The Maldives has well over 150 resort islands, and from the air they all look like paradise. On the ground, they could not be more different. Some are tiny and silent, made for two. Others have golf courses, kids’ clubs and a museum.
I was born in the Maldives and have called Melbourne home for almost 12 years. I go back every year, and the question my clients ask most is not “Should we go?” but “Which island?” Here are four resorts I work with directly, and who each one is really for.
Meeru: best for all ages
If I could only recommend one island to a family, it would be Meeru. It is one of the Maldives’ original resorts and the biggest island in our collection, with 1.5 km of white beach wrapped around a huge, calm lagoon. A 55-minute speedboat ride from Malé, it is also one of the easiest to reach.
What makes Meeru special is how much there is to do without ever leaving the island:
- On land: a 9-hole pitch ‘n’ putt, driving range, tennis, padel and pickleball, and bikes to explore
- In the water: a PADI 5-Star dive centre, snorkelling over the Meeru Coral Garden and a daily boat to the house reef
- In the evenings: Boduberu drumming, live music and films under the stars on the beach
And then there is the Meeru Museum, a beautiful space dedicated to Maldivian history and crafts. It is a rare chance to see the culture behind the postcard, and one of my favourite places to send curious travellers.
Families have their own area with a kids’ playroom and pool. Couples can retreat to adults-only villas, bars and a pool of their own, or the new Beach Pool Villas on the sunset side.
Kagi: best for wellness and privacy
Kagi is the island I suggest when someone tells me they just want to switch off. It is a boutique, Zen-inspired resort of only 50 villas, and every single one has its own private pool. The whole island is wrapped by a 360° house reef, so the snorkelling starts at the shore.
The Baani Spa has treatment rooms over the water, and there is an overwater gym, yoga and meditation for anyone who wants their holiday to leave them genuinely restored. In the evening, live acoustic music on the deck as the sun goes down sets the pace.
Kagi is perfect for honeymooners and couples, but it welcomes all ages. It is just 15 minutes from Malé by seaplane, or an hour by speedboat.
Veligandu: best for couples and sunsets
Veligandu is pure romance. A natural island of white beaches and palms, it is famous for its long sandbank that stretches into the lagoon, the setting for barefoot sunset drinks and symbolic wedding ceremonies.
The overwater villas face the sunset, many with a private infinity pool, and the two-bedroom pool villas (up to 319 sqm) make it a lovely choice for families or friends travelling together too. Evenings bring sunset yoga at the pavilion, champagne at the Raalhu Champagne Pavilion and traditional Maldivian dance nights.
Veligandu is in North Ari Atoll, 20 minutes by seaplane from Malé. The island also runs on solar power for up to eight hours a day, which I love.
Vilamendhoo: best for divers and snorkellers
For anyone who measures a holiday in time underwater, Vilamendhoo is the one. Its house reef is a short swim from the beach on both sides of the island, and it sits in South Ari Atoll, one of the best places in the Maldives to see whale sharks and manta rays.
The Euro-Divers centre runs guided dives, courses and night snorkelling, and excursions head out to find whale sharks, mantas and turtles. Back on land, there is an adults-only infinity pool and Sunset Bar, overwater dining at Asian Wok, and the Hot Rock restaurant, where you cook your own meal on a heated stone.
Vilamendhoo is family-friendly, with adults-only Jacuzzi Water and Beach Villas for couples. It is a scenic 25-minute seaplane flight from Malé.
Make it a split stay
Any of these four resorts can be paired with a few nights on a local island first. That’s where Muraka began, and it’s still my favourite way to travel.
You start in a small guesthouse, living alongside Maldivian families, eating home-style food and taking boat trips to sandbanks and reefs. Then you move to the resort for the finale. Guesthouse nights cost less, so many of my clients use the savings to upgrade their villa.
Veligandu sits close to the local island of Rasdhoo, and Vilamendhoo near Dhangethi, so the hop between the two worlds is short. Just ask, and I’ll plan the pairing that suits you.
Getting there from Australia
The Maldives is easier to reach than most Australians expect: one stop, then a short hop to your island.
| What to know |
|---|---|
Flights | One stop via Singapore, Kuala Lumpur or Colombo to Malé |
Transfers | Your resort’s own seaplane or speedboat, met at the airport |
Visa | Free 30-day visa on arrival for Australian passport holders (details) |
Time difference | 5 hours behind Melbourne and Sydney (6 in daylight saving), 3 behind Perth |
When to go | The dry season runs roughly December to April, lining up nicely with Australian summer holidays and Easter; May to November is greener and quieter |
Information as at October 2026. Always check entry requirements with official sources before you travel.
Which island is yours?
Every one of these islands is beautiful. The magic is in matching the right one to you: how you like to spend your days, who you are travelling with, and what you want to come home feeling.
Our full Maldives Collection brochure has the villas, dining and meal plans for each resort. It is shared on request, so I can send it to you personally.
Begin with a private consultation. Share your dates and who’s travelling, and I’ll craft a personalised proposal within 24 hours.
