The best beaches around Australia
It is a great Aussie summer tradition: grabbing your bathers, packing the beach towels and umbrellas and heading down to the beach to spend a day swimming, sunbaking and playing. With more than 10,000 beaches around Australia we are truly spoilt for choice when it comes to sand, surf and sun. So here is a list – but by no means complete – of some of the top beaches around Australia.
New South Wales
Byron Bay
Once renowned as the “hippy town”, Byron Bay has changed quite considerably with modern restaurants, cafes and bars popping up. However, two things haven’t changed: the laidback beach culture and the beaches themselves, which still remain some of the best in NSW for surfing and swimming. So head to Tallow, Watego or Main beach next time you’re by Byron!
Hyams Beach, Jervis Bay
According to Guinness Book of Records, Hyam beach has the whitest sands of any beach in the world. Located at the southern shores of Jervis Bay, Hyam is the perfect place to go for a snorkel or swim in the calm seas or luxuriate on the pure white sand.
Victoria
Bells Beach
The surf capital of Victoria, Bells Beach is renowned for the gigantic swells all surfers hunt. It is also home to the longest-running surfing competition – the Rip Curl Pro. For those who are past their surfing days, head to Front Beach for a swim or a snorkel at Point Danger (which is nowhere as dangerous as the name suggests).
Squeaky Beach
Located in Wilsons Promontory National Park, Squeaky Beach does exactly what it promises – it squeaks when you walk atop the silky rounded quartz sand. Framed by granite borders, the beach is a great picnic spot as well.
South Australia
Aldinga Beach
You can drive straight onto this beach which makes unloading all the beach gear much easier. With plenty of room for everybody Aldinga is popular for its family-friendly, kid-friendly and dog-friendly atmosphere.
Queensland
Whitehaven Beach, Whitsundays
This may be a predictable inclusion but for anyone who has ever padded along the shores of Whitehaven Beach they will attest it is perhaps the most beautiful beach in Australia. With silky white sands, crystal waters, reef surroundings and blessed with endless sunshine, Whitehaven is precisely that, a beach haven.
75 Mile Beach, Fraser Island
Named so because the beach is approximately 75 miles long, this expansive stretch of multi-coloured sands is a sight to behold. However, it is not a beach for its waters as there are dangerous currents and numerous Tiger sharks in the area. People look inland where there are a number of freshwater lakes such as Champagne Pools or amble up to Indian Head where you might be able to catch a glimpse of the sharks at sea.
Western Australia
Cable Beach
With 22 kilometre of sand and water, Broome’s Cable beach is famous for providing a beautiful vantage point to watch the sun sink into the Indian Ocean. You can even admire the sunset while riding on a camel.
Mandalay Beach
The rugged and wild Mandalay Beach is a little known beauty due to its isolated location. Wander down and you’ll see rocky headlands, the lush greenery of the surrounding Walpole-Nornalup National Park and Chatham Island just a few kilometres offshore. Although a bit difficult to access, Mandalay serene and peaceful (sometimes deserted) location makes it a unique beach experience.
Tasmania
Wineglass Bay
While the state Tasmania conjures up images of greenery and the countryside, there are a few exceptions – one being Wineglass Bay. Part of the Freycinet National Park, Wineglass Bay provides a stretch of turquoise waters and white sands. The family-friendly beach has a myriad of activities on offer such as snorkelling and kayaking. Otherwise, an uphill walk to Wineglass Bay lookout will give you a magnificent view of the beach.