Best Australia Beaches

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The Best Australian Beaches...

  • 91. Turimetta Beach // New South Wales

    Turimetta Beach
    © Maurice van Creij / CC BY
    Great for:
    • Fishing

    Turimetta Beach is something of a hidden gem in Sydney's Northern Beaches neighbourhood. At about 350 metres long and with an average width of only 2 metres, it is not the largest beach in the area, but that doesn't make its soft clean sands any less attractive.

    Ringed on its landward side by sheer cliffs that rise between 20 and 30 metres up, the shoreline of Turimetta Beach is also dotted… read more »

  • 92. Duranbah Beach // Gold Coast

    Duranbah Beach
    Great for:
    • Surfing

    Dee-bah as it's known to the locals is the most northerly of New South Wales' many beaches. In fact, it's so close to the Queensland border that you can walk up to the headland here in just a couple of minutes, and find yourself in a different timezone.

    The beach is a bit of a geographical lash up; set on the Queensland side of the Tweed River it is part of… read more »

  • 93. Belongil Beach // New South Wales

    Belongil Beach
    © Bex Walton
    Great for:
    • Surfing

    Byron Bay's Belongil Beach sits on a sandbar which runs for 2.5 kilometres from Main Beach car park to the mouth of Belongil Creek. On its opposite side is Tyagarah Beach.

    Less crowded than Main Beach, Belongil Beach is generally considered a good place to swim and otherwise enjoy the water, with lifeguard patrols at its southern end between the red and yellow flags.

    Its expansive stretch of sand is a… read more »

  • 94. Alexandra Headland Beach // Sunshine Coast

    Alexandra Headland Beach
    Martin7d2
    Great for:
    • Fishing
    • Surfing

    Known simply as "Alex" to the locals, Alexandra Headland is a laid back, surfy town in the heart of Queensland's Sunshine Coast. Set just north of Mooloolaba the sandy beach here forms a continuous stretch with Maroochydore up the coast.

    This section of the Sunshine Coast is quite built up but you don't really notice that from the beach. The backdrop is mainly grassy banks and trees. Just behind the… read more »

  • 95. Moffat Beach // Sunshine Coast

    Moffat Beach
    Tim Bateup
    Great for:
    • Surfing

    Not as well-known as neighbouring Sunshine Coast beaches such as Kings Beach and Dicky Beach, Moffat Beach has an altogether different ambience. Popular with locals, it is rarely visited by international travellers, who have historically stuck to the beaches nearer to Brisbane 90 minutes away.

    The distinctive feel of Moffat Beach comes from its blend of luxurious accommodation options, crowd-free reputation and local start-ups such as the craft brewery. The beach… read more »

  • 96. Sunshine Beach // Sunshine Coast

    Sunshine Beach
    © Bernd Müller
    Great for:
    • Surfing

    Named Sunshine Beach and set on the Sunshine Coast this spot has quite a lot to live up to. With the mercury rarely dropping below the 20s and clouds conspicuous by their absence, we think it does! As such, it has an all-year-round lifeguard presence, such is its popularity at all times. 

    There's a real laidback vibe to the powdery white sands here, and plenty of space to spread out, with… read more »

  • 97. Bakers Beach // Tasmania

    Bakers Beach
    Steven Penton

    Midway along the northern coast of Tasmania, Bakers Beach lies next to a small rural community of the same name with a permanent population of just 60 individuals. Forming an impressive ribbon of golden sand, it runs along the Bass Strait for close to seven kilometres. It has a very slight curve to its otherwise straight appearance as it faces northeast.

    Its rough midpoint can be reached by car via the… read more »

  • 98. Sorrento Front Beach // Victoria

    Sorrento Front Beach
    Alan Samuel
    Great for:
    • Fishing
    • Swimming

    Situated between the Queenscliff ferry pier on one side and the Western Sister historic site on the other, Sorrento Front Beach runs in a ribbon of beige sand for close to 1.5 kilometres. Named to delineate it from the ocean beach on the opposite side of the Mornington Peninsula, it faces towards the northeast and across Port Phillip Bay.

