No matter where you are in the world, any conversation about beautiful beaches will, at some point, turn to Australia. This is no surprise, because with over 60,000 kilometers of incredible coastline, Australia is home to some of the best beaches in the world. The question is, though, which are the best beaches in Australia?
Now, when it comes to making a list like this, it always has to come with caveats. I mean, choosing a “best of” list of anything, is relative, isn’t it? One person’s opinion is always going to be different to the next. Which is exactly why it is fun to do lists such as this!
So this is MY list of the best beaches in Australia. You will notice that there are a lot of Queensland beaches on here. This is for two reasons. First, I grew up in Queensland and spent a LOT of time there. Second, it is a fact that Queensland DOES HAVE many of the best beaches in Australia. The tropical setting adds to that, and it is the main reason that people from all over Australia choose to holiday there. So it is not a coincidence that many of the best beaches in Australia ARE in Queensland!
It is also for that reason that a moment has to be taken to acknowledge that many of the very best beaches in Australia are actually from other states. Even as far south as Tasmania, which is evidence enough of what an amazingly diverse country Australia is.
So let’s get on with it. Here is my list of the 15 best beaches in Australia. Let me know what you think.
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#15 – Burleigh Beach, Queensland
Burleigh Beach and the nearby headland are a local favorite on the Gold Coast. Every weekend, people will flock to Burleigh, just to hang out and enjoy the atmosphere.
What made Burleigh so popular in the first place was the beach itself, and that is the main reason that it squeezes its way into my list of best beaches in Australia at number 15. Of all the beaches along the glitzy Gold Coast strip, Burleigh has its own style, and that is what makes it so popular.
Many visitors will liken Burleigh to Byron Bay, and you can immediately see why. It has the same vibe, is casual and laid back, and you immediately relax. The beach head is lined with massive Norfolk Island Pines, and the headland is covered with lush, tropical foliage. Nearby, the chic cafes and shopping only seems to get better year after year. And then, there is the beach.
This strip of sand is the perfect place to throw down your towel and relax. It is protected from the southerly wind, as is the surf break from the often destructive southerly swells. On any given day, you are likely to see dozens of locals surfing the famous break.
If you are on the Gold Coast, then Burleigh Beach is the place to be. I would tell you to make sure you stop by, but it is almost impossible to visit the Gold Coast and not be drawn there naturally anyway!
#14 – Palm Beach, New South Wales
Palm Beach, situated in the far northern suburbs of Sydney, is a personal favorite. I lived in Sydney for many years, and my Sunday’s were spent cruising up along the Sydney North Shore, just to have lunch under the beautiful pine trees at Palm Beach.
This beach is a favorite of many from the city of Sydney. The beautiful white stretch of sand is perfect for lazing in the sun, and the beach itself provides swimming and surfing conditions to keep anyone content. But there is so much more to Palm Beach than just the usual Beach conditions that keep people coming back.
Palm Beach is located right at the mouth of the Hawkesbury river, so it is only a short stroll from the beach to the river. There is also a wonderful little hike up the headland to the lighthouse. Here you can get amazing views, and provides a great place for a picnic. It’s no wonder day trippers LOVE this place.
The added bonus is that Palm Beach is the main setting for the wildly popular TV show Home and Away. Chances are usually high that they will be filming while you are there!
#13 – 75 Mile Beach, Fraser Island, Queensland
75 Mile Beach is not your typical beach that would be found on a list such as this. There will be no swimming along this beach, and probably very little sunbathing on a towel. Why?
Because this beach is different. As advertised, it is a very long beach, and covers the entire East Coast of Fraser Island, which is the largest sand island in the world. The beach itself is a nationally gazetted highway, and is the “main road” on Fraser Island to access all of its natural wonders. Lakes, rock pools, creeks and even a ship wreck are some of the things that you can expect to find along this incredible strip of sand.
Now, you might be wondering what is so popular about a beach that you can only drive on. Well, let me tell you that this BELONGS on a list of best beaches in Australia. The views are incredible, and a visit to Frazer Island is a must for any 4WD enthusiasts. As a matter of fact, it is on the bucket list of most Australians that own one!
