World's Best Islands

Earth’s surface is 71 percent water, and our oceans are dotted with spectacular islands tens of thousands of them but some capture our imaginations more than others. In Travel + Leisure’s annual World’s Best survey, readers ranked their favorites, and the results show that no distance is too great when a fabulous island waits as your reward.

Sydney City

Introduction
White beaches, blue harbours, gilded lifestyles and lots of flash. Sydney is Australia's oldest city, the economic powerhouse of the nation and the country's capital in everything but name. It's blessed with sun-drenched natural attractions, dizzy skyscrapers, delicious and daring restaurants, superb shopping and friendly folk.

Although it's come a long way from its convict beginnings, Sydney still has a rough and ready energy, and offers an invigorating blend of the old and the new, the raw and the refined. While high culture attracts some to the Opera House, gaudy nightlife attracts others to Kings Cross.
'No one in Sydney ever wastes time debating the meaning of life - it's getting yourself a water frontage.' - David Williamson, Emerald City

Sydney wasn't a planned city and its layout is further complicated by its hills and the numerous inlets of the harbour, its focal point. The centre of Sydney is on the south shore of the harbour, about 7km (4mi) inland from the harbour heads. Skyscrapers in the Central Business District (CBD) vie for dominance and harbour views, but the city's relentlessness is softened by shady Hyde Park and the Domain parkland to the east, Darling Harbour to the west and the main harbour to the north. The Sydney Harbour Bridge and the harbour tunnel link the city centre with the satellite CBD of North Sydney and the suburbs of the North Shore. Sydney Airport is about 10km (6mi) south of the city centre. Central station, Sydney's main train station, is in the south of the city centre, and the main bus terminal is located outside it.

From the spectacular to the even more spectacular. Sydney Harbour's sandstone headlands, dramatic cliffs and stunning beaches define the city. But whichever way you look, from the white sails of the harbour to the arc of the Coathanger to the toned flesh on Bondi, Sydney is serious eye-candy.

Destination Facts
Mayor: Clover Moore
Time zone: GMT +10 (Eastern Standard Time).
Area: 2103
Coordinates: -33.8897743225 latitude and 151.028198242 longitude
Population: 4475000
Daylight Saving:
From first Sunday in October to first Sunday in April
Area codes: 02
Mobile: GSM, CDMA

Getting there and away
Sydney Airport is 10km (6mi) south of the city centre. The international and domestic terminals are a 4km (2.5mi), bus or train ride apart. Getting to the city from Sydney Airport (or vice versa) is easiest by train or car. To confirm arrival/departure times call airlines directly or log on to the airport website's 'Quick Flight Search' (www.sydneyairport.com.au). Interstate and regional bus travellers arrive at Sydney Coach Terminal outside Central Station. Major bus companies have offices nearby. Sydney's main rail terminus for Countrylink interstate and regional services is Central Station (tel: 13 22 32). Call for information, arrival/departure times and bookings.

Getting around
The buses and ferries of Sydney offer some of the cheapest and most rewarding sightseeing in Australia. A ferry trip to Manly passes the stunning harbour sites and heads onto the ocean past Sydney's famous North Shore beaches, and a bus trip to Vaucluse offers some of the best views of the harbour and surrounds. Public transport in Sydney is an integrated system and one ticket can get you travelling by bus, ferry or train to almost any part of the city.

Weather
March-April or October-November are a delight, with clear, warm days and mild nights. Sydney is blessed with a temperate climate and averages summer temperatures of around 25° C (77° F). It can get up to 40° C (104° F) on a hot day, and high humidity can make it oppressive, but torrential downpours often break the heat between October and March. Winters are cool rather than cold. Beach lovers unperturbed by the hazards of lizard skin and melanomas should come between December and February.

Perth City

Introduction
The beaches go on forever and the horizons just won't quit. Perth is a vibrant and modern city sitting between the cerulean Indian Ocean and the ancient Darling Ranges. It claims to be the sunniest state capital in Australia, though more striking is its isolation from the rest of the country - Perth is over 4400km (2750mi) from Sydney by road.

