Each state in Australia has its own unique
beach experiences to offer the visitor. The
following is just a sample of the most
popular ones.
new south wales | queensland |
south australia | northern territory
victoria | tasmania |
western australia
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New South Wales
Bondi Beach, Sydney
The lifebeat of Sydney with chic cafes lining
the promenade, Campbell Parade, the
historic Bondi Pavilion (c. 1929), surfers,
tourists, roller bladers and plenty of beautiful
people. Site of the Beach Volleyball at the
Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.
Bronte Beach, Sydney
This seaside Sydney
suburb is the home of a wonderful cafe strip
as well as a beachside park and excellent
surf break. There is a spectacular cliff-top
walk connecting it with Bondi Beach,
providing views of both ocean and people.
Nielsen Park, Sydney
Located in the
exclusive Sydney suburb of Vaucluse, this
Sydney Harbour beach features a lovely
stretch of north facing sand, acres of
natural parklands and an excellent
restaurant. Just around the corner is Parsley
Bay, one of Sydneys best-kept secrets.
Northern Beaches, Sydney
Starting at
Manly, on the North Head of Sydney
Harbour, the beaches stretch up the
coastline to Palm Beach, dotted with rocky
outcrops, stunning houses and cliff-top
golf courses. Try north-facing Shelly Beach
in Manly then head north to Curl Curl,
Collaroy, Narrabeen, Bilgola, and rub
shoulders with the rich and famous at
Whale Beach.
Stanwell Park, Wollongong
82km/51 miles
south of Sydney. Just south of the Royal
National Park is the seaside village of
Stanwell Park. Sit out in the surf break,
looking back at spectacular cliffs and the
hang gliders hovering over the ocean.
Hyams Beach, Jervis Bay
180km/112 miles
south of Sydney. Pure white sand, crystalclear
waters, great snorkelling and
magnificent bushland characterise this
beach. It is popular with young families,
campers and scuba divers and famous for
its dolphin pods.
Pebbly Beach, Batemans Bay
277km/173
miles south of Sydney. Golden sand (no
pebbles) surrounded by towering gum
forests. Kangaroos are almost permanent
residents on the dunes and humpback
whales and dolphins frequent the bay.
Neds Beach, Lord Howe Island
700km/435 miles north-east of Sydney.
Kingfish, trevally and sharks are hand-fed
at dusk by excited tourists. Lord Howes
peaks provide a superb backdrop and
offshore is a magnificent coral reef. The
whole ecosystem is part of a World
Heritage area.
Shoal Bay, Port Stephens
226km/141 miles north of Sydney.
A long, sheltered beach near Nelson Bay on the south head. Great views across
to hilly islands and a short walk to Zenith Beach if youre after something to
surf on.
Coffs Harbour
550km/342 miles north of
Sydney. Leave town for Diggers Beach,
hemmed by two headlands (nudists
allowed). Beaches abound further north
along the coast and visit Jetty Beach for
the surf. Spectacular views out to the Split
Solitary islands and great fishing.
Wategos Beach, Byron Bay
790km/493
miles north of Sydney. A mecca for surfers
and alternative lifestylers, this endless
stretch of beach is also home to whales
and dolphins, which are frequently seen
close to shore. Running out from Australias
most easterly point this is a paradise for
both hippies and holiday makers.
Northern Territory
Casuarina Beach, Darwin
Beware of box
jellyfish from October to May, but seven
kilometre long Casuarina Beach is a
popular beach. A small section is set aside
for nudists.
Mandorah, Darwin, Cox Peninsula
Only
ten kilometres across Darwin Harbour by
boat, this popular beach resort is on the
tip of the Cox Peninsula, with great family
beaches and plenty of outdoor activities.
Queensland
South Bank Parklands, Brisbane
A beach
in the heart of the city. White sand and
palm trees grace the heart of the South
Bank Parklands, which run along the
banks of the Brisbane
River. Have a dip and
then visit the markets or
take in a concert at the
nearby Queensland
Cultural Centre.
Moreton Island, via Brisbane
Accessible by a
75 min. cruise, or a 15
min. flight from Brisbane,
this island features wonderful beaches,
dunes for sand surfing and a pod of wild
dolphins that come to shore daily to be
fed by rangers.
