June 4th, 2021 | Updated on February 12th, 2022
Scroll down to find the 10 best beaches in Australia if you want to splash out and enjoy a truly indulgent holiday break.
1. Whitehaven Beach, Queensland
Whitehaven Beach is known for its bright white sands, which consist of 98% pure silica. Whitehaven Beach is a 7 km stretch along Whitsunday Island, Australia. The island is accessible by boat, seaplane & helicopter from Airlie Beach, as well as Hamilton Island. It lies across from Stockyard Beach, better known as Chalkie’s Beach, on Haslewood Island.
Whitsunday Island’s famous beach stretches for seven kilometres and is washed by swirls of turquoise, blue and green water. The sand is 98 per cent pure white silica, which gives it a brilliant, near luminescent colour.
2. Cossies Beach, Cocos (Keeling) Islands
This remote Australian Territory of two atolls and 27 coral islands lies about a 4.5-hour flight from Perth. In 2016, with permission from the locals, beach expert and author Brad Farmer christened this sublime slice of coast “Cossies,” after Australia’s 26th Governor-General, Sir Peter Cosgrove.
Bordered by lush coconut palms, this beguiling beach curves seductively out into the tropical turquoise sea, and you can snorkel among coral gardens and diverse marine life in the crystal-clear waters.
Get close to phenomenal coral reefs brimming with green and hawksbill turtles, learn about the fascinating local Cocos Malay people, or simply relax on some of the world’s most exquisite beaches.
3. Wineglass Bay, Tasmania
Coles Bay is an Australian town on the east Coast of Tasmania 192 km north-east of Hobart and 209 km south-east of Launceston, being the main entrance point for visitors to the Freycinet National Park.
It has a population of about 350 people including the surrounding area, but many tourists visit the area for its scenery and outdoor activities, which include hiking, biking, fishing, boating and Sea kayaking.
The town is on the northern end of Great Oyster Bay with stunning views of the red and pink granite peaks known as The Hazards, on the Freycinet Peninsula. It is in the area of the Glamorgan Spring Bay Council.
Coles Bay sits at the foot of the granite mountains known as the Hazards and on the edge of the world-renowned Freycinet National Park and Wineglass Bay, about two and 1/2 hours drive from Hobart and Launceston on the east coast of Tasmania.
4. Cable Beach, Western Australia
Cable Beach is a 22 km stretch of white sand beach on the eastern Indian Ocean and the name of the surrounding suburb in Broome, Western Australia. Cable Beach was named after the telegraph cable laid between Broome and Java in 1889.
Situated in the western part of Australia, Cable Beach is known for its powdery white sand shores that line the turquoise waters from the Indian Ocean. The 22 km long shoreline is famous for camel rides, south sea pearls and water sports.
The beach is very much a part of Broome’s history, earning its name from the telegraph cable laid between Broome and Java in 1889, connecting Australia’s North West with the world.
Word of this beauty spot has travelled far since then, but it’s still possible to find your own secluded slice of paradise.
5. Twilight Beach, Western Australia
Twilight Beach lies about seven kilometers from the little beach town of Esperance. The broad, flat shoreline and shallow sandbar make this an ideal spot for families with small children, and many visitors like to swim out to the large granite rocks, climb to the top for fabulous views, and jump into the impossibly blue sea.
Gently rounded granite cliffs and the deepening blue ocean make this area of coastline one of Australia’s most scenic.
Popular for families, Twilight Bay offers safe swimming and idyllic conditions. Fishing is also a common activity.
Twilight Bay is a few minute’s drive from Esperance.
6. Hyams Beach, New South Wales
Known for its sugar-white sand, Hyams Beach is an idyllic holiday destination, with crystal clear waters and a fringe of national park completing the picture. Uncover scenic coastal walks, meet native wildlife and explore the glittering ocean in this small village in the Shoalhaven region of the NSW South Coast.
Hyams Beach is a seaside village in the City of Shoalhaven, New South Wales, Australia, on the shores of Jervis Bay. At the 2016 census, it had a population of 112.
Hyams Beach is famous for its powdery white sands. Wriggle your toes in some of the world’s whitest sands on the southern shore of Jervis Bay, on the South Coast of NSW. You can also swim, snorkel and dive in the crystal-clear waters in the marvellous marine park, a haven for dolphins, seals and penguins.
7. Lucky Bay, Western Australia
Lucky Bay is a bay located at 33°59′40″S 122°13′57″E on the south coast of Western Australia, in the Cape Le Grand National Park. Located south-east of Esperance, the bay is a tourist spot known for its bright white sands and turquoise-coloured waters.
Venture beyond the beach and you’ll find some excellent walking tracks, many offering sweeping views of the wildlife-rich Recherche Archipelago. Be sure to keep an eye out for migrating whales between July and October.
8. Vivonne Bay, South Australia
Vivonne Bay is a locality in the Australian state of South Australia located on the south coast of Kangaroo Island overlooking the body of water known in Australia as the Southern Ocean and by international authorities as the Great Australian Bight and which includes the bay known as Vivonne Bay.
It is located about 174 kilometres (108 miles) southwest of the state capital of Adelaide and about 55 kilometres (34 miles) southwest of the municipal seat of Kingscote.
Half an hour away from Vivonne Bay lies Flinders Chase National Park, home to the Kangaroo Island’s crown jewels: Admirals Arch and Remarkable Rocks.
9. Surfers Paradise Beach
Australia’s famous Surfers Paradise Beach lies at the heart of Queensland’s Gold Coast. Swim and surf along the expansive beaches with this two kilometre stretch of golden sand and rolling surf patrolled by three lifeguard towers, all keeping watch over designated swimming and surfing areas.
Surfers Paradise is worth visiting for its incredible sea swells against miles of beautiful beaches. Surfers is highly developed, it’s a hub of entertainment, dining, accommodation, and everything a typical holiday-maker is looking for in their precious holiday weeks.
The beach itself is backed by a fenced fore-dune with plenty of signed access tracks from the esplanade to the sand and lined in seating areas and barbecues with ocean views for those wanting to just take it all in. The adjacent foreshore precinct is a hive of energy and home to towering beachside accommodation, alfresco dining and night markets.
10. Bondi Beach
With its golden sands, parks, and blue waters Sydney’s Bondi Beach is one of the most famous beaches in the world. Framed within rocky headlands it has come to be seen both nationally and internationally as part of the Australian way of life and leisure.
The sweeping white-sand crescent of Bondi is one of Australia’s most iconic beaches. Reliable waves draw surfers while, nearby, hardy locals swim in the Icebergs ocean pool year-round. Trendy, health-conscious Sydneysiders head to laid-back cafes around Hall Street, while hip backpackers frequent the area’s casual pubs. Walkers and joggers use the clifftop Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk, with its dramatic scenery.
The Bondi to Coogee coastal walk is one of Sydney’s most scenic treks. Begin at the Bondi Icebergs ocean pool and traverse the six-kilometre (3.7-mile) clifftop trail between Tamarama and Coogee beaches. The walk will take just over an hour each way. Each beach has its own unique charm, with parks, cafés and picnic spots.
