Australia's magnificent coastline – in pictures

The New South Wales Golf Club, designed by the world-famous golf-course architect Alister MacKenzie, nestles in the raw beauty of Botany Bay National Park. Photograph: New South Wales Golf Club

The Sydney coastline is littered with manmade ocean pools, but Bondi Icebergs, on the footpath from Bondi to Coogee, is special. Get up early and greet the sunrise while swimming in the shadow of the cliffs. Photograph: Alamy

Sculpture by the Sea, from Bondi to Tamarama coastal walk. Photograph: Oliver Strewe/Getty Images/Lonely Planet Images

As part of January’s Australia Day celebrations, five tall ships lead an impressive miniature fleet of charter and historic ships, which race from Bradley’s Head to the finishing line under Sydney Harbour bridge. Photograph: Andrew Watson/Getty Images/Lonely Planet Images

Surfing is one of Sydney’s favourite activities, and the beaches of Manly, Bondi, Cronulla and Marouba enjoy legendary status among the surfing set. If you’ve never surfed before all of these beaches are home to accredited surfing schools, so get yourself a lesson with the pros. Photograph: BALTRONICS/Taxi

Take the ferry from Sydney Harbour to the northern beaches, which start at Manly stretching all the way north to Palm Beach. Each of the 16 or so beaches along this stunning coastline have something to offer, and the farther north you go, the more beach you’ll have to yourself. Photograph: Masaru Kitano

A short ferry or plane ride from Adelaide is the unspoilt Kangaroo Island, a huge nature reserve often referred to as the Galapagas of Australia! The island’s slow-moving kangaroos are a favourite tourist curiosity, and don’t miss the sea lions in Seal Bay. Photograph: Adam Bruzzone

Seen from the air, the Whitehaven Beach on Queensland’s Whitsunday Island, is almost pure white. The sand here is around 98% pure silica, and on hot days it doesn’t retain heat so is comfortable to walk on. Photograph: Tourism and Events Queensland

Ketchem Bay, in Tasmania’s South West National Park, is the most southerly point in Australia accessible by road. Also one of the most beautiful, the bay’s natural walls provide shelter for campers, and its waterfall and sea-dolphin-populated lagoon make it a perfect spot for sea kayaking. Photograph: George Apostolidis

Swimming with bottlenose dolphins near Rockingham, Western Australia, is a memory to treasure. Get up close and personal to snorkel with these amazing creatures, where no previous diving experience is necessary. Photograph: Uruma Takezawa