Little Known Paradise Islands

Choosing an island holiday destination is no mean feat, with so many beautiful spots around the world- we really are spoilt for choice! However, one of the best tips we can give is to look past some of the more popular destinations and consider holidaying at one of the little-known paradise islands. Holidaying at places like these, you can enjoy all the best parts of an island holiday, but at a lower cost and with less tourists around. To help you with your holiday planning, we’ve listed below some of our favorite little know paradise islands and why you need to put them at the top of your holiday list. 

 

Lord Howe Island

Located within Australia, Lord Howe Island feels a world away, but is really just on your doorstep. This stunning island has some of the world’s best day hikes, amazing coral reef snorkeling, fish feeding and so much more. However, one of the most incredible and captivating things about Lord Howe Island is that it’s actually an award winning, world heritage listed site, commended for its beauty and biodiversity. This means that your holiday to Lord Howe comes with a little responsibility to help keep the island clean and maintain its eco-friendly reputation. 

 

When it comes to activities on this island, it’s all about getting off the beaten track and exploring some of the natural wonders Lord Howe has to offer. Some popular activities include bird watching, fishing, scuba diving, snorkeling, walking and water and land sports. These activities are available across many points on the island. However, there are some top recommended spots to hike, swim and snorkel that we have to share. Mt Gower is Lorde Howe Island’s tallest mountain and rated as one of Australia’s most challenging walks! This hike is an 8-hour return trek; the perfect day out for keen hikers. For the snorkelers, Ned’s Beach is located on the island’s north-east and is the top spot to hand feed and see beautifully coloured fish. As well as this, Lord Howe is full of unique flora and fauna that can be discovered at every edge of the island.

 

Cook Islands

The Cook Islands is an archipelago of 15 islands located in the South Pacific and only a direct 8-hour flight off the East Coast of Australia. Often overshadowed by nearby popular destination Tahiti, the Cook Islands is a best kept secret due to its similarities to Tahiti, only with flights and accommodation being a fraction of the price. Many visitors love the Cook Islands because of the true relaxation the island allows them to have. Because the Cook Islands aren’t as developed as some of the more popular island destinations, with less shopping and crazy activities to do, it really forces holiday goers to slow down and enjoy the break from their fast-paced life.  

 

When on Cook Islands Holidays, most people stay at one of the two main islands; Rarotonga or Aitutaki. Rarotonga (aka Raro) is the larger, more developed island known by the locals as “one big resort” and has plenty to do while still remaining relatively untouched. In fact, you won’t find a McDonald’s store or a single set of traffic lights here, nor a building taller than a coconut tree! Raro also has some of the best nightlife on the Cook Islands, with a dedicated party bus doing the rounds each night to transport you between the island's best bars and nightclubs. Aitutaki, on the other hand, is a smaller, more secluded island home to the world’s most beautiful lagoon. Only a 45-minute flight from Raro, Aitutaki is a must visit on your Cook Islands holiday to ensure you experience all the country has to offer. 

 

Norfolk Island

Another lesser known, but no less beautiful island to visit is Norfolk. Similar to Lorde Howe Island, Norfolk Island is also part of Australia and is just a convenient 2-hour flight off the East-Coast. Norfolk Island is special because it has a rich history important to Australia’s colonisation story, being discovered by Captain Cook on his second voyage in 1774, then followed by a long list of settlements on the island. Many key places from Norfolk's settlement still remain intact or are displayed in museums around the island and are a must visit on any Norfolk holiday.

 

While history is a big part of Norfolk Island, of course there is plenty of opportunity to get active or relax. Some favourite tourist activities are snorkeling and swimming in the beautiful Emily, Anson and Slaughter Bays, all which are protected and perfect for little ones to swim in. Another must do is the Hilli Goat Cheese Tour where you can learn the cheese making process before sampling some of the delicious produce. On the weekend, be sure to take a trip to the farmers markets on Saturday and the Sunday Arts and Craft Market to stock up on local produce and handmade treasures.