Destination Facts
Time zone: GMT +8
Area: 1075
Coordinates: -31.9559993744 latitude and 115.852996826 longitude
Population: 1659000
Area codes: 08

Getting there and away
The east coast of Australia is the most common gateway for international travellers, although there are some airlines that fly direct into Perth Airport. If you do choose to fly to the east coast first, it's usually possible to book a same-day domestic flight that will wing you across country to Perth. There are daily bus services from Adelaide via the Nullabor to Perth, or head north along the WA coast on the 56-hour journey to Darwin. Buses also go to regional centres. The Indian Pacific train line runs from Perth to Sydney via Adelaide, and is one of the world's great train journeys. The intrastate rail network is limited to the Perth-Kalgoorlie-Boulder Prospector.

Getting around
Transperth(www.transperth.wa.gov.au) operates buses, trains and ferries. A free transit zone, including all Transperth buses and trains, as well as special CAT buses, covers the central city area. Cycling is a great way to explore Perth, and there are many bicycle routes around the city and its environs. Ferries cross the river regularly.

Weather
Perth has a long, hot summer (December to March) where little rain falls and the temperature can stay up around 30° C (86° F), especially in January and February. A late afternoon breeze off the sea, known as the 'Fremantle Doctor', helps cool the city. Winter brings coolish weather and rain, with an average temperature of 18° C (64° F).

Melbourne City

Introduction
High culture to high streets - Melbourne has few lows. Melbourne's easy-going pace is perfect for enjoying its gracious Victorian architecture, its green wealth of parks and gardens, and its many cultural highlights. Most of the city's main sights are just a short walk or tram-hop apart, with plenty of latte pick-me-up opportunities on the way.

Multi-cultured, highly cultured, marvellously arty Melbourne. Melbourne is dubbed marvellous for a reason. Healthy hedonism masquerades as high art: Melburnians are equally passionate about football and ballet, fashion and restaurants. They are ravenous for music and hot for theatre. It's a smorgasbord of a city that you'll want to sink your teeth into.

A leafy bayside community on the 'upside-down' Yarra River, Melbourne is, by turns, cosmopolitan, suburban, cultivated, conservative and an avant-garde haven. Visitors come for its shopping, restaurants, nightlife and sporting calendar; most agree that it's one of the world's most liveable cities

'And what was the origin of this majestic city and its efflorescence of palatial town houses and country seats? Its first brick was laid and its first house built by a passing convict.' - Mark Twain.

Melbourne's suburbs extend around the huge Port Phillip Bay, into the plains to the west and east and out to the foothills of the Dandenong Ranges. This huge area of settlement has been necessitated by the dying but intractable goal of the Great Australian Dream - a detached home on a quarter-acre block, 2.5 children and a couple of cars in the driveway. The city centre is about situated about 3km (1.8mi) inland, on the north bank of the Yarra River and is a neat grid of elegant (and kitsch) 19th-century architecture and self-important skyscrapers. The main north-south artery is Swanston St, running north from Federation Square and Flinders Street Station, while Bourke (a pedestrian mall for part of its extent) and Collins Sts, which cross it, are the city's other two main thoroughfares. A series of villagey districts circle the city centre.

Destination Facts
Time zone: GMT +10
Area: 8806
Coordinates: -37.8529586792 latitude and 145.07510376 longitude
Population: 4000000
Daylight Saving: From first Sunday in October to first Sunday in April
Area codes: 03

Getting There
With the northern states taking the brunt of tourism down under, Melbourne is a best-kept secret year round. The shoulder seasons are the gems. While Melbourne's spring is a sight to behold, with multitudes of gardens in bloom and the festive Spring Racing Carnival heralding summer, any local will tell you that mid-autumn sees Melbourne at its most resplendent. A sturdy coat never goes astray at this time, but a little cold is worth bearing for the strolls through the amber and ochre parks.

Weather
Melbourne's climate has an unfortunate reputation: wet, windy, unpredictable and liable to extremes - very hot or very cold and often both on the same day! On the plus side, Melbourne's multitude of parks makes it a beautiful place to witness the changing seasons. It is rarely unbearably chilly - in winter the average temperature ranges between 6 ° C (43 ° F) and 13 ° C (55 ° F), the mercury rises above 35 ° C (95 ° F) only a few times each year and Melbourne's soggy reputation outstrips the reality - it receives only half the average rainfall of Sydney or Brisbane.

