Oceania's Top 50+ Beaches
-
Fraser Island // Australia
Situated just of the Queensland coast Fraser Island is considered the largest sand island in the world. Stretching around 120 km in length there is an awful lot of beach here, and very few people. In fact there is actually even more beach; Fraser island is dotted with large freshwater lakes all of which are fringed by the same beautiful… read more »
-
Takapuna Beach // New Zealand
© Adam & Tess / CC BY Takapuna is sometimes referred to as the unofficial 'capital' of Auckland's North Shore - a series of coastal suburbs across Shoal Bay from the city centre. The Takapuna Beach area is the centre of the North Shore's nightlife, being home to many bars, restaurants, cafes and shops. It is also the main shopping centre of the North Shore.
The beach… read more »
-
Oke Bay // New Zealand
© YHA-New-Zealand / CC BY Oke Bay is located near the village of Rawhiti in the Bay of Islands in the very North of New Zealand. This subtropical region consists of nearly 150 islands between Cape Brett and the Purerua Peninsula and is a water-lover's paradise. Known as a destination for whale and dolphin spotting, sailing and fishing the Bay of Islands area is home… read more »
-
Manly Beach // Australia
© Enochlau / CC BY With a regular ferry running between downtown Sydney to the North Shore suburb of Manly it is no surprise that this long stretch of fine sand is as popular as ever. The town here is very much centred around the beach and this in turn attracts travellers from all over the globe who come here to soak up the sun,… 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 »
-
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 »
-
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 »
-
Bronte Beach // Australia
© eyeintim / CC BY Bronte beach is situated in Sydney's eastern suburbs between Bondi and Coogee beaches. From either of beach it is an easy walk of about 2km along the paved clifftop path. However, if you fancy a swim there is an anual swim held every December between Bondi and Bronte.
For those who feel they aren't quite ready to take on the open… read more »
-
Currawong Beach // Australia
Ideal for swimming, sunbathing and relaxing, Currawong Beach is a sweeping bay with calm sheltered water. This is thanks to its sheltered position, facing southeast into Pittwater. This pretty beach hideaway is located just south of Mackerel Beach and separated from it by Sinclair Point.
This area of the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park is popular for hiking and bushwalking and… read more »
-
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 »
-
-
Wattamolla Beach // Australia
© Greg070189 / CC BY Located in Royal National Park, Wattamolla Beach is a popular sandy beach in Sydney South. The beach has soft white sand with ocean waves on one side and calm lagoon waters on the other. The name "Wattamolla" comes from the Aboriginal "place near running water". Although apparently the beach was first discovered by English cartographer Matthew Flinders in 1796. There… read more »
-
Tamarama Beach // Australia
© eyeintim / CC BY Next door neighbour to Sydney's most famous beach, Bondi, is the dimunitve Tamarama beach. This little beach is possibly deeper than it is wide, although at only about 80 metres that isn't too dificult.
Often referred to as 'Glamarama' the beach here is where the beautiful people come to top up their tans. The nickname however dates back to the 1980s… 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 »
