High Cay, Bahamas was the first land that Christopher Columbus spotted on his famous journey when he discovered the new world. Just imagine, crossing the ocean for months not knowing if you will ever see land again… and then all of a sudden, this beatiful island is spotted! Amazingly, this 31.46 acre island is on sale! Listed at $3,000,000 U.S., the island boasts 3 different beaches, and although it doesn’t have a dock at the moment, there is an ideal sheltered spot to build one. The Bahamas is a great place to purchase an island, because of its stable government, balmy weather and close proximity to the U.S. Although this island has a lot going for it, the history of the island is what makes it really attractive.

Athina Onassis, granddaughter of shipping magnate Aristotle, has laid all rumors to relating to her private family island rest as she finally released a statement saying that she has no plans of selling her Skorpios island.

It was reported earlier that the exotic island in the Ionian Islands, in Greece was being offered for sale for EUR 120 million ($170 million). The family island which hosted the wedding of Onassis and widow of late U.S. President John F. Kennedy, Jacqueline Kennedy, in 1968 is a huge private island that is completely closed for outsiders.

Besides the house of Onassis, the island has a Pink House (villa of Jacky Kennedy), tennis courts, and parks. There are also two lovely beaches, and a beautiful chapel a chapel where Onassis married Jacky Kennedy, and the cemetery of her family members. On hearing the news of the sale of this historic island, apparently Big Wigs including Bill Gates, Madonna and billionaire Roman Abramovich were all said to have shown an interest.

But the statement by the 24 year old heiress denying plans of selling this family island has stopped rumor mills from speculating and spreading news about the new owners of this beautiful island.

According to the statement Athina was very upset and hurt over the news of her selling the island. The statement went on further to say that the island holds a lot of sentimental value to the heiress and hence she would never consider selling it.

Note! My previous report about the sale of the island was based upon widely reported stories in the media about the island’s sale.

Image: The New Zealand Navy vessel HMNZS CANTERBURY has anchored west of the Tsunami-affected Tongan island of Niuatoputapu, to move aid and supplies to the shore.

Australia will spend $1 million on aid to help the remote Tongan island of Niuatoputapu, which was devastated by the Pacific tsunami after a massive earthquake struck nearby Samoa.

The deadly waves killed nine Tongans. Waves swept 600 metres inland on Niuatoputapu, destroying two of the island’s three villages.

“This assistance is being provided at the request of the government of Tonga,” Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said in a statement.

“Australia has extended its condolences to the government and the people of Tonga for their loss.”

Australia is providing tents, marquees, generators and lighting.

All of Niuatoputapu’s water storage tanks were destroyed when the tsunami struck. There are just 211 households on the island with a total population of just over 1,000.

Is this the most laid-back island in the Caribbean? Swinging in his hammock, Chris Moss, travel writer of The Observer toasts an island that has kept mass tourism at bay.

Providencia Island is strange mix of South America and the Caribbean, the tiny Colombian island located off the coast of Nicaragua enjoys a pace of life that makes Antigua or Barbados look frenetic.

To read the full story of this undiscovered island click the link below.

Chris Moss, The Observer
Sunday 13 September 2009

IT’S indulgent, lavish and only for the ber-wealthy, which means few can lay claim to owning their own island.

Aussie Rob Wilson has joined the ranks of this exclusive club, whose members include the likes of Mel Gibson, Nicolas Cage and Richard Branson.

Mr Wilson is now the proud, and very excited, owner of a private island near Toogoom.

The 57-acre island, believed to be worth about $7 million, generated national interest when it went up for sale late last year.

But, while he won’t divulge how much he forked out, Mr Wilson is clearly thrilled with the purchase and the fact he’s now part of the it club.

It’s pretty cool, he said of owning his own coastal paradise.

I’m jumping out of my skin.

It’s pretty exciting to be able to say you live on an island. It’s a real conversation opener.

Mr Wilson, who also owns a 22-acre property at Toogoom, runs a Gold Coast-based business that teaches people how to trade in financial markets.

He plans to set up a resort on the island, where his clients will go for trading conferences and relaxation.

We’re trying to keep it pretty exclusive, so it will only have a maximum of 50 (people) at a time, Mr Wilson said.

We want to keep it really eco-friendly.

One of our thoughts at this stage is that we want to keep it really different … a different lifestyle experience for people.

The unnamed island could soon be called Lifestyle Island if Aussie Rob has his way, named after his company Lifestyle Trader.

Right now the island, which sits 200 metres off the mainland, features two homes, a hangar and air strip, sandy beaches, native wildlife and mangroves.

Mr Wilson will move in in December.

A lot of islands are tropical but this is more of an Australian island, he said.

We’ve got a dozen kangaroos there, which will be great for our international clients.

Mr Wilson’s business also has offices in the UK and US and he regularly travels the world to spruik his ideas.

The island is just another chapter for the book, he says.

Within 48 hours of finding out the luxury parcel of land was for sale, a deal was secured.

But the new owner has still only visited the property three times.

So before any of the plans go ahead, he wants to spend some time alone enjoying his new toy.

At this stage I’m allowed to be selfish, he laughed.

Before heading back to work, Mr Wilson will spend six weeks from December on the island with his wife, Kerry, where they will begin plans for the resort.

The couple’s other property at Toogoom is where they currently store our stuff but because they travel so often home is wherever our heads hit the pillow, he said.

Mr Wilson says he instantly fell in love the Fraser Coast and enjoys the anonymity of small town life.

But for someone who regularly travels the world and has lived on several continents, his love of the region speaks volumes about its appeal.

When the Chronicle caught up with him, he’d just returned to Oz from the jungles of Belize.

I’m on stage somewhere in the world every week … (but) it’s pretty hard to beat the Fraser Coast, he said.

I absolutely love it.

It’s nice to come home to our little oasis.

Source: Toogoom Island Sold
By Kristy Martin, October 28, 2009
The Fraser Coast Chronicle

After two years of planning, Arizona Republican Jeff Flake just completed a childhood dream. The congressman spent a week living on a deserted island with just the bare minimum essentials.

The congressman’s home away from home was Jabonwod, near Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands. Flake his private island as “roughly one-third of a mile long and approximately 100 yards wide.”

Four Australian surfers recently became unwitting castaways on a remote island.

Michael Morehead, 26, Matthew Dwyer, 26, Adam Oliver, 28, and Graeme Tuhill, 28, were forced to started rationing their food and water when they realised they were stuck on the island of Awera, about 70km off the coast of Sumatra, after a powerful 7.6-magnitude earthquake ravaged Indonesia.

The surfers were due to catch a plane out of the West Sumatran capital of Padang on Thursday morning when the earthquake struck last Wednesday around 5.15pm.

The Awera Island Surf Camp is a mid range option for guests wanting to experience the waves of the Mentawai Islands.

Awera Island with its white sand beaches and fringing coral reefs is located within 20 minutes boat ride of 7 quality waves, including the world class Telescopes, which is only 10 minutes away by boat.

Awera Island Surf Camp

Stranded surfers share survival story
Daniel Bateman
The Cairns Post,Thursday, October 8, 2009

Dad fears for surfer son
Daniel Bateman
The Cairns Post, Tuesday, October 6, 2009