Skip to content

Top Navigation

Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure
  • Trip Inspiration
  • Travel Guides
  • Plan Your Trip
  • World's Best
  • Destination of the Year
  • A-List Travel Advisors
  • Cruises
  • Travel Tips
  • News
  • Food + Drink
  • Travel Accessories
  • Check-In

Profile Menu

Join Now

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Join T+L Club this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Help
  • Logout
My Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Join T+L Club this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Help
  • Logout
Login
Subscribe
Book Now
Pin FB

Explore Travel + Leisure

Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure
  • Explore

    Explore

    • World's Best

      World's Best

      The greatest islands, cities, hotels, cruise lines, airports, and more — as voted by you. Read More
    • The 50 Best Places to Travel in 2022

      The 50 Best Places to Travel in 2022

      Whether you're traveling solo or planning a family vacation, here are the 50 best places to visit in 2022. Read More
    • Let's Go Together Podcast

      Let's Go Together Podcast

      Start listening to T+L's brand new podcast, Let's Go Together! Hosted by Kellee Edwards. Read More
  • Trip Inspiration

    Trip Inspiration

    • Trip Ideas
    • Weekend Getaways
    • Spring Travel
    • Summer Travel
    • Fall Travel
    • Winter Travel
    • Solo Travel
    • Romantic Getaways
    • Luxury Travel
    • Beach Vacations
    • Adventure Travel
    • Road Trips
    • Family Travel
    • National Parks
    • Holiday Travel
    • Travel Photography
    • Photo of the Day
    • Culture + Design
    • Like a Local
    • Travel To
    • 50 Years of Travel + Leisure
  • Travel Guides

    Travel Guides

    See All Travel Guides
    • Mexico City
    • Maui
    • Charleston
    • Tulum
    • New York City
    • London
    • Paris
    • Iceland
    • Los Cabos
    • See More Travel Guides
  • Plan Your Trip

    Plan Your Trip

    Norwegian Cruise Line Will Require Vaccinations for All Passengers and Crew

    Norwegian Cruise Line Will Require Vaccinations for All Passengers and Crew

    Norwegian Cruise Line hopes to resume sailing out of the U.S. on or around July 4.
    • Travel Deals
    • Attractions
    • Travel + Leisure GO
    • Amusement Parks
    • Festivals + Events
    • Bus and Train Travel
    • Flight Deals
    • Budget Travel
    • Hotels + Resorts
    • Disney Vacations
    • Airlines + Airports
    • Ground Transportation
    • Get Outside
    • Wanderlust
  • World's Best

    World's Best

    • Top Hotels
    • Top Cities
    • Top Islands
    • Domestic Airlines
    • International Airlines
    • Tours
    • Safaris
    • See All World's Best
  • Destination of the Year
  • A-List Travel Advisors
  • Cruises

    Cruises

    • Find A Cruise
    • Caribbean Cruises
    • River Cruises
    • European Cruises
    • All-Inclusive Cruises
    • Family Cruises
    • Alaskan Cruises
    • Disney Cruises
    • See All Cruise Vacations
  • Travel Tips

    Travel Tips

    • Travel Trends
    • Packing Tips
    • Points + Miles
    • Budgeting + Currency
    • Customs + Immigration
    • Responsible Travel
    • Travel Etiquette
    • Travel Warnings
    • Weather
    • Mobile Apps
    • See All Travel Tips
  • News

    News

    • Wellness
    • Celebrity Travel
    • Animals
    • Jobs
    • Offbeat
    • See All News
  • Food + Drink

    Food + Drink

    • Restaurants
    • Wine
    • Beer
    • Cocktails + Spirits
    • Bars + Clubs
    • Celebrity Chefs
    • Cooking + Entertaining
    • Food Fairs + Festivals
    • World's Best Restaurants
    • A Spirited Occasion
    • See All Food + Drink
  • Travel Accessories

    Travel Accessories

    • Travel Bags
    • Shoes
    • Travel Tech
    • Shopping
    • Style
    • Gift Guides
    • See All Travel Accessories
  • Check-In

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Join Now

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Join T+L Club this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Help
  • Logout
My Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Join T+L Club this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Help
  • Logout
Login
Sweepstakes
Book Now

Follow Us

  1. Home
  2. World's Best
  3. The Best Islands in Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific in 2018

The Best Islands in Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific in 2018

By Rebecca Ascher-Walsh July 10, 2018
Skip gallery slides
Pin
Pacific Islands French Polynesia
Credit: Getty Images/Mint Images RM
Take a moment to reacquaint yourself with a map of the South Pacific, New Zealand, and Australia. Then locate your appetite, your bathing suit, and your hiking shoes, and book the next flight. This part of the world offers it all.

