Australia’s top 12 beaches offer pristine sands, crystal-clear waters, and breathtaking scenery. Each beach boasts unique features, from vibrant coral reefs and excellent surfing spots to tranquil coves and abundant marine life, making them perfect destinations for relaxation, adventure, and exploration.
Australia’s top 12 beaches
Australian culture is deeply ingrained in its beach culture, influencing everything from food to dress. The most well-known city beaches in the nation, like Cottesloe in Perth, Glenelg in Adelaide, and Bondi in Sydney, are now well-known around the world. What about the less well-known, isolated, and simply strange seaside beauty spots? These Australia’s top 12 beaches meet those requirements. Put on some sunscreen, grab your board shorts, and dive in. It’s good water.
1. Cable Beach, Broome, Western Australia
Ideal for: couples, families, camel riders
This is the place where anyone with dreams of Lawrence of Arabia must come for a sunset camel ride. Explorers first utilized camels in 19th-century Australia, offering a connection to the daring and adventurous spirit of the Outback. This spirit was embodied most recently by Robyn Davidson, whose book Tracks was adapted into a movie in 2013. Wire Beach, named for the telegraph wire that arrived from Java in 1889, remains secluded and relatively uncrowded due to its proximity to the pearling town of Broome on the Kimberley Coast.
2. Shell Beach, Shark Bay, Western Australia
Ideal for: swimmers, photographers
This 100-kilometer beach made entirely of small white shells is somewhat unusual in a nation that loves white sand beaches. This fascinating coastal phenomenon, located 831 kilometers north of Perth on the Peron Peninsula, draws swimmers, snorkelers, and photographers from all over the world. The Hamelin cockle produces all the shells found in Shell Beach, which is what makes it special. The beach is located 45 minutes from the little village of Denham on the main north-south highway. Shark Bay is a Unesco World Heritage site, well known for the playful bottlenose dolphins at Monkey Mia.
3. Main Beach, Gold Coast, Queensland
Ideal for: swimmers, surfers, exhibitionists
The Gold Coast of Queensland was once referred to as “a sunny place for shady people” by Australian con artist Peter Foster. Since then, it has put a lot of effort into improving its image. This glamorous stretch of coastline, surrounded by towering apartment complexes, presents an alluring blend of unspoiled landscapes, extravagant shopping, and toned bodies from the gym. The center of the Gold Coast is Main Beach, which is close to Southport neighborhood and draws early morning joggers, pro surfers, and the global backpacker crowd. In 1933, the Gold Coast’s Elston district received the name Surfers Paradise due to the influx of surfers visiting the area since the 1920s. The once-famous Meter Maids, dressed in bikinis, who would put money into parking meters that had run out, have hung up their gold sashes and entered the corporate hospitality industry.
4. Hyams Beach, Jervis Bay, New South Wales
Ideal for: swimmers, snorkellers
Have you ever observed a humpback whale pass by while relaxing on a beach? Such breathtaking views are commonplace at Hyams Beach, a tiny sand curve bordered by rocky outcrops in Jervis Bay, a coastal haven located 198 kilometers south of Sydney, during the migration season (May to November). Although Guinness World Records previously declared the sand here to be the whitest in the world, most tourists are just as taken aback by the beach hamlet’s carefree 1960s innocence. The town has a busy tiny café and rental houses in pastel colours. One of Australia’s top 12 beaches for kayaking, snorkeling, swimming, and other mild water sports is this one.
5. Camp Cove, Sydney, New South Wales
Ideal for: couples, families, hikers
Many Sydneysiders and tourists like taking the boat from Circular Quay to Watson’s Bay, but not many make the short walk of a few hundred meters to Camp Cove, which is one of the most picturesque harbor Australia’s top 12 beaches in the city. Aboriginal inhabitants fished this remote cove for thousands of years; you can find their rock engravings nearby. In 1788, the first European immigrants arrived here for the night aboard a fleet of eleven ships, known as the First Fleet. A small kiosk, cold showers, and mild waves await today’s tourist. Take the trekking trail from Camp Cove to South Head, a rocky outcrop with panoramic views of Sydney Harbour.
