Bondi might have the glamour, Byron the celebrities and Noosa the tranquility, but a tiny stretch of sand with a bloody past has beaten all three, and 19 others, to be crowned Australia's best beach.
Misery Beach near Albany, WA, used to be stained red with the blood of slaughtered sperm whales, but since the closure of Australia's last whaling station 44 years ago it's become a safe haven for seals, whales and dolphins.
The 200-metre beach five hours southeast of Perth was named the country's best on Sunday in a list compiled by Tourism Australia's beach ambassador Brad Farmer.
Tourism Minister Dan Tehan says Mr Farmer has "one of the toughest jobs in Australia", narrowing down more than 11,000 candidates to curate a selection of "our most spectacular beaches that will inspire and excite holiday makers all over Australia and the world".
Mr Tehan encouraged local holiday makers and international tourists alike to include as many as possible on their itineraries as Australia reopens.
AUSTRALIA'S TOP 20 BEACHES OF 2022
Misery Beach, WA - Minang Country south of Albany.
Horseshoe Bay, NSW - Dainggatti Country northeast of Kempsey.
The Spit, Qld - Bundjalung Country south of South Stradbroke Island.
Flaherty's Beach, SA - Narangga Country, north of Warooka.
Loch Ard Gorge, Vic - Giraiwurung Country, east of Port Campbell.
The Neck, Tas - Nuenonne Country on Lunnawannalonna (Bruny Island)
Blue Pearl Bay, Qld - Giya Country on Hayman Island in the Whitsundays.
Depot Beach, NSW - Yuin Country north of Batemans Bay
Murrays Beach, Jervis Bay Territory - Yuin / Tharawal Country in Booderee National Park.
Dundee Beach, NT - Larrakia / Wadyiginy Country southwest of Darwin.
Dudley Beach, NSW - Awabakal Country south of Newcastle.
Thompsons Beach, Vic - Waveroo / Yorta Yorta Country on the Murrary River near Cobram.
Coogee Beach, WA - Wajuk Country south of Fremantle.
Mots Beach, Vic - Kurnai Country east of Marlo.
Alexandria Bay, Qld - Gubbi Gubbi Country on the eastern side of Noosa National Park.
Emu Bay, SA - on the northern side of Kangaroo Island
Lake Wabby, Qld - Butchulla Country on K'gari (formerly Fraser Island)
Congwong Beach, NSW - Eora / Tharawal Country in La Perouse.
Jellybean Pool, NSW - Dharug Country in the lower Blue Mountains.
Ethel Beach, Christmas Island
(Indigenous placenames, where available, from the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies.)
