An island holiday close to home

According to Destination NSW chief executive Sandra Chipchase, travellers on all budgets can enjoy an island stay, whether it be a luxury eco lodge, a family-friendly guesthouse or a picture perfect campsite.

Here are some ideas for island holiday getaways:

Lord Howe Island - a paradise that welcomes just 400 visitors at any time. With its rugged volcanic peaks, lush forests, rolling surf and serene lagoons, the island is encircled by the world's most southerly coral reef. The crystal clear waters make it perfect for swimming, snorkelling, diving, kayaking, fishing, surfing and paddleboarding.

The ecosystem is home to endemic and rare flora and fauna including 113 plants found nowhere else in the world, 207 different bird species and more than 500 species of fish and 90 different corals.

The island boasts one of the world's best day hikes, Mount Gower, at 875 metres.

Lord Howe Island kingfish is a specialty that can be enjoyed at beachside barbecues or at one of island's impressive restaurants. Accommodation ranges from luxury eco lodges, to guesthouses and modern self-contained apartments.

Just 15 minutes away by boat rests an intriguing group of volcanic formations, the Admiralty Islands. Large pinnacles, coral reefs and larger schools of fish attract divers to the 25 dive sites scattered around the atolls and which are considered some of Australia's best diving spots.

Cockatoo Island offers waterfront camping in the heart of Sydney. The waterfront glamping and camping sites provide unobstructed views. The largest island in Sydney Harbour, it forms part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Australian Convict Sites. With a fascinating history, it has become a regular site for movie filming. The island has plenty to keep you entertained - cafes, audio tours, events, kayak and boat hire, and swimming in the slipway. Accessible by ferry and water taxi, it also offers accommodation in self-contained heritage houses.

Broughton Island, off the coast of Port Stephens, offers an "off the beaten track" camping experience at five sites. Little Poverty Beach is truly special as it is the only place in NSW where you can camp among an active seabird colony. There are opportunities for scuba diving, fishing and snorkelling, and swimming at the sandy beaches within Esmeralda Cove. The island is accessible by private boat only. Tour operators in Port Stephens can drop you off and pick you up. Make sure you book ahead through NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.

Montague Island, off the coast of Narooma on the South Coast, is a National Park where visitors can spend a night in the restored lighthouse keeper's cottage. Accessible via tour boat from Narooma, the operator will drop you off and pick you up the next day so you'll have the island all to yourself for the night. You'll enjoy discovering the state's largest colony of Australian and New Zealand fur seals. The island is home to hundreds of seals and more than 90 bird species. Tour operators can arrange snorkelling with seals, and visiting the lighthouse and penguin and seal colonies.

Dangar Island, in the middle of the Hawkesbury River, is just an hour's train ride from Sydney and accessible by ferry. A perfect weekend away, the island has plenty of luxurious "river access only" properties. It is home to just one cafe and a bowling club. You can spend your days exploring by foot or bicycle, and swimming, fishing and kayaking in the sparkling waters.

Scotland Island on Pittwater, on Sydney's Northern Beaches, is accessible by the Church Point Ferry. Book a stay in a holiday house and enjoy bushwalking to secluded bays, or hire a yacht and bareboat your way around Pittwater and the Hawkesbury stopping in at islands along the way.