Fitzroy Island

Overview

If you love swimming in the sea but loathe getting sandy, Fitzroy Island will be paradise to you. Instead of sand, most of the island's beaches are covered in tiny pieces of coral. And while the coral is manageable to traverse, we recommend packing some light weight shoes like Tevas to keep your feet extra comfy if you plan on combing the beach for hours.

To get there, take a 45-minute ferry ride from Cairns and enjoy a half or a full day exploring the island. Or, if that's not long enough, stay overnight at the campground or the island's resort. There's a picturesque hike to the island's lighthouse, incredible snorkelling right off the beach, scuba diving, standup paddle boarding, kayaking and more. And, if you're lucky, you might even catch a spectacular tropical storm rolling in from Cairns in the late afternoon.

Images: Tourism Tropical North Queensland