10 of the world’s most fantastic private islands for rent – from the Maldives to Wisconsin
A vacation on a private island is a truly exceptional luxury experience. Whether you rent the entire island or simply book a villa, suite or overwater bungalow, such places represent true exclusivity. Getting to them often requires flying in by private jet, yacht or helicopter. Once you arrive ashore, you can find a wide variety of styles, from cozy rustic to designer and ultra-modern, but in any case they provide privacy and tranquility.
While private islands are most often associated with tropical destinations such as the Seychelles or Fiji, these are far from the only places where you can retreat to your own island. You and your family or friends can, for example, book Ted Turner’s old compound on a barrier island off South Carolina, or head to a rugged island cabin in Scotland or in the middle of a lake in Wisconsin. Whatever the case, these island getaways often include unspoiled nature, stylish accommodations, a personal touch, and a sustainable connection to the surrounding area.
1.Pelorus Private Island
Location: Palm Islands, Queensland, Australia
This brand new island retreat, which opened in January this year, is by far the most luxurious way to experience the Great Barrier Reef. It provides exclusive access to a nearly 100,000m² paradise that can only be reached by helicopter or private yacht. The five-suite villa is filled with glamor and coastal ambience: whitewashed wood paneling, Palladian limestone, rattan and Italian linens. All meals are prepared by a personal chef – imagine artisan breads, specialty cocktails and a wine list for dinner. If you want to venture off-island, you can book jet-ski and seabob tours, visit the Museum of Underwater Art (MOUA) or take a private boat to Hinchinbrook Island (Pouandai), Australia’s largest island national park.
2.Como Laucala Island
Location: Fiji
Red Bull co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz turned the island into a luxury resort, and in 2021 it was taken over by Como Hotels and Resorts. The 25 residences – individual villas that are located throughout the island – create a sense of blissful seclusion. Each has a private pool, an outdoor bathtub, a special tau (Fijian for “friend”) and a golf cart for traveling. During your stay at Laucala, you can also play a round of golf on the 18-hole course, go horseback riding on the beach, or take a tour on a classic 1970s sailing yacht.
3.The Turner House on St. Phillips Island.
Location: Near Beaufort, South Carolina.
Media mogul Ted Turner, known for his unwavering commitment to sustainability, bought undeveloped St. Phillips Island northeast of Hilton Head in 1979. He later sold the four-mile barrier island to the state, and it is now part of Hunting Island State Park. The Turner House has five bedrooms and five bathrooms. The island is only accessible by boat and can accommodate 10 guests. There is beach access (plus lounge chairs, umbrellas and canopies), hiking trails, fishing pier, fire pit, bikes, kayaks, golf carts and more. You can choose between a standard rental, which includes only the house and allows other visitors to take scheduled day tours of the island, and an exclusive rental, during which only members of your group will have access to the island.
4.Lizard Island
Location: Queensland, Australia
Lizard Island is the northernmost island resort in the Great Barrier Reef and redefines barefoot luxury in the region. It’s surrounded by a national park, and rooms, villas and suites are within walking distance of the beach and the reef beyond. Activities include riding glass-bottom sea kayaks, snorkeling with a motorized sea scooter or fishing for mahi-mahi, tuna and marlin off the outer reef. In 2022, the island’s most exclusive housing option, the House, a three-story, three-bedroom residence on a secluded peninsula with a stingray-like layout and gill-shaped windows that let in the breeze. Made of durable concrete, this climate-resilient space can withstand cyclonic winds, and its interiors are filled with luxurious details utilizing rosewood, copper and emerald quartzite.
5.North Island, a Luxury Collection Resort
Location: Seychelles Islands
Of all the many white-sand islands in the Seychelles archipelago, North Island, with only 11 ocean-view villas, has become a gem (by the way, Prince William and Kate Middleton honeymooned here). If you rent the island or stay in one of the villas and enjoy private pools, you’re guaranteed total privacy. There are several island activities to choose from: snorkeling, diving, fishing, hiking or swimming with endangered sea turtles. And be sure to meet the island’s most famous inhabitant, Brutus, a giant tortoise at least 160 years old. “Luxury with a conscience” is at the heart of all this luxury, as well as numerous sustainability initiatives such as reef and beach protection.
6.Miavana by Time+Tide
Location: Madagascar
Miavana, a private island hotel off the northeast coast of Madagascar, offers all the benefits of a tranquil island paradise vacation, but with plenty of adventure opportunities that will make you feel like you’re on safari: nature walks to see the island’s resident crowned lemurs, bird watching by boat, snorkeling or diving among pristine coral reefs. Don’t forget to visit the museum-level “Cabinet of Curiosities” in the main public area, which features a magnificent butterfly collection, an antique ship’s wheel and the skeletons of two extinct species of Madagascar animals – the pygmy hippo and the elephant bird.
7.Isle of Eriska
Location: Loch Creran, Scotland
Isle of Eriska, a private island with hotel and spa, is a 30-minute drive from seaside Oban but feels much more remote, surrounded by the wild beauty of Scotland’s lakes and mountains with an abundance of wildlife including roe deer, seals, otters, golden eagles and badgers. Put on a pair of wellingtons (they’re kept by the front door) and stroll the grounds on foot, or spend time over the whisky menu in the main building. Guest rooms and suites are delightfully blended, each utilizing unique room architecture, but there are also plenty of options for companies of all sizes, including spa and garden cottages tucked away in the historic stables and the Arnott House, which sleeps up to 6 people. On site you can take part in activities such as archery, axe throwing, falconry, beekeeping, fishing, golfing and much more.
8.The Nautilus Maldives
Location: Tiladhoo Island, Baa Atoll, Maldives
The Indian Ocean archipelago is known for its overwater bungalow accommodation options. The Nautilus Maldives has just 26 beach and ocean lodges that share the tiny private island of Thiladhoo in Baa Atoll, a UNESCO biosphere zone known for its whale sharks and manta rays. In addition, private butler service and a 24-hour glass-bottom water spa are included. Entertainment is designed to make you feel extraordinary and luxurious, meaning you can take a last-minute yacht trip around the islands, watch a movie under the stars, or listen to live music and eat the freshest seafood grilled by the fire. There is a three-bedroom mansion on the island with a private pool, perfect for a family vacation.
9.Vatuvara Private Islands Resort
Location: Kaibu Island, Northern Lau Group, Fiji
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are staying at the Vatuvara Private Islands Resort in Fiji during their royal tour of Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific. Guests arrive by private jet to the island’s airstrip and settle into one of three all-inclusive villas scattered around the island – each with its own private pool, massage room and personal masseuse.
Vatuvara is designed for relaxation, but there are plenty of ways to engage more actively and thoughtfully with the environment: There’s a four-hole, organic-certified golf course, cooking and weaving classes, and water sports equipment such as kayaks, stand-up paddleboards and jet skis. The environmentally conscious resort is solar-powered and has an organic farm, and guests who want to preserve nature can work with a local marine scientist to restore a coral garden or snorkel in the giant clam nursery.
10.Gladden Private Island
Location: Belize Barrier Reef, Central America
Gladden Private Island is a four-hour plane ride from Miami, followed by a boat ride, right in the center of Belize’s Barrier Reef, the second largest in the world. It’s the perfect honeymoon destination: the villa is designed for one couple, but kids are welcome here. The chef prepares meals using organic produce from the garden and seafood caught straight from the surrounding waters. You can snorkel right off the beach or arrange a trip to nearby Gladden Spit or the Silk Cayes Marine Reserve, where whale sharks congregate from April to June.