This was published 1 year ago
Six of the coolest holiday islands in the Indian Ocean
By John Borthwick
Stone town, Zanzibar.Credit: iStock
Zanzibar
If you could bottle the essence of Zanzibar Island there would be aromas of both spice and slavery, plus notes of rock n' roll sweat, for this was the birthplace of Queen's fabulous frontman Freddie Mercury. Among other events, this Tanzanian island cluster 40 kilometres from the African mainland was the expedition departure point for legendary Africa explorers like David Livingstone and Richard Burton. Zanzibar's intriguing capital Stone Town has a maze of alleys where the mansions of 19th century traders and slavers still boast massive, spiked "elephant-proof" doors although, curiously, there were never elephants here. Beyond the historic capital, Zanzibar has uncrowded beach coasts with good diving and an interior resembling Africa without the wild game. See zanzibar.com
Cocos Islands
The Indian Ocean stretches from Australia to Africa, covers 20 percent of Earth's ocean surface and touches over 40 countries and territories. One of its minnows is the Australian external territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands — "Cocos" for short — a tiny coral atoll of 21 islands (only two are inhabited) that's closer to Sumatra than our mainland. It is drop-dead beautiful, unplundered (so far) by volume tourism and has 30 million coconut trees, as well as 30,000 turtles. Add vivid reefs, a bizarre history of "troppo feudalism" and just 600 residents. The one sealed road, framed by cathedral palms leads to empty beaches and a Robinson Crusoe lagoon. Diving, windsurfing, cottage accommodation, two flights a week. Don't tell anyone. See cocoskeelingislands.com.au
Mauritius
Mauritian history has been likened to a colonial game of "pass-the-parcel", mostly between France and Britain. Fortunately, the former left their influence on matters of cuisine, love and language. Mauritians, a rainbow race of genes and cultures generally converse in Creole French but are administered in English. Africa meets India in their capital, Port Louis, with a Chinatown in the middle. Much of the island is blanketed in sugarcane fields — think North Queensland with volcanoes — while its rural villages are brilliant with poinciana, anthurium and giant banyans. As for dining, how about grilled lobster with palm-heart Millionaire's Salad, followed by rums flavoured with guava, vanilla and lime? Signature Mauritius. See mauritius.net
The Seychelles
Credit: iStock
This garland archipelago has been a trophy destination for Indian Ocean island-hoppers since the French and British first arm-wrestled over it 200 years ago. Its national capital, Victoria is one of the world's smallest. (Locals joke that "You can walk around it three times in 30 minutes. If you get lost you'll be in the Guinness Book of Records as the first person ever.") Among the Seychelles' 115 islands are upmarket resort destinations like Frigate, La Digue and Desroches islands with giant turtles, stunning reefs and dense tropical forests. Praslin Island once enjoyed the ultimate "tropical paradise" brag when its now UNESCO-listed Vallee de Mai was declared, fancifully, to be the "original Garden of Eden". See seychelles.com
Maldives
Resort boardwalks snake like exoskeletons across teal lagoons, linking castaway suites to a cocktail shorelines. The Republic of Maldives is lush with colour and extremes. If it existed, Mount Maldive, the highest peak, would soar to just 2.4 metres above the lagoon-level. For good reason Maldivians are wary of rising sea levels across their 1192-island home and its 26 atolls. Meanwhile, white-plumed swells burst along the outer reefs and sandbars float like midday mirages as your dhoni cruises in search of dolphins, a snorkeling reef or surf break. Male, the national capital is a compact, densely crowded city and your jumping-off point to village islands, "the real Maldives," many of them with home-stay accommodation. See visitmaldives.com
Reunion Island
Credit: iStock
While Seychelles and Mauritius long ago slipped their colonial collars and became independent republics, Isle La Reunion, via some miracle of Gallic cartography became a department and region of France. Closer to Perth than it is to Paris, this volcanic, 2500 square kilometres "outermost region of the European Union" has Eurozone living standards and fine resorts. Not particularly cheap for the visitor, but there's plenty of landscape drama and buckets of excellent rum. Reunion's brilliant coastal circuit road takes in cathedrals, Creole villages, Tamil temples and thermal springs. Inland are picturesque mountain villages like Hell-Bourg which, despite the diabolical name-tick, is listed in the exclusive register of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France. See reunionisland.net
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