Ever considered buying an island?
HAVING trouble finding a house in Mackay? Why not consider an island?
Your own white sandy beach, a turtle rookery, an air strip, even your own private hill to watch the whales lazily swim by.
There are currently four islands for sale in the region ranging in prices from $850,000 to $15m.
Richard Vanhoff is a real estate agent with the enviable job of showing customers around tropical idyllic islands.
He reckons Temple Island, south of Mackay, is the "buy of the century".
Three kilometres off Ilbilbie and surrounded by deep, blue water, Mr Vanhoff said the island was spectacular.
"It would be the most underrated island and has huge potential," he said.
"The views are amazing; it's a beautiful place."
And getting to the island is a piece of cake. Simply drive up the beach from Ilbilbie, hop in your boat and you are over on the island in minutes.
Mr Vanhoff said Temple Island came complete with the homestead, two cars, a tractor and a small tinny with 25hp outboard.
But he said Victor Island, a 20-minute boat ride from Sarina Inlet, was the region's piece de resistance.
Current co-owner Denis Connole called the island a magical place.
The modern day Robinson Crusoe said he grew up reading stories about people living on an island.
"It's just like that," he said. "It's just you, your friends and whoever you want to invite to the island."
And the answer to the million-dollar question about the fishing.
"You have to hide behind a tree to bait your hook," he said.
Other islands for sale in the region include idyllic Marble Island as well as 8.7-hectare Avoid Island, complete with its very own turtle rookery and private air strip.
