Balmy breezes, beaming sun and the lulling lap of waves on the shore: a beach holiday can be complete bliss, and Australia is home to some of the world’s best stretches of coastline to sink your toes into.
Though the far-flung country is a picture of idyllic beach perfection, naturally holidaymakers risk crowds, dangerous rip tides and even swarms of jellyfish if they aren’t in the know about where to lay their towels.
Thankfully, we’ve rounded up some of the top seaside haunts in Oz to guarantee travellers will find blue flag quality beaches on their winter sun escapes.
Some of the world’s best waves crash off Victoria’s Great Ocean Road, Sydney’s coastal suburbs promise a glossy day on the sand and the Whitsundays’ wow with seascapes of green and blue.
From city-side surf swells to the white swathes of Fraser Island, here are the best Australian shorelines to sunbathe, swim and surf on your next holiday Down Under.
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1. Noosa Main Beach, Sunshine Coast
The gentle waves and sheltered white shallows of Noosa Main Beach on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast are a dream for both families and beginners on a board. With boardwalk hotspots built for early Aussie breakfasts and evening sundowners and stand-up paddle boards available to rent for a float with the fish, throw down a towel to embrace a day on the sand in Noosa Heads.
2. Seventy-Five Mile Beach, Fraser Island
For a very long stroll or a thrilling four-wheel drive adventure at low tide, Seventy-Five Mile Beach is an oasis of white dunes fringing the rainforests and freshwater lakes of Fraser Island just off southern Queensland. Stretching Fraser’s east coast, the beach highway on the world’s largest sand island is a must-drive Australian adventure.
3. Little Hellfire Bay, Cape Le Grand National Park
Just a short walk away from Hellfire Bay in Cape Le Grand National Park is its smaller and more secluded younger sister, Little Hellfire Bay. The crowd-free cove makes for a relaxing reading spot with secluded swimming in crystal-clear waters and a scenery primed for barbecuing fresh seafood and speciality beetroot hamburgers with a Victoria Bitter in hand.
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4. Turquoise Bay, Cape Range National Park
Turquoise Bay in Exmouth, Western Australia, is true to its name, with vivid blue waters home to turtles and spectacular snorkelling reefs. The remote shore in Cape Range National Park can be reached by seasonal shuttle buses from Exmouth town 40 miles away – tag the journey on to a hike in Yardie Creek for the ultimate Aussie adventure.
5. Burleigh Heads Beach, Gold Coast
On Queensland’s Gold Coast, one beach part of a new wave of accessible Australian sands is Burleigh Heads. Though hailed as a spot for experienced surfers for its unique wave patterns and a hit with beach bums due to white sands, the shore has made adjustments to make the natural landscape more inclusive. Two beach wheelchairs are available free of charge for those who need them to access the water from the hard sand, with matting rolled out by a team of surf lifesavers towards a shade tent near the water line.
6. Whitehaven Beach, Whitsundays
The iconic white shores of the Whitsundays are at their purest on Whitehaven Beach. With sands consisting of 98.9 per cent silica and an average annual temperature of 24C, Whitehaven is a paradise you won’t want to miss. The Australian spring, from September through November, is the peak for comfortable weather conditions and sailing excursions to spot marine life including whale sharks, manta rays and humpbacks that swim in the teal Coral Sea.
7. Lucky Bay, Cape Le Grand National Park
With a five-kilometre stretch of white sand, diving, canoeing and bush trails, Western Australia’s kangaroo haven, Lucky Bay, boasts 303 annual sunny days and welcoming coastal campsites ideal for pitching up to beat the crowds. Wild roos hop the pristine swathe while dolphins swim the crystal waters, so it’s no surprise the bay took the title of the “Best Beach in the World” in 2023.
8. Bondi Beach, Sydney
No trip to Sydney would be complete without a sunbathe or a surf on one of Australia’s most famous beaches. Bondi, a magnet for the surfing elite, buzzes with activity, from bodyboarders bobbing the waves to swimmers racking up lengths in the Bondi Icebergs Pool most hours of the day. The big, brash golden sands may be overrated, but they certainly aren’t boring.
9. Bay of Fires, Tasmania
Often declared Down Under’s most beautiful beach, the Bay of Fires conservation region on Tasmania’s north-east coast has pristine white sand beaches, sparkling waters, and a scattering of orange, lichen-covered rocks along its coastline. There’s something for campers, hikers, beach dwellers and mountain bikers at the swathes regularly visited by migrating humpback whales.
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10. Bells Beach, Victoria
A two-hour drive from Melbourne, with an unrivalled surf heritage, Bells Beach is located along the Great Ocean Road in Victoria with a whole coastline of some of the world’s best waves. Lapped by the Southern Ocean, The Rip Curl Pro, formerly the Bells Beach Surfing Classic – a world championship tour event – is held every Easter on the serious swells up to 15ft.
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