists have many theories, nobody knows for sure why the moai were made or how they were transported and erected.

Easter Island’s iconic giant Moai statues represent Rapa Nui’s megalithic past.

8. The Faroe Islands

Travelling with: Taylah Darnell

The Faroe Islands, halfway between Norway and Iceland in the North Atlantic Ocean, beckon wayfaring wanderers. The self-governing nation, which forms part of the Danish Realm, is home to 18 islands and more than 700 islets and skerries, all staking claim to sights as rare as a hot Faroese summer. Head to Vagar Island for the magical Múlafossur Waterfall and Sørvágsvatn lake. Or try the village of Gjógv on Eysturoy Island, named after the 200-metre sea-filled gorge beside it. Whichever way you turn, you’ll find magic awaits.

Múlafossur Waterfall flows off the cliff edge into the North Atlantic Ocean.

We have curated the ultimate list of wonder-filled travel experiences; keep reading the 100 Wonders of the World for the full list.