Australia is an island country with an incredible 34,000 kilometres of spectacular coastline. Although, rugged in the southern regions around the Great Australian Bight, and crocodile infested at the northern Top End of Australia, there are an abundance of beautiful beaches. This begs the question “have you been to Australia’s most beautiful beaches”?
Recently Qantas Airlines posted 100 of Australia’s most beautiful beaches, and it made me realise that there are many that I have not seen. I think out of the hundred I’ve been to 62 on the list. To actually experience all the wonderful beaches that the Australian coastline boasts, would involve continuous travel checking out every nook and cranny.
Here I’m listing some of my favourite Australian beaches, state by state.
I may be biased, but I think New South Wales boasts some of the most beautiful beaches in Australia. Where I live in the far north of the state there are at least 20 that I could reel off as being pristine and spectacular. So it’s a difficult task to narrow it down to just 10 of my favourite beaches.
Dreamtime Beach is practically in my backyard and can be accessed from North Kingscliff along untrodden and unspoiled expanse of sand on foot. It is actually located at Fingal Head and is a hidden gem that locals only know about.
This Tweed Coast town in Far North New South Wales has a beachy vibe of yesteryear and is a top spot for surfers. It has a great point break that is generally consistent.
Byron Bay, the most easterly town in Australia, offers beach-goers plenty of choices of gorgeous beaches. However, my favourite one is Tallow Beach that stretches from Cape Byron in the north, to Broken Head in the south.
The Clarence Valley boasts a spectacular coastline within the Yuraygir National Park and Brooms Head, south of Yamba, is one of its hidden treasures.
One of our firm favourites is this small holiday village called Scotts Head in the Nambucca Valley. This cute, very aptly named, little beach is on the southern side of the headland.
I fell in love with this beach at first sight years ago on our travels down the New South Wales north coast. Seal Rocks is located south of Forster/Tuncurry on the mid-north coast.
Port Stephens, just north of Newcastle is a popular spot for holiday-makers during the warmer months. We found this gorgeous horseshoe-shaped beach at Anna Bay.
You really can’t go past the famous Bondi Beach in Sydney, although it is normally so crowded that there’s barely enough sand to place your beach towel!
Located between two spectacular headlands with rock swimming pools at one end and a natural lagoon at the other, Werri Beach in Gerringong is as pretty as a picture.
Bermagui on the New South Wales south coast was memorable because on the day we visited there was a large pod of dolphins feasting on bait fish close to shore.
Growing up in the inland city of Bendigo, I never really got to see much of the coastline in this southern state of Australia. However, I do remember a couple of beach holidays on the Mornington Peninsula. Victoria does boast some beautiful beaches that Victorians flock to during the summer months.
From Melbourne the choices are endless. Either head west towards the Bellarine Peninsula and the Great Ocean Road, or head east towards the Mornington Peninsula and South Gippsland. Point Lonsdale on the Bellarine Peninsula was the pick of the beaches in this region.
I loved this panoramic view of the gorgeous Anglesea Beach on the amazing Surf Coast of the Great Ocean Road.
Further along the Great Ocean Road is this absolute gem of a surf beach, Johanna Beach. It’s a famous surf spot and also great for ocean fishing.
On the other side of Port Phillip Bay is the Mornington Peninsula, which is also an extremely popular beach holiday destination. Back Beach at Sorrento was an absolute standout on the day we visited. The vivid blue hues of the ocean, the rockpools and the golden sandy shores were a sight to behold.
138 kilometres south-east of Melbourne, Phillip Island is a revelation with rugged coastlines and idyllic beaches. The most spectacular was the long stretch of beach at Cape Woolamai.
Close to Wilson’s Promontory in South Gippsland is an untouched coastline with sweeping beaches on Waratah Bay. Walkerville, once a liming town with old ruins of the lime kilns along the beach, divulged a couple of stunning beaches.
The sprawling wilderness area of Wilson’s Promontory in South Gippsland unveiled numerous attractive beaches. Although most beaches are only reachable by taking a hike, Whisky Bay was certainly worth it.
Mallacoota in East Gippsland is the hub of Croajingolong National Park, an extensive wilderness area stretching over 100 kilometres of rugged and unspoilt coastline. The lakes, estuaries and beaches here were unspoiled and pristine.