Maybe you’ll be so entranced by watching the sea life from your overwater cabana in French Polynesia that you will survive on room service. It’s entirely possible that the thrilling, hyper-local culinary scene in Tasmania will keep you moving from meal to incredible meal with only occasional sights of the extraordinary wildlife. One thing is clear: you won’t be bored for one minute on any of these adventure-filled islands, voted best by T+L readers.

Every year for our World’s Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe — to share their opinions on the top cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Readers rated islands according to their activities and sights, natural attractions and beaches, food, friendliness, and overall value.

Related: The 2018 World's Best Awards

Two revered destinations in French Polynesia make the list again this year: Moorea is a family-friendly option to the celebrity-favored (and generally more expensive) Bora-Bora, where the St. Regis and Four Seasons, both hotel winners this year, have established luxury lagoon outposts. Wrote one reader of Bora-Bora, “Prettiest water anywhere in the world.” Moorea draws experienced divers eager to swim with the lemon sharks and explore the underwater Garden of Roses, as the coral reef is known.

Gorgeous views are a given in any of these destinations, but especially if you hike into the jungles of the Cook Islands, located between Hawaii and New Zealand. Surfers and beach lovers both agree on the reef-protected island of Rarotanga: the northern end offers up challenging churn while the rest of the atoll has calm waters perfect for snorkeling and whale watching.

What could possibly be more spectacular? Apparently one destination can… it was voted into the top spot by readers for the second year in a row. Read on for the answer, and to see how the other islands scored.
Start Slideshow

1 of 5

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

5. Bora-Bora, French Polynesia

Bora Bora French Polynesia
Credit: Dana Neibert/Getty Images

Score: 86.42

1 of 5

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 5

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

4. Moorea, French Polynesia

Moorea French Polynesia
Credit: Ian Trower/Getty Images

Score: 87.56

2 of 5

3 of 5

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

3. Cook Islands

Cook Islands New Zealand
Credit: Dave Jacobs/Getty Images

Score: 88.52

3 of 5

Advertisement

4 of 5

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

2. Tasmania, Australia

Tasmania Australia
Credit: AtomicZen/Getty Images

Score: 88.70

4 of 5

5 of 5

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

1. Waiheke Island, New Zealand

Waiheke Island New Zealand
Credit: Steve Clancy Photography/Getty Images

Score: 90.21

This 12-mile-long island can be reached in less than an hour by ferry from Auckland, yet it feels far from the madding crowd. Visitors call its beaches unrivaled and praise its verdant beauty, stellar vineyards, and artsy scene. “A lovely day trip from Auckland to visit the wineries,” said one reader. You can consider a stay at the bohemian, three-room Oyster Inn, or book yourself into luxury at Delamore Lodge, which has its own helipad for easy commuting.

See all of our readers' favorite hotels, airlines, cruise lines, and more in the World's Best Awards for 2018.

5 of 5

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Rebecca Ascher-Walsh

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 5 5. Bora-Bora, French Polynesia
    2 of 5 4. Moorea, French Polynesia
    3 of 5 3. Cook Islands
    4 of 5 2. Tasmania, Australia
    5 of 5 1. Waiheke Island, New Zealand

    Share & More

    Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message
    Travel + Leisure Travel + Leisure

    Magazines & More

    Learn More

    • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Content Licensing this link opens in a new tab
    • Accolades this link opens in a new tab
    • Travel + Leisure Wine this link opens in a new tab

    Connect

    Subscribe to Our Newsletters
    Sign Up
    MeredithTravel + Leisure is published by Meredith Corporation under license from Travel + Leisure Co. Copyright 2022 Travel + Leisure Co. All Rights Reserved. TRAVEL + LEISURE is a registered trademark of Travel + Leisure Co., registered in the United States and other countries. Travel + Leisure magazine may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright Travel + Leisure. All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.travelandleisure.com

    View image

    The Best Islands in Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific in 2018
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.