Hobart City

Introduction
A pint-sized harbour city with gallon-sized charm. Hobart is Australia's southernmost capital city; that it is also the smallest is the key to its particular charm. A river-side city with a busy harbour, its mountain backdrop offers fine views over the beautiful Georgian buildings, numerous parks and compact suburbs below.

Destination Facts
Time zone: GMT +10
Area: 1360
Coordinates: -42.8510017395 latitude and 147.291000366 longitude
Population: 200525
Area codes: 03

Getting there and away
There are no direct international flights to or from Tasmania. Airlines with services between Hobart and the mainland are Qantas (tel: 13 13 13; www.qantas.com.au), Jetstar (tel: 13 15 38; www.jetstar.com.au) and Virgin Blue (tel: 13 67 89; www.virginblue.com.au). The main bus companies (and their terminals) operating to/from Hobart are Redline Coaches (tel: 1300 360 000; www.tasredline.com.au) and TassieLink (tel: 1300 300 520; www.tassielink.com.au). Additionally, Hobart Coaches (tel: 13 22 01; www.hobartcoaches.com.au) has regular services to/from Richmond, New Norfolk and Kingston, south along the D'Entrecasteaux Channel and to Cygnet. Timetable and fare information is available online.

Getting around
Hobart's airport is 16km (10.6mi) east of the city centre. The Airporter Shuttle Bus (tel: 0419 382 240) scoots between the Transit Centre and the airport (via various city pick-up points), connecting with all flights. Bookings are essential. Of course, you can always catch a taxi between the airport and the city centre, but it will cost you considerably more. Metro Tasmania (tel: 13 22 01; www.metrotas.com.au) operates the local bus network, which is reliable but infrequent outside of business hours. The Metro Shop, inside the main post office on the corner of Elizabeth and Macquarie Sts, handles ticketing and enquiries. Most buses depart this section of Elizabeth St, or from nearby Franklin Sq.There are plenty of car and bicycle hire companies in Hobart.

Weather
Tasmania's reputation for cold, wet weather is justified by Hobart's winter (June to August), during which a gloomy, overcast pall is permanently cast over the sky. Snow can be seen in the hills around Hobart between September and November, when the wind is also usually up. By way of compensation, summer (December to February) delivers warm swimming weather and plenty of sun. The most temperate time of year is autumn (March to May).

Places of Interest
Hobart is Australia's southernmost capital city; that it is also the smallest is the key to its particular charm. A river-side city with a busy harbour, its mountain backdrop offers fine views over the beautiful Georgian buildings, numerous parks and compact suburbs below.

Related city: Darwin, Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra city

Darwin City

Introduction
Welcome to a tropical metropolis with crocodile sunsets. The 'capital' of northern Australia is closer to Jakarta than it is to Sydney, and closer to Singapore than it is to Melbourne, so it should come as no surprise that it looks outward to Asia as much as it looks inland to the rest of Australia.

Destination Facts
Time zone: GMT +9.5
Area: 1660
Coordinates: -12.4130001068 latitude and 130.832000732 longitude
Population: 103500

Getting there and away
Darwin's airport services both international and domestic routes. Lots of flights run between Darwin and Indonesia, as well as to other spots in Southeast Asia. You can also fly to Darwin from all other states in Australia, although you might end up going via Alice Springs, Brisbane or Adelaide. You can reach Darwin by bus on three routes - the Western Australian route from Broome, Derby, Port Hedland and Kununurra; the Queensland route through Mt Isa to Threeways and up the Track; or straight up the Track from Alice Springs. The weekly Darwin-to-Adelaide (via Alice Springs and Katherine) train service leaves town on Wednesday mornings.

Getting around
The airport is only 13km (8mi) from town and is serviced by a shuttle bus - a taxi from the airport to the city will cost you about 20.00. Darwin has a fairly good city bus service, with most of its routes serviced all week long. Several private bus companies do a shuttle service between Darwin's major places of interest. There is an extensive network of bicycle tracks; bikes can be rented or borrowed from many of the backpackers' hostels.