Although you cannot swim on 75 Mile Beach due to the large population of sharks, there are plenty of other options. Not far from the beach is beautiful Lake Mackenzie. Eli Creek can be found along the beach, which is perfect for a stop off and a lazy swim in its calm waters. There is also Champagne Pools, which are unique rock pools that the ocean fills regularly, creating a bubbly, “champagne” experience.
#12 – Rainbow Bay, Queensland
Rainbow Bay is one of those beautiful places that you just don’t expect to find. This is because it is tucked away on the southern stretch of the Gold Coast, and many might just drive by without noticing. Which would really be a shame!
Rainbow Bay might be better known to many as the location of Snapper Rocks. This incredible point break is famous around the surfing community, and is an annual stop for the World Surf League. This means that once a year, the entire area is crawling with famous surfers, and they love this beach as much as anyone!
Aside from the world class surf, the beach itself is a family friendly spot that is hard to find along the Gold Coast stretch. Its north facing location provides a safe haven from the dangerous swells, and it very rarely suffers the rip currents of other beaches in the area. At times, the water can be so calm that snorkeling around the rocks is even possible.
Rainbow bay is beautifully framed by the lush Greenmount headland to the North, and Snapper Rocks behind. There is a wonderful walkway that goes all the way from Point Danger, past Rainbow Bay, Greenmount, and all the way along to Kirra Beach. Add to that the amazing café and restaurant scene in the surrounding area, and Rainbow Bay is not just a daytrip destination, but a must for those looking to holiday on the Gold Coast!
#11 – Cape Tribulation, Queensland
Cape Tribulation is unique. This is the only place in the world that two World Heritage Sites meet. The oldest rainforest in the world, the amazing Daintree, and the world famous Great Barrier Reef literally meet at the white sands of the beach at Cape Tribulation.
You can’t imagine the experience of being on a beautiful beach, with incredible blue waters in front of you, while right behind you is tropical rainforest. This is an experience that you will only find here, at Cape Tribulation.
Cape Tribulation can be found 140 kilometers north of Cairns, however the closest port of call is really Port Douglas. At trip to the area is a must if you are visiting Far North Queensland, as there are so many natural wonders that you really don’t want to miss out.
4WD up the Bloomfield Track. Wander along the boardwalk through the rainforest. Take a trip out to the Great Barrier Reef, or a boat trip into the Daintree Rainforest. You never know what you will find in one of the oldest places on Earth. Literally!
#10 – Noosa Main Beach, Queensland
Noosa Main Beach is one of the most popular beaches, in one of the most popular beachside destinations in Australia. So there is no wonder that it makes not only MY list of best beaches in Australia, but nearly every other list as well.
So what makes Noosa Main Beach so good? Well, let’s start with the fact that it faces in a northerly direction. This makes it a lot safer for swimming, and those conditions continue year round. Therefore, as can be imagined, during the busy summer months the area can get quite crowded.
It is not just the beach itself that attracts visitors to the area. The popular Hastings Street runs along the beachfront, filled with cafes and boutique shopping. Natural bushland at one end of the beach offers up great bushwalking, and there are more than a few Koala’s that call the area home. Surfers love the rocky points nearby that offer up a variety of waves that will suit any skill level.
The Sunshine Coast north of Brisbane is a great place for a holiday, with Noosa and the Main Beach area right at the very top. Check it out next time you are in the area!
#9 – Vivonne Bay, South Australia
Vivonne Bay is not widely known, and many Australians would never have heard of it. This is one of the many things that make it special, and one of the reasons that it is one of the best beaches in Australia. Located on Kangaroo Island, just off the coastline in South Australia, Vivonne Bay only adds to the natural splendor of the already beautiful island destination.
There are several things that make Vivonne Bay special. Number one is the solitude. If you are looking for an idyllic beach that you can have all to yourself, then this is your place! At any time of the year, you are almost guaranteed not to run into another soul. Even in the summer holidays, you would be unlucky to have more than a couple of other people sharing the sand with you. It really is that peaceful.
