Regularly ranked as one of the world’s friendliest places, Fiji is a constellation of more than 330 islands scattered around the South Pacific. And it’s not just the turquoise waters, sugar-white sands and swaying palm trees that appeal. The flight time to Fiji from Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne, Canberra (launching April 10) and Sydney ranges from three to six hours making resorts such as the Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay popular with families with little ones in tow. Fiji is also fab for everything from girls getaways at Six Senses Fiji Malolo Island to week-long surf retreats at Namotu Island, Fiji. The exclusive adults-only Turtle Island also beckons with 12 private beaches.

Samoa is about a five-to-six-hour flight from the east coast of Australia, making it a popular tropical island destination for those who want to avoid the Australian winter. Visitors to the South Pacific island can indulge in a bit of season-swapping with a swim or snorkel in the warm tropical waters within hours of landing at Faleolo International Airport. Samoa is increasingly being considered a breathtaking place to escape for surfers who flock to Palolo Deep Marine Reserve for its world-class waves. Inspire Insta envy with a dip in the glittering To Sua Ocean Trench and a stay at Coconuts Beach Club Resort and Spa.

Vanuatu is just three hours away from Australia. And the launch of new direct flights by Qantas from Brisbane and direct Jetstar flights from Sydney make visiting the South Pacific island more accessible than ever. All 83 islands in the archipelago have diverse offerings from Efate, the main island, which is all about barefoot luxury, to Tanna, which is known for immersive cultural experiences. Espiritu Santo is also a draw for divers with stunning blue holes, and world-class dive sites like Champagne Beach. Havannah Boat House offers the ultimate sustainable stay in Port Havannah.

Channel Tom Hanks in ‘Castaway’ ahead of down at Fuaʻamotu International Airport. The flight time of four and a half hours from Sydney to Tonga is about the same time it takes to fly from Sydney to Perth. All up, Tonga has 170 islands and five island groups. Maroon yourself on Mounu Island, one of Tonga’s prettiest private islands, where you can experience sustainable whale encounters, kiteboarding and snorkelling. The island nation has everything from heritage sites such as megaliths and ancient tombs to customs and traditions that are part of everyday life. Get a taste for traditional cuisine such as taro leaves with meat and coconut milk at Momma’s Tuna Kitchen on Tongatapu Island.

Ask regenerative AI to conjure up a tropical island and it’d likely look a whole lot like Cocos Keeling Island. Think white-sand beaches, turquoise waters and palm trees bent into the wind. The waters around Cocos Keeling form one of the largest protected marine parks in the world. Visitors come from near and far to venture into this underwater world where snorkelling or scuba diving are popular activities. Other must-do experiences include a canoe safari to uninhabited islands, an e-bike tour through the coconut jungle and cultural cooking class with members of the Cocos Malay community. Season swappers will appreciate the fact the temperature doesn’t drop below 25 degrees on Cocos Keeling. The island – like neighbouring CI – is an Australian Territory, and although you don’t need a passport, you will need photo ID. Book a stay at The Breakers.

More Australians than ever before visited the Cook Islands in 2024. And that travel trend is set to continue in 2025 as an ever-increasing number of Aussies want to holiday in tropical island destinations close to home. It’s a six-hour flight from Sydney to Tonga on Jetstar, which now offers four flights per week to Raratonga. Plant your feet in the sand at Aitutaki’s brand-new property Resort Tava’e. And leave only footprints behind at One Foot Island within the Aitutaki Lagoon which features on the World’s 50 Best Beaches list. Book a stay at Small Luxury Hotels of the World’s Pacific Resort Aitutaki where you can sample traditional dishes like ‘ika mata’ (ceviche) at Rapae Bay Restaurant.

The Pacific Island nation of Palau is made up of more than 300 pristine islands. Make your daydream – of escaping to a tropical island destination close to Australia – a reality by booking the Palau Paradise Express. Qantas launched the new non-stop service from Brisbane to Koror in December 2024 and it will get you into paradise in just six hours. The lesser-known island chain is home to UNESCO World Heritage-listed Rock Islands and is more about barefoot luxury than look-at-me bling. In fact, visitors to the island nation are required to sign the ‘Palau Pledge’ to respect the archipelago’s biosphere and local culture. Take a traditional sailing tour with Paddling Palau, dive with manta rays in the German Channel and observe a minute’s silence at one of the most well-preserved battlefields in the world. Stay in luxury onboard floating resort, Four Seasons Explorer.

A Bali holiday really is a choose-your-own-adventure kind of tropical island holiday. For surfers, it’s about chasing the swell, which will determine what side of the island they stay. For families, it’s usually about the old ‘flop and drop’, with kids club and pool bar prerequisites. The magic formula for a girls getaway might be a yoga retreat at Asa Maia or mai tais by the pool at Hotel Indigo Bali. Bali has a reputation for its party-all-day-and-night beach clubs. But dig a little deeper and you’ll find the new hedonism here is all about sophisticated stays and a world-class wining and dining scene. Confetti your map app with options such as Will Meyrick’s Mama San and Yuki Uluwatu. It’s just six hours and 15 minutes from Sydney to Bali, which means you’ll be sipping Bintangs in a sarong before you can say ‘hidup itu baik’ (life is good).

The Indonesian island of Lombok is just an hour’s flight from Bali. But it feels a world away from the colour and chaos of Cenggu and Seminyak. Again, it’s Australian surfers and wellness warriors who are putting the island between the Indian Ocean and Java Sea on the map. The south of the island is where it’s at with a raft of new hotels offering an alternative to the hurly burly of Bali. Part of the beauty of Lombok is that you don’t need to search too far to find authentic local experiences. Although there’s a wave of luxury hotels, you’ll still find palm-thatched warungs selling nasi lemak and local villagers maintaining their rich cultural traditions. Settle in at the high-end nature hideaway Somewhere Lombok or waterfront sanctuary Innit Lombok. Or keep it old-school with a stay at Salty Siesta Stays, run by Australian Wayne Moffat (former GM of Komune on the east coast of Bali).

Sri Lanka is a tropical island destination that is a little bit further afield (flight time is about 11 hours). But this tropical paradise is becoming increasingly popular with Australians who are drawn to the island’s culture, food and diverse landscapes. From its tea slopes dotted with women clad in colourful saris to the waves that split the silence open on the south coast and calm turquoise waters for snorkelling, Sri Lanka is worth pondering as your next paradise found. Find photo ops from the newly reimagined Cape Weligama which is popular with surfers who appreciate its clifftop location overlooking the barrelling left and right breaks below. Staying at one of the luxurious Uga properties is also a must with beachfront retreats at Uga Bay and rainforest-clad cabins at Uga Jungle Beach.

You’ll find laidback locals, vast swathes of white sand, world-class snorkelling, eco resorts and island idylls in New Caledonia. This little slice of French paradise is just two hours from Brisbane and three hours from Sydney, making it Australia’s closest neighbour. New Caledonia is a playground for Francophiles who can’t afford the time (or ticket) to travel to Paris. Holiday highlights include snorkelling in the world’s largest lagoon, sailing around the Isle of Pines and sampling bougna at the kanak markets in Lifou. The traditional feast dish of the kanak people features fish, root vegetables and coconut milk. Stay at Le Meridien Isle of Pines or Sheraton Deva Spa & Golf Resort.