Weather
Indigenous Australians from this area divide the year into six seasons, but in Darwin people generally prefer to think in terms of the 'wet' and the 'dry'. The wet season begins in October, when humidity levels begin to climb, until by January and February the combination of heat and humidity is quite stifling. The end of the wet is characterised by the fierce storms Aborigines call 'knock 'em down storms'. By contrast, the dry is a delicious time of year - sunny and warm.

Places of Interest
The 'capital' of northern Australia is closer to Jakarta than it is to Sydney, and closer to Singapore than it is to Melbourne, so it should come as no surprise that it looks outward to Asia as much as it looks inland to the rest of Australia.

Related city: Canberra City, Brisbane City, Adelaide City

Canberra City

Introduction
A smooth lake, a glamorous gallery and a whole lotta politics. Canberra is often described by Australians who haven't been there as a boring town, full of politicians, bureaucrats - and not much else. But those who go there find beautiful galleries and museums clustered around a lake and cupped in bushland.

Destination Facts
Time zone: GMT +10
Area: 287
Coordinates: -35.3499984741 latitude and 149.042007446 longitude
Population: 329000
Area codes: 02

Getting There
Autumn (March to May) in Canberra is quite simply gorgeous. The days are sunny and crisp, the trees turn a golden-brown and everything looks lovely. Winter (June to August) is cold - really cold. There are mornings when it feels like breathing in will crack your lungs, but the sky is usually blue and the weather is sunny. Spring (September to November) is much wetter and windier, though the very popular Floriade festival brightens things up. Summer (December to February) can get quite hot but is a fine time of year to be in the city.

Getting there and away
Flights connect Canberra with all Australian state capital cities and some of the bigger towns within NSW - some flights go via Sydney or Melbourne. Buses run to Canberra from Sydney, Adelaide and Melbourne, with connections to the other capitals. There are also services to the south coast, the snowfields, and a few other large towns in NSW. Trains run from Sydney, or you can do a combined bus-train trip from Melbourne. The Hume Highway, which runs between Melbourne and Sydney, passes about 50km (30mi) north of Canberra - turn off at Goulburn or Yass. The Monaro highway to the south will take you to Cooma, the snowfields and the coast.

Getting around
Public transport in Canberra means the ACTION bus service (popular tourist buses covering most sights include Nos 33, 34, 40 and 80), which runs regular routes throughout Canberra and is a relatively cheap way to get around. ACTION's Flexibus evening service will, incredibly, veer off the set route to go as close to its passenger's destination as possible. They will also come and collect you if you call (13 17 10). The airport is 7km (4mi) southeast of the city centre. A shuttle minibus runs to the Jolimont Centre in town and to various hotels. Another good way to see Canberra is by bicycle; Canberra has an excellent network of bike paths.

Weather
Canberra's a chilly little place. It basks in some good old-fashioned Aussie sun during the summer months (December to February) and Autumn is clear and cool - but the winters can bite, often with frosty mornings and bright, clear afternoons. Spring can be damp.

Brisbane City

Introduction
Glam it up in the Queensland capital - viva Bris Vegas! Australia's third-largest city feels no need to toot its own horn. While other capitals scramble to reach top billing in the status stakes, Brisbane quietly executes its evolution in true, casual Queensland style. It feels no need to advertise its virtues - locals know how good they've got it.

Getting There
With its warm, sunny days and cool nights, winter (June to August) is the most pleasant - and popular - time of year to visit Brisbane. Easter and Christmas are also pretty hectic. If you prefer a bit of peace and quiet, try May or October, when the humidity's still OK but the crowds have diminished. Timing your trip to coincide with one of the city's numerous arts festivals or other events can also be fun.

Getting there and away
Brisbane's Eagle Farm Airport is a busy international arrival and departure point with frequent flights to Asia, Europe, the Pacific islands, North America, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea. A shuttle bus runs between the airport and the Transit Centre about every half-hour till mid-evening. There are also shuttle buses to the Gold and Sunshine Coasts. There are always taxis available to take you into the city centre. The easiest way to get to or from the airport is to take the Airtrain from either Roma St or Central stations. The main bus terminal is the Transit Centre on Roma St, and all the main bus companies arrive and leave from here. Buses run to Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Cairns, as well as towns up and down the coast. Trains also arrive at the Transit Centre. There are direct trains to Sydney, but if you want to go any further south or west, you'll have to go via Sydney. Rail travel within Queensland is slower and more expensive than the bus, but it's often more comfortable, and you can get rail passes.

