Travel + Leisure Readers' 5 Favorite Islands in Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific of 2023

Oceania and the South Pacific have long drawn travelers for their paradisiacal landscapes. The islands there are saturated in the greenest of greens and bluest of blues. Volcanic peaks rise from white rimmed lagoons, and daily rhythms are guided by the sun, sea, and surf. Home to the world’s largest coral reef and some of the oldest living cultures in the world, it's a region with rich culture that deepens the experience of visiting.

How Voting Works

Every year for our World's Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe — to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Nearly 165,000 T+L readers completed the 2023 survey, an increase of nearly 25 percent over pre-pandemic voting levels. A total of more than 685,000 votes were cast across over 8,500 unique properties (hotels, cities, cruise lines, etc.).

Islands were specifically rated on the criteria below:

• Natural attractions/beaches
• Activities/sights
• Restaurants/food
• People/friendliness
• Value

For each characteristic, respondents could choose a rating of excellent, above average, average, below average, or poor. The final scores are averages of these responses. 

What Readers Loved

As ever, French Polynesia is a favorite destination for Travel + Leisure readers, with three of the five winning islands in this territory. Tahiti — an archipelago 118 strong — held onto its No. 5 position from last year. One reader gushed that it is the “most beautiful place in the world.”

Bora Bora, the pearl of the South Pacific, also held its 2022 spot (No. 3), with a voter declaring it “one of the most beautiful places I've ever been.” Fiji came in at reader’s No. 2 favorite, not just for its staggering beauty, but for the people and culture. “The world would be a much better place if everyone was as kind and gracious as the Fijians,” wrote one reader. Another summed it up as “beautiful islands with lots of diversity, friendly people, and great value.”

But despite the raves these farther-flung destinations earned, it was the renowned Great Barrier Reef — the natural wonder that sits just off the coast of Queensland — that won the top spot as readers’ favorite islands in Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific for 2023.

The Winner 

The Great Barrier Reef: Australia

With more than 900 islands, the Great Barrier Reef is both the world’s largest coral reef system and one of the world’s greatest Technicolor marine wonders. As one returning reader said, “I've stayed on Hamilton Island twice, once in 1988 and again in 2019 before the pandemic. I would go back tomorrow if I could. I cannot imagine a better place to stay to see the Barrier Reef. There is so much to do, and the physical beauty of the area is without equal. Just love the island and the people of Australia”. The last couple of years have seen Australia kick up its conservation efforts to save the increasingly vulnerable reef, which include various citizen science projects, allowing curious and eco-conscious visitors to be part of the solution and learn about the ecosystem. Plus, newly renovated resorts such as the revamped InterContinental Hayman Island Resort and The House at Lizard Island are adding fresh appeal to the age-old wonder.

The Full List

1. Great Barrier Reef Islands: Australia

Reader Score: 96.11

2. Fiji Islands

Reader Score: 92.29

3. Moorea: French Polynesia
WBA Hall of Fame honoree.

Reader Score: 92.15

4. Bora-Bora: French Polynesia

Reader Score: 90.80

5. Tahiti: French Polynesia

Reader Score: 84.20