Why this private Indonesian island could be the ultimate escape for Aussie families

Sydney-born entrepreneur Andrew Dixon was working as an investment banker in Singapore in the early noughties when he heard that a tiny Indonesian island - just 80 kilometres from the Lion City - was for sale. He was looking for a private retreat for his family, where he could build a shack on the beach, hang hammocks from the palms and let his children - then five and seven years old - run barefoot on the sand. So he rustled up a few friends, bought the island with them and turned it into Nikoi - a haven for families, with 18 waterfront villas, a couple of restaurants and bars, a kids' club and a beach that shifts with the seasons.

It takes a bit of effort to get to Nikoi. First, there's a 70-minute ferry ride from Singapore to Bintan, where hotel staff meet you for the hour-long drive to the other side of the island. There, you'll hop aboard Nikoi's speedboat for the final 30-minute transfer. When you finally reach the 15-hectare private island, there's nothing around. And that's pretty much the point.

Dixon didn't want to build a resort; he wanted to create a private island for families. And to this day, the island's topography is its star. Elevated boardwalks curl around giant boulders, while sandy paths wind through a lush rainforest thick with soaring palms and wind-bent pandanus. Stand-alone timber-and-stone villas, topped with traditional thatched alang-alang roofs, are scattered among the trees.

Bring a sense of adventure as there's no air-conditioning here. Instead, everything - from the rooms and verandahs to the restaurants and bars - is open to the elements, allowing the breeze to do its magic. And when the air falls still, ceiling fans and swimming pools beneath broad-leafed banyans take the sting out of the heat.

There are five accommodation categories - from spacious one-bedroom villas spread over two levels to an expansive three-bedroom abode with four bathrooms and a private pool. I'm staying in a two-bedroom villa, with a huge living room, a gorgeous private pool, a small bedroom and ensuite downstairs, and a larger bedroom with an ensuite upstairs.

It gets muggy at times, and I find myself making liberal use of the pool - multiple dips in a single afternoon. My villa is about a 10-minute walk from Nikoi's main hub. I don't mind the stroll; it's the only exercise I'm getting.

There are no tedious tasting menus here - just authentic home-style Indonesian food, packed with flavour. Chef Dika and his team prepare four or five dishes for each meal and bring them to the table as they would in their own homes. It takes the hassle out of choosing from a menu and is perfect for those - like me - who aren't overly familiar with the local cuisine.

There's no end to activities for both kids and adults - from snorkelling, windsurfing, diving and kayaking to tennis, yoga, cooking classes, rock-climbing and jungle zip-lining. And most activities are free.

There's a beautiful beach on the island, which shifts with the changing seasons and winds. For half the year, it sticks out like a peninsula, while for the rest of the time, it wraps itself around one side of the island. Irrespective of the season or shape, it's the best spot for sunsets.

The writer was a guest of Nikoi