Best Australia Beaches

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The Best Australian Beaches...

  • 16. Camp Cove Beach // New South Wales

    Camp Cove Beach
    © Diliff / CC BY
    Great for:
    • Family
    • Swimming

    Camp Cove sits on the inner coast of South Head, the headland guarding the entrance to Sydney Harbour. As such the beach is not only sheltered but commands spectacular views back over the harbour and towards the city.

    read more »
  • 17. Rainbow Beach // Sunshine Coast

    Rainbow Beach
    © Daniel Jurin
    Great for:
    • Surfing

    Situated a half hour drive north from Noosa, Queensland's Rainbow Beach offers a world of attractions beyond its light-coloured sands stretching on seemingly to infinity beyond the bay's natural curve.

    Its name comes from the mineral rich cliffs that surround the beach forming an array of colours, which local aboriginal folklore says is the result of a rainbow spirit crashing in to them during a mighty battle.

    Marketed as one of… read more »

  • 18. Cottesloe Beach // Western Australia

    Cottesloe Beach
    © Richard Majlinder
    Great for:
    • Family
    • Swimming
    • Surfing

    Cottesloe is a true city beach in the best possible sense. Located only 15 minutes from downtown Perth, Cottesloe still manages to remain the quintessential laid-back Australian beach. This mile long strip of golden sand is Perth's answer to Bondi beach yet there are as many differences as similarities.

    Despite being on the edge of one of Australia's major cities Cottesloe still manages to retain a slower pace of… read more »

  • 19. Byron Bay Main Beach // New South Wales

    Byron Bay Main Beach
    © Karl Lundholm
    Great for:
    • Surfing

    Byron Bay is situated in the far north of New South Wales and on the very eastern tip of Australia - Cape Byron is the easternmost point of mainland Australia. This small beach town was put on the tourism map back in the 1970s when it was on the hippy trail later becoming a popular backpacker destination. It is to a large extent the legacy of Byron's early days that… read more »

  • 20. Misery Beach // Western Australia

    Misery Beach
    David Jones

    Don't be put off by the name, for Misery Beach is anything but a misery. Looking north over Frenchman Bay from a southern slither of land, Misery Beach is largely sheltered from the region's prevailing winds, making it a good choice whatever the weather.

    Close to Torndirrup, its white sands run for 200 metres, and are met by a granite headland at one end, and a rocky point at the other.… read more »

  • 21. Emu Point Beach // Western Australia

    Emu Point Beach
    Bahnfrend
    Great for:
    • Fishing
    • Swimming

    Officially rated as one of the cleanest beaches in Western Australia, Emu Point Beach is located on the state's southern coast close to the town of Albany. A small beach by Australian standards, it helps guard the narrow inlet of Frenchman Bay linking Oyster Harbour to King George Sound.

    The beaches mix of grassy landscaping shaded by mature trees and calm shallow waters make it ideal for families, who can enjoy… read more »

  • 22. Garie Beach // New South Wales

    Garie Beach
    © Maurice van Creij / CC BY

    The Royal National Park, just south of Sydney is home to more than ten beautiful, pristine beaches of which Garie beach is widely recognised as the finest. A one km stretch of golden sand backed by the steeply rising forested valliesĀ of the park this beach has changed little over the centuries.

    Despite its stunning natural beauty Garie Beach is not without its dangers and strong rip currents can make swimming unsafe.… read more »

  • 23. Alexandria Bay // Sunshine Coast

    Alexandria Bay
    texaus1
    Great for:
    • Surfing

    On the opposite side of Noosa Head's famous headland, Alexandria Bay is a quieter location for soaking up the tranquility and rays on this golden sandy beach. The only way in is on foot, either from Noosa Heads (3.5km through the Noosa National Park) or 20 minutes on foot from McAnally Drive on Sunshine Beach (1.3km).

    Away from the crowds on Noosa Main Beach, its remoteness does attract… read more »

  • 24. Samurai Beach // New South Wales

    Samurai Beach
    Saladking23
    Great for:
    • Surfing

    A subsection of One Mile Beach where nude bathing is officially permitted, the clean sands of Samurai Beach lies in Tomaree National Park north of Newcastle. It is mainly used by older naturists.

    Situated close to the Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary, it can be reached via an unsurfaced track, necessitating the use of a four-wheel drive vehicle.

    A beautiful stretch of secluded coastline backed by dunes, Samurai Beach has… read more »

  • 25. Little Wategos Beach // New South Wales

    Little Wategos Beach
    Kpravin2
    Great for:
    • Fishing
    • Surfing

    Sitting in the shadow of the 100 metre high Cape Byron headland, Little Wategos is the most easterly beach in Australia. The beach can be accessed by a set of steps and a track which lead away from the main Byron Bay Lighthouse walk.

    Being one of the less accessible beaches in Byron Bay means Little Wategos is a great get-away spot. It's only about 150 metres in length but it… read more »

  • 26. Currumbin Beach // Gold Coast

    Currumbin Beach
    © Daniel Jurin
    Great for:
    • Surfing

    With its crystal clear waters and sparkling white sands, Currumbin in South East Queensland is regularly voted the state's cleanest beach.

    Surfers flock from far and wide to ride the waves here, and there are a handful of surf schools dotted along the beach which cater for everyone, from beginners taking their first lessons to experienced surfers looking to escape the crowds across the Tweed River.

    Loads of other watersports get practiced… read more »

  • 27. Meelup Beach // Western Australia

    Meelup Beach
    David Jones
    Great for:
    • Snorkeling
    • Swimming

    Meelup Beach is a 400m long strip of sand at the mouth of the Meelup Brook situated in a small and secluded valley inlet.

    Getting to Meelup Beach is easy as it is just 10 minutes from the small town of Dunsborough, however it can be busy. There is road access to the car park and a grassy picnic area with benches and BBQs right beside the beach with shady… read more »

  • 28. Swanbourne Beach // Western Australia

    Swanbourne Beach
    Mark Pegrum
    Great for:
    • Surfing

    Located roughly 20 minutes from Perth by road, Swanbourne North Beach is part of a long ribbon of soft white sand which stretches for 12 kilometres.

    One of only two officially-recognised nudist beaches in the Perth area, this clothing-optional section of the larger Swanbourne Beach can be found around 300 m north of the car park, where dunes 10-20 m high begin to form. The dunes are fenced off to protect… read more »

  • 29. Warnbro Beach // Western Australia

    Warnbro Beach
    Calistemon

    The white sands of Warnbro Beach arc for almost the entire 8.5 kilometre length of its bay. Pointing west towards The Sisters tree-topped offshore rocks, it lies on the Indian Ocean coast of Western Australia in the southern Port Kennedy suburb of Perth.

    A dog-friendly beach, there is a 900 metre section about midway which has also been designated a "Free Beach", making it one of just six officially-sanctioned read more »

  • 30. Coolum Beach // Sunshine Coast

    Coolum Beach
    Aerutopian
    Great for:
    • Fishing
    • Surfing

    The small, laidback beachside town of Coolum Beach is set towards the northern end of Queensland's Sunshine Coast. The name refers to both the town and the beach, but that's not a problem as pretty much everything about Coolum is geared towards the beach.

    There are actually a few beaches at Coolum Beach; the main beach and then, just around the headland, a trio of small bays. These are imaginatively named… read more »