King Island has a strong reputation in the dairy industry, and is also where some of Tasmania’s tastiest fish comes from. Foodies will find plenty to delight them on the island, especially in the likes of the Wild Harvest Restaurant and Oleada. Aside from food, King Island has much to offer. It’s home to Cape Wickham Lighthouse, the tallest building of its type in Australia. It also has a number of great surf spots, beautiful diving and snorkelling opportunities and three world-class golf courses to play on: Cape Wickham, Ocean Dunes and King Island Links.

The largest of the islands in the Bass Strait, Flinders Island mixes nature with history and an idyllic sense of paradise. Find out more about the Furneaux Group of Islands in the Furneaux Museum, fossick for Killiecrankie ‘diamonds’ (really topaz, but pretty nonetheless) at Diamond Creek and Mines Creek or walk the pristine beaches and pink-hued mountain ranges. Flinders Island has a range of accommodation options from boutique BnBs to rugged camping spots.

A car-free island with no shops and wildlife roaming freely, Maria Island is one of Tasmania's most special escapes. Wombats, kangaroos and Tasmanian devils all call it home, and with minimal infrastructure — just camping and a six-bed dorm that books out up to six months ahead — it feels genuinely off the grid. Don't leave without seeing the Fossil Cliffs and Painted Cliffs, where millions of years of geological history play out in vivid, dramatic detail. Because Maria Island is a National Park, you’ll need a parks pass before you check in.

A private island for up to 10 guests, Picnic Island is the kind of place where you set the pace entirely. Go self-catered and explore at your leisure, or opt for a hosted package with meals prepared and guided tours of both land and water included. Wildlife encounters are a near-certainty — dolphins, seals and seabirds are regular visitors, penguins appear at dawn and dusk, and whales pass through on occasion. The island also runs themed weekends throughout the year, covering everything from yoga and astrophotography to guided birdwatching.

At around 1,500km south-east of Hobart — roughly the same distance as from the Tasmanian capital to Coffs Harbour — Macquarie Island is about as remote as it gets. Affectionately known as Macca, this World Heritage-listed subantarctic island is Australia's best spot to see penguins in numbers, with more than a million thought to call it home. Rare albatross species and a host of other seabirds round out the wildlife credentials of one of the country's most extraordinary island destinations. Because of its remote location, Macquarie Island is only accessible by subantarctic cruises or ships that stop off on their way to Antarctica. Heritage Expeditions is one company that offers these types of cruises.