Today's Bargain: Australia's Islands

No man is an island—but now is the time for him to own one. Australia’s ritzy Queensland island resorts are going for bargain prices, but between the recession, a slew of natural disasters, and a nasty oil spill, no one’s biting, reports the Telegraph. Dunk Island is on the market for half of its last sale price of $36.4 million, while Turtle Island, which Julia Roberts once considered buying, seeks “any reasonable offer."   

More than 30 islands are up for grabs; some have been on the market longer than 6 months. Buyers are scarce because the island resorts are expensive to run, and the tourism industry in Australia has hit a dry spell: one group predicts up to 29,000 such jobs could be lost due to the recession. (More Queensland stories.)