6. Jibbon Beach, Royal National Park, New South Wales
Ideal for: families, swimmers, hikers
Swimming off a beach that is surrounded by native bushland is one of the pleasures of traveling in Australia. One such location is Jibbon Beach, which is in the Royal National Park and is only 56 kilometers south of Sydney. The word “jibbon” comes from the native Dharawal word “djeebahn,” which translates to “sandbar at low tide.” Before European settlers arrived, the nearby Bundeena settlement’s beach held great significance for the nearby Aboriginal tribes. This area is home to abandoned campsites, middens (mounds of discarded shells), and Aboriginal rock sculptures. From Sydney, take the train to Cronulla, then the ferry across Port Hacking to Bundeena to reach Jibbon Beach.
7. Wategos Beach, Byron Bay, New South Wales
Ideal for: swimmers, surfers, weddings
Long, sandy, and largely empty beaches can be found along New South Wales’ far north coast. In contrast, beachgoing at Byron Bay, the state’s epicenter for the hippy lifestyle, is a more social event. Specifically, Wategos, Byron’s most luxurious beach, is surrounded by houses reminiscent of Hollywood. Furthermore, it’s a favorite among middle-aged stockbrokers who like to surf.
8. Mills Beach, Mornington Peninsula, Victoria
Ideal for: families, swimmers, sunbathers
In Victoria, most people will immediately take you to St Kilda, the well-known bayside bathing beach in Melbourne, when you mention the term “beach.” However, if you head southeast to the Mornington Peninsula, you’ll find several gorgeous, kid-friendly swimming beaches that are conveniently close to the city. Mills Beach is famous for its vibrantly colored beach huts. Visitors also enjoy the beach’s fine sand, calm waves, ample parking, and a verdant picnic area. Lifeguards patrol the beach during the summer, even though the surf is usually calm. There’s a headland with a lookout at the western end that provides nice views of the ocean.
9. Bells Beach, Great Ocean Road, Victoria
Ideal for: experienced surfers, beach walkers
Surfers worldwide consider Bells Beach a kind of temple. People kept this breathtaking stretch of coastline a closely-guarded secret until 1960. Bells didn’t start drawing surfers from all over Australia, and subsequently the world, until Olympic wrestler Joe Sweeney rented a tractor and ran an access road to the beach. The world’s longest-running pro-surfing festival is currently the Easter-based Rip Curl surfing championship at Bells. Consequently, only the most skilled surfers should attempt these enormous breaks. On the other hand, beginners should pick one of the more sedate beaches near Torquay. Additionally, if in doubt, ask the local surf store for assistance.
10. Aldinga Beach, Fleurieu Peninsula, South Australia
Ideal for: swimmers, bodyboarders, beach cricketers
Australians dream of driving their automobiles along long expanses of beach, other than playing cricket for their country. Safety concerns and environmental limitations have traditionally restrained this fixation. However, South Australia is among the few remaining regions in the continent where driving and parking on the beach are acceptable practices. Located 47 kilometers south of Adelaide, drivers can abandon their cars and jump straight into the ocean at Aldinga Beach. Aldinga is wonderful for swimming, bodyboarding, kayaking, and beach cricket even though it doesn’t offer much swell.
11. Wineglass Bay, Tasmania
Ideal for: hikers, photographers
It’s unfortunate that Tasmania, the southernmost state of Australia, does not receive frequent promotion as a beach resort. However, the island is a delight for individuals who love beach walks, sea kayaking, fishing, sailing, rock climbing, and other coastal activities. Moreover, it boasts immaculate oceans, striking headlands, and limitless lengths of perfect sand. In particular, perhaps the most well-known beach in the state is Wineglass Bay, located on the east coast. It is a flawless stretch of white sand and turquoise sea that is surrounded by the striking Hazards mountain range. The bay can only be reached by foot or boat and is a component of the Freycinet National Park. The closest lodging is located in Coles Bay, a tiny town.
12. Cape Tribulation, Queensland
Ideal for: couples, swimmers, photographers
The exact location of the collision between the Great Barrier Reef and the ancient Daintree Rainforest, both UNESCO World Heritage sites, is marked at Cape Tribulation in Queensland’s far north. Notably, having nearly run aground in 1770, the English explorer Lieutenant James Cook named the cape, which is among the most memorable locations on Australia’s east coast. Additionally, this remarkable convergence of natural wonders makes Cape Tribulation a must-visit destination for nature enthusiasts and history buffs alike. Give yourself lots of time to explore the beach, splash around in the ocean, and snap pictures because the place’s sheer size and emptiness are breathtaking. The beach may seem peaceful, but it is not without risks. From November to May, box jellyfish
and crocodiles can be encountered there. Proceed with caution.
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