Lonely_Planet_Asia_-_September_-_October_2016

PERFECT ISLANDS

Best for Sailing

OPOPULATION 2,100

OSIZE 3 square miles
As proven by the swaying masts
offshore, Union Island is among
the best-loved anchorages in the
Caribbean, the harbour backed
by colourful corrugated-iron
huts under green hills. Scan
the vessels for the distinctive
silhouette of Scaramouche –
a schooner that found fame
appearing in the Pirates of the
Caribbean movies. Channel Jack

Sparrow by hopping aboard for a

day-trip to the lovely Tobago

Keys – five uninhabited isles

where snorkellers can walk the

plank (or rather, just jump off the

boat) to spot parrotfish and sea

turtles amongst the coral.

OGETTING THERE Fly to Barbados

with BA via London from Singapore or

Kuala Lumpur, then head on to Union

Island with Mustique Airways or SVG

Air (from US$400; svgair.com).

OPOPULATION 2 (plus guests)
OSIZE Less than 1 square mile
If Swiss Family Robinson had
made landfall in Australia,
chances are their home would
have resembled Haggerstone
Island: a crumb of land on the
Queensland Coast, and one of
the most northerly pieces of
Australian territory. Now an
eco-resort, it’s the private
kingdom of latter-day castaway
Roy ‘Gouger’ Turner, who
whittled and sawed its
treehouses and bungalows

Best for Seclusion

into shape after first arriving in

1985 (he acquired his nickname

after rescuing someone from a

crocodile attack by jumping on

the croc and gouging its eyes).

Less eventful days in his

company might see guests

reeling in fish from the seas

or prizing fresh oysters from

the rocks before banqueting

as the sun sets beyond the

island’s little timber pier.

OGETTING THERE Fly Scoot direct

to Cairns from Singapore or on AirAsia

and Jetstar from Kuala Lumpur. Take a

combination of charter flight and boat

trip to the island (from US$515;

haggerstoneisland.com.au).

UNION ISLAND, ST VINCENT

AND THE GRENADINES

HAGGERSTONE

ISLAND, AUSTRALIA

PERFECT ISLANDS