Vivonne Bay is a U-shaped beach that is about 6 kilometers long. The sand is about as white as you can imagine, and the ocean so calm and tranquil that it almost seems to have been designed that way. The waters are such a clear blue that the boats appear to be floating in mid air. How much more perfect could you want it?
A trip to Kangaroo Island just has to involve a stop at Vivonne Bay. Elsewhere on the island, you will find a colony of seals, large sand dunes, amazing hiking, and even wineries. Sounds like a perfect getaway to me!
#8 – Twilight Beach, Western Australia
Twilight Beach is located not too far away from the town of Esperance, in Western Australia. It is one of the most popular beaches in the area for locals, and it doesn’t take much imagination to see why.
Twilight Beach is simply beautiful. The sand is clean and white, the water an azure turquoise blue, and the colors of the granite rock formations that surround the beach offsets it all perfectly.
The beach is over 3 kilometers long, with the dominant feature being an offshore rock formation that only adds to the picturesque nature of the bay. During the summer months, you will see locals swimming out to the rocks, climbing them and diving into the crystal blue waters. The beach gets rather crowded around this time of year, as locals from Esperance claim their spot on the sand to enjoy the piece of paradise that nature so kindly gifted to them.
To find Twilight Beach is easy, as it is located on the famed Great Ocean Drive, and any passersby don’t need to venture too far out of their way to see it. For this particular beach, I am pretty certain it wouldn’t matter anyway.
#7 – Nudey Beach, Fitzroy Island, Queensland
Nudey Beach is located on Fitzroy Island, off the coast of Cairns in Far North Queensland. It takes a little bit of getting to, with a 45 minute ferry ride, followed by 15 minutes of hiking through tropical rainforest. What awaits, however, is without a doubt one of the best beaches in Australia. In fact, Nudey Beach has recently topped a couple of tourism lists, and managed to take out the #1 spot.
The name, Nudey Beach, is a misnomer. This is no nude beach, so there is no need to get your kit off if you visit. Instead, it is believed that the name comes from the fact that the place is so unspoilt, and is still in its natural state. No one really seems to know for sure, however.
What you will find at Nudey Beach is a small, yet perfect white sand and coral beach. Dotted with white sun-bleached boulders, and the beautiful turquoise green waters of the Great Barriers Reef lapping the shoreline, makes it a dream destination for beach lovers.
So if you are in the North Queensland area, grab your towel and snorkeling gear, because Nudey Beach is the place to be!
#6 – Loch Ard Gorge, South Australia
Loch Ard Gorge is a fabulous addition to this list, and a personal favorite of mine. Simply because is so different to anything else on this list.
This amazing gorge is a massive inlet on the South Australian Coast. The clean, seemingly untouched golden sand is framed by two massive yellow cliff faces. The cliffs stretch their arms out, almost touching at the end, holding within their embrace a bay of the clearest, bluest waters.
The name of Loch Ard Gorge seems a bit strange for a bay in South Australia. It came, however, from a tragic event that occurred nearby in 1878, when a ship by the same name came to grief on nearby Muttonbird Island. The two survivors of the wreck, Tom and Eva, came ashore at the beach. The two cliffs that form the bay around Loch Ard Gorge are now affectionately named Tom and Eva, after the two lucky souls.
Loch Ard Gorge can be found along the famous Great Ocean Road in South Australia, only a stones throw from the world renowned Twelve Apostles. So if you are in the area, stop by and check it out.
#5 – Wineglass Bay, Tasmania
Wineglass Bay is located in remote Freycinet National Park on the East Coast of Tasmania. About 2.5 hours drive north of Hobart, or the same from Launceston, Wineglass Bay is not easy to get to, but worth every single minute.
This is simply one of the most beautiful locations, not just beaches, that you will ever see. The beach itself is often rated in the top ten in the WORLD, and with good reason. The perfectly shaped circular coastline could have been shaped by a master craftsman. The sandy beach is as white as they come, and the waters as azure as you could possibly imagine. All of this is framed by the rugged, pink and grey Hazards mountain range behind, and the just as rugged Australian bush.
Getting to Wineglass Bay is not easy, and will involve a long hike on the back of the already long drive. Most will opt to stop by at the lookout, and be happy with their photos of this Tasmanian icon. For others, the allure of an even longer hike down to the idyllic shoreline is too much to pass up.