The Apple Isle that we also affectionately call Tassie, is blessed with many beautiful beaches that are rarely crowded. Maybe that has something to do with the cold climate in Tasmania, but nonetheless it does have an attractive coastline.
A large bay to the east of Eaglehawk Neck on the Forestier Peninsula, Pirates Bay is a white stretch of sand running along a circle of rocky outcrops and cliffs. Tesselated Pavement is located at one end.
Located on the Tasman Peninsula at the tip of a small coastal bight between the famous Cape Raoul and Cape Pillar, is Remarkable Cave. There is a staircase down to the cave that brings you onto the sandy beach.
Freycinet Peninsula, is a long skinny land formation carved into Tasmania’s eastern coastline, and is renowned worldwide for its amazing hikes and the iconic Wineglass Bay. They say it is called this because of it’s wineglass shape.
The brilliant Bay of Fires extends from Binalong Bay to Eddystone Point along the east coast of Tassie, and is one the most scenic coastal vistas in Tasmania. Binalong Bay is a very popular seaside holiday village with an absolutely stunning beach.
Afire with some of the most spectacular beaches and orange lichen covered granite boulders, the Bay of Fires offers numerous beachside free camping spots to admire this stretch of coastline.
Taylors Beach is an incredible long stretch of white-as-snow sandy beach located at The Gardens in the Bay of Fires.
The second Boat Harbour beach in Australia is located on the north east coast of Tasmania. It is a spectacular turquoise bay with crystal clean shallows, pristine sand and rockpools.
From windswept clifftops and steep sided coves, to long sandy surf beaches and calm sheltered bays, the South Australian coastline is truly beautiful. The state is blessed with three peninsulas: Fleurieu, Yorke and Eyre Peninsulas that all have spectacular beaches.
Located on the Limestone Coast, is the historical beachside town of Robe with some spectacular beaches for swimming, fishing or four-wheel driving.
Victor Harbor is a favourite seaside destination being only 80 kilometres from the state’s capital, Adelaide. This hidden gem called Petrel Cove was revealed on a hike around Rosetta Head in Victor Harbor.
Kangaroo Island, off the coast of Fleurieu Peninsula, is accessible by a vehicular ferry and is riddled with outstanding beaches. Vivonne Bay is one of them. It has regularly made the top ten list of the most beautiful beaches in Australia.
Another spectacular beach on Kangaroo Island, Pennington Bay is popular for fishing and offers great waves for surfers.
A small hamlet, nestled between a long sandy beach and towering cliffs, Rapid Bay on the Fleurieu Peninsula is renowned as being an excellent diving location and is popular for fishing off the lengthy jetty.
A shallow water beach adjacent to the long L-shaped jetty, Moonta Bay is located on the Copper Coast of the Yorke Peninsula.
A wild and remote beach located near Port Lincoln on the Eyre Peninsula, Sleaford Bay is a great place for a four-wheel drive adventure through the Wanna sand dunes.
Although this West Eyre Peninsula beach is a little off the beaten track and not exactly easy to find, it was a fabulous find. We free camped on the cliff overlooking this beautiful beach.
A scenic spot with a lookout on the Cape Bauer Loop drive from Streaky Bay on the Eyre Peninsula. Hally’s Beach is popular for surfing and surf fishing.
The vastness and diversity of West Australia makes it a difficult decision to select the most beautiful beaches in this state. From the south west of the state with beaches fringing the wild Southern Ocean to the beaches in the north west of the state along the Indian Ocean. Here are 12 of the most beautiful beaches that I have uncovered.
Although Lucky Bay is the most popular beach in Cape Le Grand near Esperance, I uncovered this amazing beach called Hellfire Bay in south West Australia.
Located between Esperance and Cape Le Grand is this long sweeping beach called Wharton Beach at Duke of Orleans Bay, that is extremely popular with fishermen and swimmers.
Esperance in south West Australia offers a wide choice of incredible beaches, however Twilight Beach was the pick of the bunch for me. This small protected bay is surrounded by large granite boulders and the colour of the water is the most vivid aquamarine.
Alongside the iconic Elephant Rocks beach in William Bay, Denmark, is this granite boulder-full beach called Green Pools. Although it was a cloudy day it still looked picture-postcard perfect!