    Sorrento Front Beach sits in a sheltered position located away from… read more »

  • 99. Shell Beach // Western Australia

    Shell Beach
    Julien Carnot
    Great for:
    • Swimming

    Part of Francois Peron National Park and Shark Bay World Heritage Site, aptly-named Shell Beach is covered in nothing by cockle shells for at least 60 kilometres (exact measurements vary), and to a depth of up to 10 metres, so don't arrive expecting to find sand!

    One of only two beaches like this in the world, Shell Beach is the result of an area of highly saline ocean, which allowed the… read more »

  • 100. Smiths Beach // Western Australia

    Smiths Beach
    David Stanley
    Great for:
    • Surfing

    Lying south of Perth and facing the Indian Ocean to the west, Smiths Beach is the first-choice beach for many locals heading out on holiday. That said, it remains less crowded than nearby beaches, with its fine white sand stretching on for around 600 metres.

    Swimming, fishing, and surfing are all popular pastimes, with surfers paddling their boards out to tackle the beach's famed surf spot, Supertubes.

    read more »
  • 101. Yallingup Beach // Western Australia

    Yallingup Beach
    Bahnfrend
    Great for:
    • Snorkeling
    • Surfing

    Meaning "place of love" in the Wardandi aboriginal language, Yallingup Beach couldn't be better named. The wide sands here gently slope into the lapping waves of the Indian Ocean, the beach faces west, making it an ideal spot for a sundowner or romantic cuddle at sun set.

    The beach is reached via a concrete staircase leading down from the car park to the white sands. By the car park visitors will… read more »

  • 102. Whale Beach // New South Wales

    Whale Beach
    © Sardaka / CC BY
    Great for:
    • Fishing
    • Swimming
    • Surfing

    Whale Beach sits on the narrow peninsula to the north of Avalon with Pittswater on one side and Dolphin Bay on the other. The origins of the name are unknown, but most likely refer to a beached whale.

    As the Northern Beaches developed in the 1950s, the area became a popular residential neighbourhood. However, one bungalow that predates that time is Careen House. Now heritage listed, the sandstone home was designed… read more »

  • 103. Golden Beach // Sunshine Coast

    Golden Beach
    thinboyfatter
    Great for:
    • Fishing
    • Swimming

    Protected from the Pacific swells by a long thin spit of sand forming Ocean Beach, Golden Beach has some of the Sunshine Coast's most sheltered waters. Surfers will probably want to look elsewhere to catch the best breaks as a result. However, it makes Golden Beach an excellent choice for anyone seeking out a family-friendly swimming beach.

    Boating and fishing are also popular past times at Golden Beach, with boat ramps… read more »

  • 104. Mauritius Beach // Western Australia

    Mauritius Beach
    © Dinkum
    Great for:
    • Snorkeling
    • Fishing

    Situated very near the northernmost point of the Exmouth Peninsula, Mauritius Beach is easily reached by road. At its northern end lies the Jurabi Turtle Centre and Ningaloo Lighthouse Holiday Park, while at its southern end it runs continuously into Jims Beach.

    Approximately 400 metres long by 50 metres wide at low tide, Mauritius Beach was declared a clothing optional beach in 1999 by the local council, although there… read more »

  • 105. Hamelin Bay // Western Australia

    Hamelin Bay
    Gordy Pichaz
    Great for:
    • Snorkeling

    Located 139 km south of Bunbury in the Margaret River region of Western Australia, Hamelin Bay is a sweeping open sandy beach with gentle wave action.

    Named after French explorer Jacques Felix Emmanuel Hamelin, it is best known for its stingrays which can reach 2m between wingtips. It's a great place for snorkelling and getting up-close to these velvety creatures in their native habitat.

    There are caves and several shipwrecks for… read more »