#4 – Tangalooma Beach, Queensland
One of the very best beaches in Australia, is also one of Brisbane’s best kept secrets. Located on Moreton Island, only a short ferry ride from the Queensland Capital, is the incredible Tangalooma Beach.
The most famous thing about Tangalooma, are the iconic shipwrecks. 15 ships were sunk at this location, just off the beach in order to provide a safe anchorage for boats. The beautiful location became an instant hit, and a surprise tourist attraction.
Now, people flock to the beach. The wrecks are perfect for snorkeling and diving, and are home to an incredible array of sea life. The beach itself is idyllic, and the calm, protected waters are perfect for swimming.
If you are visiting Tangalooma, be aware of the strong currents that can run past the wrecks. At times, it can become rather dangerous for swimmers. For this reason, it can be safer to take a tour with a guide to make certain you don’t run into any problems.
Visitors can also stay at the Tangalooma Resort, and if they do, can see some beautiful sunsets, and even hand feed dolphins every day down at the beach. What can be better than that?
#3 – Cable Beach, Western Australia
Cable Beach in Western Australia has had its place reserved as one of the best beaches in Australia for decades. And it will remain so for a long time to come.
Think of the most remote beaches that you know of, and then add Cable Beach to that list. Although it is situated at the township of Broome, in Western Australia, it is over 2000km from Perth, or over 3 hour plane trip!
The remoteness of Cable Beach only adds to the natural splendor of the location. Cable Beach is 22 kilometers of incredible white sand and azure blue waters. It is safe for swimming, and during the dry season months is even patrolled, as it is the most popular place to swim for residents of Broome township.
As beautiful as the beach itself is, the most iconic images you will find of Cable Beach are the camel rides and sunsets. Combine them together, and you have the perfect photo for your trip to one of the best beaches in Australia!
#2 – Palm Cove, Queensland
Ask anyone what their idea of the idyllic beach is, and the answer is almost exclusively going to mention palm trees and tropical waters. Close your eyes, picture it, and you will see Palm Cove, Queensland.
This beach is everything that you could want from your dream beach. A long stretch of beautiful, clean sand. A beach head lined with tropical palms swaying in the gentle breeze. Azure blue waters lapping at the shoreline. An outlook that stretches into the distance, toward the Great Barrier Reef and several islands gazing back at you.
Palm Cove is located only 30 minutes from the city of Cairns, and is the northernmost beach in a stretch of beaches that are almost as beautiful as each other. It features every year on the lists of best beaches in Australia, and adorns the cover of nearly every brochure for the area. It is safe to say that Palm Cove is an icon in North Queensland.
#1 – Whitehaven Beach, Queensland
Whitehaven Beach in Queensland’s Whitsunday Islands is not only Australia’s best beach, but it has also been consistently rated the best beach in the world! The reasons are easy to see.
This beach has to be one of the whitest beaches that you will ever see. With crystal white silica sand, it is almost luminescent, and as soft as baby powder. The other thing that this type of sand is great for, is that it does not retain the heat, and is comfortable to walk on, even on a hot day. So for a beach in tropical Queensland, this is very important, and a real deal clincher when it comes to rating beaches!
Whitehaven beach is a swirling, seemingly ever changing course of white sand that runs for 7kms through the most crystalline blue waters that you have ever seen. Swimming here is an absolute dream, and you will be sharing the water with dolphins, turtles, and a myriad of fish impossible to count. The entire outlook is framed by tropical, lush foliage. The best bit – you will have it almost to yourself!
To get to Whitehaven Beach, you will have to come by boat, seaplane or Helicopter from Airlie Beach. In my opinion, though, it is worth the effort!
BONUS – Any Beach you are at!
Let’s face it. In Australia, it is pretty hard to find a BAD beach. They are all amazing, in their own way, and combined with the weather, there is no wonder that beaches in Australia are the best in the world.
So just get out and enjoy your local beach. Because today, THAT is the best beach in Australia!
Did you enjoy this article? Then don’t forget to leave a comment below, and let me know what you thought, and of any beaches that you believe should be added to this list.
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