Australia, French Polynesia and the Cook Islands
Marlon Brando's atoll in Tahiti, a fourteen-room lodge on the Great Barrier Reef, a resort on its own motu in the Cook Islands: the South Pacific outside Fiji has a short but genuine list of islands with exactly one resort and nobody else on the sand. We rank them on how many rooms share the island, how remote the flight or boat transfer really is, what there is to do once the reef and the beach are covered, and whether the price matches an experience you could not get on a bigger, shared island nearby.
- 1
A 35-villa resort on Motu Onetahi within Tetiaroa Atoll, 20 minutes by private plane from Tahiti, sharing the island with a research station. One of French Polynesia's most remote and scientifically engaged private island retreats.
- 2
A wildly remote nine-tent adults-only hideaway on a two-hectare coral cay, where you will see no other guests and the nearest human besides staff is 80 kilometers away by boat.
- 3
Australia's only all-inclusive resort directly on the Great Barrier Reef, occupying 1,013 hectares of pristine national park on a granite island 240 kilometres north of Cairns. A one-hour scenic flight away and genuinely remote.
- 4
A 14-suite ultra-private lodge on 1,300 hectares of national park island in the Palm Group, reached by 30-minute helicopter from Townsville. Maximum 28 guests, all-inclusive, and the only resort sharing the island with a James Cook University marine research station.
- 5
A historic 90-year-old coral cay resort with 112 rooms and a working University of Queensland research station, where you can snorkel the reef at dawn and attend a scientist's presentation at dinner.
- 6
A 37-unit eco-certified coral cay resort accessible only by chartered aircraft, where manta rays congregate year-round and you can climb to a historic lighthouse overlooking the barrier reef.
- 7
An adults-only resort of 36 bungalows on a private 27-acre motu in Aitutaki Lagoon, Cook Islands, featuring the only overwater bungalows in the country, accessible by short ferry from the main island.
- 8
A 12-villa all-inclusive resort on a granite island inside Family Islands National Park off Mission Beach, Queensland, reopened in 2013 under Charlton Hotel Group ownership. It is the only commercial resort on Bedarra, though a scatter of privately owned holiday homes sits on the island's eastern side.
Frequently asked questions
What are my options for staying on a coral cay in Australia?
You can choose from several coral cay options including the nine-tent Wilson Island hideaway, the 112-room Heron Island Resort, or the 37-unit Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort. Each offers a different level of seclusion and guest capacity.
Can I find overwater bungalows in the Cook Islands?
Yes, the Aitutaki Lagoon Private Island Resort features the only overwater bungalows in the country. This adults-only resort is located on a private 27-acre motu.
Which resorts offer access to scientific research?
The Brando shares its atoll with a research station, and Heron Island Resort hosts a working University of Queensland research station. At Heron Island, you can even attend scientific presentations during dinner.
How private can I get in this region?
For maximum isolation, Wilson Island is a nine-tent hideaway where you won't see any other guests. Orpheus Island Lodge is also highly private with a maximum of only 28 guests on the island.
Are there all-inclusive options on the Great Barrier Reef?
Lizard Island Resort is Australia's only all-inclusive resort located directly on the reef. Bedarra Island Resort also provides an all-inclusive villa experience on a granite island in Queensland.