Oceania's Top 50+ Beaches

Jimmys Beach // Australia

Located on the north shore facing Port Stephens, Jimmys Beach is one of three sandy beaches along this 7 kilometre stretch of coastline where the Karuah River meets the ocean.
The dune-fringed beach is protected from the ocean swell and there is a line of smooth pebbles and stones in places along the water's edge. The sloping seabed is covered in… read more »
Ellis Beach // Australia

© Alex Monckton / CC BY

If you want a beach pretty much to yourself, Ellis Beach is beautiful, undeveloped and less popular than bustling Palm Cove to the south. Stretching for about 2 km, the beach is bordered by Captain Cook Highway with forested hills further inland. Just park on the road and enjoy direct access onto the sand. The beautiful sandy beach is… read more »
Dreamtime Beach // Australia

© Daniel Pink / CC BY

Sitting to the south of the little headland of Fingal Head, near the NSW/Queensland border, is the beautiful 5km stretch of golden sand known as Dreamtime Beach. The beach here is a different world to the busier, more developed Fingal beach on the other side of the scrubby headland with Tweed Heads and the Gold Coast beyond.
The beach's name harks… read more »
Avalon Beach // Australia

Martin7d2

Away from the more popular surfing meccas in Sydney, Avalon Beach is a secluded surfer surburb just north of Newport Beach on the Northern Beaches peninsula. Once inhabited by native Garigal people, and more recently a hippy haven, Avalon Beach has gone full circle. It now attracts celebrities and stars including Nicole Kidman, Elle Macpherson and 11 times ex-world surf… read more »
Lighthouse Beach // Australia

Martin7d2

Located in the popular seaside resort of Ballina, Lighthouse Beach is a gorgeous expanse of clean golden sand stretching northeast from North Creek to Ballina Head. The beach takes its name from the Richmond River Lighthouse which overlooks the north end of the beach.
Lighthouse Beach only came into existence in the early 1900s after the entrance walls to the Richmond… read more »
Bilgola Beach // Australia

Martin7d2

Sandwiched between imposing Bilgola Head and Newport Head, Bilgola Beach is a 500-metre surfing beach in Sydney's Northern Beaches area. The soft sands here have a distinct reddish colour which contrasts the verdant cliffs at either end.
Facing southeast, Bilgola has an offshore sand bar cut through by two shifting rips along with permanent rips that batter the rocks at either… read more »
Waimānalo Beach // USA

Waimānalo Beach, on the windward side of the island of Oahu has several claims to fame; firstly it is were Magnum, P.I. resided in the 80's TV series. Second, and perhaps more importantly it is the longest stretch of sandy shore on Oahu at well over 5 miles (9km). This expanse of unbroken white sand is sandwiched between the turquoise… read more »
Piha beach // New Zealand

© Fyletto

Piha is possibly New Zealand's best known beach and for good reason. Not only is the scenery stunning but this is the birthplace of surfing in New Zealand. In addition, Piha is less than an hour's drive from the centre of Auckland, New Zealand's biggest city.

Despite being so close to the North Island's main city Piha remains relatively unspoilt.… read more »
Mount Maunganui Beach // New Zealand

Mt Maunganui beach is a beautiful, long stretch of pristine white sand in the holiday resort town of Mount Maunganui, less formally known as "The Mount". Together with Matakana Island, a massive sand bar to its north, Mount Maunganui forms the main entrance to Tauranga Harbour in the Bay of Plenty on New Zealand's North Island.

Just to the north… read more »
Ninety Mile Beach // New Zealand

Ninety Mile Beach is not your typical exotic tourist attraction, but rather a long stretch of majestic coastline waiting to share its secrets with the adventurous. Don't be fooled by the name either, because this stretch of wild coast is nowhere near 90 miles in length, 90 kilometres (55 miles) would be closer, but it still remains an awesome stretch… read more »
Little Palm Beach // New Zealand

Little Palm beach sits next door to Palm beach in a relatively sheltered bay on Waiheke Island's north coast. It is yet another of the island's pristine beaches with a white sandy shoreline facing into clear blue sparkling waters.

What makes Little Palm well known amongst a plethora of other beautiful beaches of Waiheke Island is its reputation as… read more »
Sandfly Beach // New Zealand

© Andrea Schaffer / CC BY

Sandfly Bay lies on the Otago Peninsula on New Zealand's South Island, not far from the city of Dunedin. This beautiful, wild beach is backed by high dunes.

At the northern end of the beach is a bird watching hide constructed to watch the yellow-eyed penguins that are found in this area. The beach is also a good spot to… read more »
Onetangi Beach // New Zealand

© trakesht / CC BY

At nearly 2 km (1.2 miles) long, the north-facing Onetangi Beach is the longest on Waiheke Island. The local have taken full advantage of this fact and the beach has been home to the Onetangi Beach Horse Races for many years.

Other activities the beach is well known for include the annual sandcastle-building contests; the soft sand, which is free… read more »
Coogee Beach // Australia

© Sardaka / CC BY

Coogee Beach is one of the oldest beachside suburbs south of Sydney. Well developed, it has all the trademarks of a beach lifestyle with good amenities. These include the last remaining women's and children's ocean baths in Australia known as Wylie's Baths and McIvers Baths!
The inviting white sands and generally calm surf are popular with families. It is perfect in… read more »
Obelisk Beach // Australia

© Ernest McGray, Jr. / CC BY

Situated within the greenery of Sydney Harbour National Park is a secluded, pretty little sandy cove. Obelisk Beach is tucked away behind Middle Head, only a stone's throw from Mosman and neighbouring Balmoral Beach. However, this hidden beach feels a world apart being sufficiently off the beaten track to rarely attract a crowd.
Getting to Obelisk beach involves at least some… read more »