Albany in south West Australia also boasts some incredible beaches. I narrowed it down to this remotely located beach called Lowlands Beach, that we discovered by accident.
South of Perth there are some gorgeous beaches, with some being hailed as epic surfing spots. Yallingup Beach was looking resplendent on the day I visited this region that also includes Margaret River.
On West Australia’s Coral Coast, we found this charming beach that afforded these views over a sweeping stretch of pristine beach. Sandy Cape is located 10 kilometres north of Jurien Bay and is popular for swimming, snorkelling and fishing with a great camping ground.
Not exactly easy to get to, but I would say fully worthwhile the drive on a rough dirt track. Red Bluff is located on Quobba Station 126 kilometres north of Carnarvon. There is camping and glamping available here.
One of West Australia’s best beaches, Turquoise Bay is on the Ningaloo Reef near Exmouth. It is perfect for snorkelling on the reef just off the shores of the beach and swimming in the calm pristine waters.
The Pilbara in north West Australia revealed a couple of hidden gems. We discovered this lovely shallow water beach in the ghost town of Cossack. This town was once renowned for it’s pearling industry and is located 15 kilometres from Roebourne.
A caravan park and camping ground located along the shores of Eighty Mile Beach boasted incredible beach fishing, interesting rock formations and large seashells. Barnhill Station beach was a standout.
Although Cable Beach in Broome was beautiful, I found this beach on Cape Leveque was less crowded and equally as attractive. Quondong is a free camping spot along the untrodden coastline of Cape Leveque, north of Broome.
In Queensland, the Sunshine State, there are an abundance of sun-drenched, golden sandy, azure blue water and pristine beaches in the state that I used to call home. Most people have probably been to beaches on the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast, but this is really just a small sample of what Queensland has to offer.
The pick of the Gold Coast beaches for me is Kirra Beach on the southern end of the coast. Kirra is the perfect spot for families with small children with shallow rock pools at low tide and is also a renowned surfing spot.
This beach located on North Stradbroke Island, a ferry trip from Brisbane, is an east-facing beach that runs south for 33 kilometres to Jumpinpin Inlet. It is a popular beach for surfing, beach fishing and swimming and has four-wheel drive access.
The Sunshine Coast stretches for more than 60 kilometres and offers many beautiful beaches along the coastline. Moffat Beach in Caloundra ticks all the boxes for me, as it is generally not as crowded as the more popular beaches and is as pretty as a picture.
Heading north of Noosa there is the great ocean drive along the sandy shores of Teewah Beach to Double Island Point. There are great camping areas along the beach and is ideal for beach fishing, surfing and swimming.
The largest sand island in the world, Fraser Island has untouched open beaches on the ocean side of the island. It’s a beach fisherman’s paradise and is also popular for inland lakes and four-wheel drive enthusiasts.
This long arced beach is located halfway between Bundaberg and Rockhampton and is the closest access point to the Southern Great Barrier Reef. Agnes Waters is popular for fishing, swimming and surfing.
On the coastline of Bundaberg is the seaside town of Bargara that boasts some gorgeous beaches. Nielsen Beach is a patrolled beach adjacent to extensive parklands and is located opposite a large caravan park.
The Central Queensland seaside town of Yeppoon, east of Rockhampton, offers a fantastic beach and promenade along the beachfront.
On the magnificent Hamilton Island in The Whitsundays, is this gorgeous beach that is palm-fringed and idyllic for all sorts of water activities, including sailing, snorkelling, kayaking and swimming.
Bowen’s most iconic beach is called Horseshoe Bay for obvious reasons. The bay’s fringing reef is a top spot for divers and snorkellers.
The great Barrier Reef island of Magnetic Island off the coast of Townsville, is brimming with secluded little bays and sandy beaches that are perfect for snorkelling and swimming.
One of the northern beaches of Cairns, Ellis Beach is a pristine, unspoiled, 6 kilometre stretch of palm-fringed beach. Ellis Beach is less inhabited than the more popular Palm Cove.
So there you have it! Although I do have some similar choices to the Qantas list of 100, I think that these beaches are possibly a little lesser known. The point is that Australia does have the best beaches in the whole world. Don’t you agree?