Getting around
In addition to normal city buses, there are Cityxpress services, which run between the city centre and the suburbs, and Rockets (fast peak-hour commuter buses). The fast Citytrain network has seven lines, and there is an efficient ferry service along and across the Brisbane River. There is a riverside bicycle track from the City Botanic Gardens out to the University of Queensland.

Destination facts
Time zone: GMT +10
Area: 1360
Coordinates: -27.454000473 latitude and 153.026000977 longitude
Population: 1770000
Area codes: 07

Weather
While Brisbane doesn't suffer the stifling humidity you'll find further north, it's still most pleasant in winter (June to August) - the days are warm and sunny, the nights cool and it's a delightful contrast to the chilly misery further south. However, winter is also the time everyone from Sydney and Melbourne heads north to escape the cold, so expect a crowd.

Places of Interest
Brisbane, Australia's third-largest city feels no need to toot its own horn. While other capitals scramble to reach top billing in the status stakes, Brisbane quietly executes its evolution in true, casual Queensland style. It feels no need to advertise its virtues - locals know how good they've got it.

Adelaide City

Introduction
Calming hills, crashing waves and a whole valley of wine. When the early colonists arrived and began building Adelaide they used stone. They wanted to build a solid, dignified city, a civilised and calm place, with a manner no other state capital in the country could match. Nowadays, much to the wowsers' chagrin, pubs and nightclubs outnumber the churches.

Destination Facts
Time zone: GMT +9.5
Area: 870
Coordinates: -34.8116760254 latitude and 138.520828247 longitude
Population: 1467300
Area codes: 08

Getting There
Spring and autumn bring out the magnificent wild flowers and you can combine other highlights of South Australia while avoiding extremes of weather. Winter (June to August) can get a bit cold and soggy and, as Adelaide can be pretty damn hot in summer (December to February), if you don't have access to a pool or air-conditioner you might find it unpleasant. If you're a festival buff you really shouldn't miss the three-week Adelaide Festival of the Arts, held in late February or early March on even-numbered years. The main school holiday period is from mid-December to late January, with fortnight holidays also occurring early to mid-April; late June to mid-July; and late September to mid-October. As South Australian families take to the road (and air) en masse at these times, many places are booked out, prices rise and things become a little hectic, particularly over Christmas and Easter.

Getting there and away
International flights arrive in Adelaide from all over the world, many of them flying directly to the city. Adelaide is a long way from Australia's other capitals, so flying is often the best option. Australian airlines fly into Adelaide from every other capital city, although you may have to make a stopover if you're coming from Brisbane or Sydney. An airport bus runs from the airport to the city centre - the bus also calls in at the interstate train station if pre-booked.Bus travel is cheaper than flying, but be prepared for a long haul. Services run to all major cities - you can go with one of the major lines and do the quick-but-dull trip, or take a smaller bus and meander around a bit. Buses also run to Alice Springs and to regional centres in South Australia. Interstate trains run from Adelaide to Alice Springs, Perth, Darwin, Melbourne and Sydney.

Getting around
Adelaide has an integrated local transport system that includes metropolitan buses and trains, as well as the tram that operates between the city centre and Glenelg, and the O-Bahn busway which runs on concrete tracks between the city centre and the Tea Tree Plaza shopping centre. The airport is 8km (5mi) west of the city and is serviced by an airport bus. Adelaide is a relatively cyclist-friendly city, with good cycling tracks and bicycle lanes on many city streets.

Weather
Adelaide has searing summers, with temperatures rocketing up to 40 ° C (104 ° F) and beyond. Winters can be a bit gloomy - not really cold, but chilly and damp. Spring and Autumn are generally balmy and pleasant.

Places of Interest
When the early colonists arrived and began building Adelaide they used stone. They wanted to build a solid, dignified city, a civilised and calm place, with a manner no other state capital in the country could match. Nowadays, much to the wowsers' chagrin, pubs and nightclubs outnumber the churches.