Meg Goes Global

As someone who thrives by the sea and in the chilled vibes an island typically brings, I’ve been to my fair share already, and have a hefty list of islands still to visit. These are a few of my favourite islands I have visited so far and you need to add to your list if you haven’t already.

Gili Trawangan, Lombok, Indonesia

Starting off strong with this beautiful tiny slice of paradise in Indonesia. The island more commonly known as Gili T is one of three Gili islands in this region, all equally stunning. There are no cars on the island only scooters and push bikes which adds to the charm and simplicity of it, and you could ride from one side of the island to the other in as little as 30 minutes. The beaches are home to crystal clear waters and white sand beaches with independent shops, cafes and a whole host of bars to choose from. My favourite thing to do here was a boat trip touring round all the Gili islands and stopping to snorkel at lots of spots. You might have seen the famous statues under water which is a popular tourist attraction and you’re also very likely to see some turtles while you’re at it.

The best part about the size of the island was the social and community atmosphere it creates. Nights out are easy because each day of the week a different bar will hold the go to event so you always know where the most people are going to be and where you can make friends. The reggae bar was a highlight I still think about often, and the rest of the nightlife is truly amazing especially because of the amount of backpackers here together. I’m sure I’ll be returning some time in the future.

Rottnest Island, Perth, Australia

A totally different but equally breath-taking favourite of mine is an island off the west coast of Australia. The beaches and coast line here are truly some of the most stunning in the world with picture perfect, white sand and crystal clear waters. It is inevitably home to some amazing snorkelling spots to see an abundance of sea life in and amongst the beautiful reef. The island also is home to the Quokkas which you can only see here and they are some of the cutest animals. ‘Rotto’ as it’s colloquially known has many restaurants and view points you can watch the sunset or chill and have a drink in the afternoon sun. It’s popular to hire bikes to get round the island, or there’s also a bus that takes you round if you don’t think your legs will last the journey.

On the flip side to this it’s also really popular for thrill seekers looking to jet ski or even sky dive. Sky diving here is definitely on my bucket list: it’s the only place in WA where you can sky dive on an island.

Koh Tao, Thailand

This might just be my favourite place on earth as of right now, Koh Tao cannot be skipped if you are going to Thailand. Much like its neighbouring islands it’s no stranger to parties and has some that can compete with the full moon, while also being a step closer to the laid back island vibes that I and many others so much enjoy. It’s famous for being the cheapest place in the world to get your scuba diving qualification so is full of world class diving schools and a beautiful place to snorkel if you’re not into diving. You might even seem some reef sharks off the coast.

Koh Tao has some amazing cafes, restaurants and independent shops to explore in the day, as well as heaps of bars and fun beach clubs with famous fire shows by night. Sunsets here seem to be some of the best I’ve seen. Can’t forget the famous Fishbowl bar which has live music and beer pong tournaments on regularly. We practically became locals to Fishbowl in our time on the island but there’s so much more to see. The lady boy drag show is definitely something you need to do and unlike anything I’ve seen before. It’s really the perfect mix you could ask for in an island and I can’t wait to go back.