For many people, escaping to a private desert island is the ultimate dream. In an increasingly crowded, connected world, finding a little corner of peace and solitude can be difficult.
However, for one lucky buyer, this dream can now become a reality, on an uninhabited island just off the coast of Tasmania in Australia.
The Bass Strait is a stretch of water between Melbourne and Tasmania dotted with thousands of small islands. This beautiful stretch of the Australian coastline is home to an abundant and rich nature, and is almost entirely uninhabited.
Today, one of these magnificent islands is currently up for sale, for the princely sum of $1.98 million Australian dollars (A bit less than $1.4M USD).
Ninth Island is just one of many beautiful islands that lie off the Tasmanian coast, and offers an opportunity to escape the hustle, bustle and stresses of modern life.
This is a real retreat from civilization, as the only sign of human activity on the island is a small fishing shack perched on the stony shore.
There’s barely a sign of human existence, and this stunning natural haven is completely unconnected to the busy urban life on the mainland.
However, according to The Mercury, the island is densely populated with a wide variety of animal and bird life. The surrounding seas are filled with penguins, dolphins and seals, some of which periodically make their home on the shores of Ninth Island.
However, the biggest attraction is the spectacular range of birds that may be observed on and around its shores. Rare oystercatchers, shearwaters, diving petrels and gulls may all be found nesting on the island.
The rocky cliffs even contain a rare mutton-bird rookery, and the broader region is home to 1 percent of the world’s population of black-faced cormorants.
Life on this deserted island offers complete solitude. The rare bird colonies on Ninth Island means that it is forbidden to moor a boat on the shore, and as a result, the only access is via helicopter, just a 7.5 mile (12 km) journey from the mainland.
There is no jetty or bridge to the island, meaning that any inhabitants are unlikely to be bothered by unexpected visitors and callers.
This is not the first time that Ninth Island has been put up for sale to the public. In the late 1980s it was purchased for the sum of $64,000 and sold once again in 2015 for $1.19 million. However, as yet no one has decided to build on the island, and it remains completely uninhabited.
Ninth Island is currently on the market for $1.98 million Australian dollars, making it one of the best-value opportunities for those seeking to purchase a private island.
Although this is not the Caribbean, Tasmania boasts warm weather, clear skies and unique wildlife and vegetation. Real estate agent Peter Huang suggests that it offers a fantastic opportunity for someone wishing to develop their own secret island hideaway, with scope for building a luxury lodge that offers a complete off-grid experience.
However, Ninth Island also offers an interesting prospect for Australia’s burgeoning eco-tourism industry. This location provides the ideal spot for the development of an eco-tourist lodge, providing guests with unprecedented access to nature and ample opportunity to watch the birds sweep around the rugged coast of the island.
Tasmania’s wild coastline is a paradise for bird lovers, and this island offers a fantastic opportunity for pleasure seekers who wish to own their own little piece of the natural world.
Why not shell out on your own little piece of heaven, and design your own dream home in one of Australia’s most stunning locations?