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• Dent & Hamilton Islands
• Whitsunday Island
• Cape Gloucester

Heavily forested and running north-south in an elongated shape, Long Island is just half a klick from the mainland and nearby Shute Harbour.

Three resorts (Paradise Bay, Peppers Palm Bay and Long Island Resort) are tucked into forests on its west coast overlooking mainland Conway National Park, and there are 20km of walking trails amid 2,500 acres of national park, creating tranquil seclusion popular with naturists who camp at Sandy Bay.

Paradise Bay (www.paradisebay.com.au) is an eco-lodge concealed behind the beachfront forest on the southwest coast. With only 16 guests allowed in ten simple waterfront bungalows, the focus is on all natural materials and sustainability. The nature-oriented staff at Paradise Bay were stockpiling carbon credits long before it became trendy to do so; shower water comes from rain-filled tanks heated by the sun, while solar-charged batteries provide juice for all. Leave your mobile, laptop and hairdryer at home as it’s unlikely any of them will work. Oh, and leave the kids at home, too; they’re not welcome until they’re at least 15. 

If you’re after indulgent serenity, the only choice is a beachfront bungalow, complete with day bed, deck hammock and a comfy living area.

In the words of a recent guest: “It’s incredibly exclusive, without being elitist or pretentious.” The resort’s own yacht moored in the bay is available for day trips in one of the world’s best cruising grounds.

Getting There: Helicopter transfer from Hamilton Island or Whitsunday Airport.

Peppers Palm Bay (www.peppers.com.au) is a little gem midway up the island, positioned almost on a narrow neck, providing easy access to both the sheltered west coast and the often wild and woolly east. It’s perched on one of the few reef-protected bays, creating a classic coconut palm-edged lagoon – a popular overnight anchorage for the bareboat fleet, with room for just five yachts.

A mix of 21 bungalows, bures and cabins peek from tropical foliage. If you’re after indulgent serenity, the only choice is a beachfront bungalow, complete with day bed, deck hammock and a comfy living area. Don’t even think of economising and taking an inland cabin (really just a standard hotel room); it’s all or nothing here. Dining is superb at the poolside open-air restaurant. Ask the staff to set a table in the large beachfront bure, hidden behind the lush gardens, for an intimate dinner or nightcap.

Getting There: Boat transfer directly from Shute Harbour.

Long Island Resort (www.longislandresort.com.au) on Happy Bay is all family-friendly fun and is no place for brooding holiday grouches. With 160 rooms, a dedicated Kids Club and a 3.5 star rating, it makes no bones about who its favourite guests are: cost-conscious singles and families. The heavy activities schedule and water sports hut with catamarans, kayaks and jet skis are guaranteed to wear out energetic children and adults alike. Modern, bright rooms are good value and include three meals daily. Singles will find shared Lodge rooms hard to beat, while families of four can splash out in a Beachfront Room.

Getting There: Boat transfer from Abel Pt Marina with Cruise Whitsundays.