Tweed Heads
70km/43 miles south of
Brisbane. On the border between New
South Wales and Queensland, this beach
resort town is popular with water sport
fanatics, surfers and retired sunlovers.
Gold Coast Beaches
70km/43 miles south
of Brisbane. Drenched in 300 days per
year of sunshine, this unbroken coastline
stretches over 40 kilometres and draws
thousands of tourists year round for
surfing, beach weddings, honeymoons and
last hurrahs. Try Surfers Paradise, Main
Beach, Broadbeach, Kirra or Burleigh
Heads to start with.
Main Beach, Noosa Heads, Sunshine Coast
145km/90 miles north of Brisbane.
Protected by the Noosa National Park
headland and running along trendy
Hastings Street, this is the perfect northfacing
beach. Great for sun-lovers,
windsurfers, and those who want to be
seen. Enjoy the dolphins swimming just off
shore. Around the headland are Granite
Bay and Alexandria Bay both popular
nudist beaches.
Teewah Beach, Sunshine Coast
145km/90
miles north of Brisbane. Stretching from
Noosa Heads north shore to the southern
tip of Fraser Island. Sometime called 40-
Mile Beach, it is a busy stretch of sand.
The coloured sands form a spectacular
backdrop behind which stretches the
Cooloola National Park, full of waterways
and quiet bushwalks.
Sandy Cape, Fraser Island
260km/161
miles north of Brisbane. The northern-most
tip of the worlds largest sand island boasts
massive, undulating golden dunes rolling
down to the fish-filled sapphire sea. The
island is World Heritage listed.
Eastern Beach, Fraser Island
260km/161
miles north of Brisbane. Queenslands
longest beach at 120 kilometres is great for
whale watching and fishing. It also acts as a
highway, an airstrip and a ship graveyard.
Mon Repos, Bundaberg
This beach is
lovely to swim at but is much more
famous as a mainland loggerhead turtle
rookery from November to March. Whale
watching is also possible from the shore.
Eastern Beach, Lady Elliot Island
299km/186 miles north of Brisbane. This is
a scuba divers dream. No boat required;
just don the scuba gear or grab a snorkel
and walk down to the waters edge to
meet the Great Barrier Reef and its
colourful creatures.
Whitehaven, Whitsunday Island
1135km/710 miles north of Brisbane. A
two-mile crescent of blinding white silica
sand, part of the Whitsunday Islands
National Park. Warm sea with great
snorkelling and yachting.
Marlin Coast, Cairns, Tropical North
Queensland
The beaches north of Cairns
offer protected swimming beaches strips
of rough golden sand lapped by the Coral
Sea and fringed by seaside villages. Try
Machans, Holloways, Yorkeys Knob,
Kewarra, Clifton Beach, the trendy Palm
Cove or mix with locals at Ellis Beach.
Mission Beach
160km/100 miles south of
Cairns. Named after an Aboriginal mission
established in 1914, this is a gorgeous
stretch of coast surrounded by rainforest.
Very popular with backpackers in recent
years, the views are out to Dunk and
Bedarra Islands through coconut palms.
Magnetic Island, via Townsville
346km/215
miles south of Cairns. Just 20 minutes on a
ferry from the mainland, there are
numerous beaches on the island. Try the
busy Picnic Bay, Nellie Bay, Alma Bay, tiny
Radical Bay or the broad, protected sweep
of Horseshoe Bay. Dive or snorkel amid
clusters of coral, swim in the warm shallow
ocean or try your luck fishing.
Four Mile Beach, Port Douglas
75km/47
miles north of Cairns. This stretch of sand
fronts onto the Coral Sea. Protected by the
Great Barrier Reef, the waves lap the
shoreline and provide excellent
beachcombing. Laze near the stinger nets
and mingle with the beautiful people who
holiday in the resort town of Port Douglas.
Cape Tribulation
150km/94 miles north of
Cairns. Where the rainforest meets the reef
jungle sweeps down to this pristine
beach reached via a mangrove boardwalk.
Spectacular forest-clad mountains form the
backdrop.
Cow Bay, Cape Tribulation
150km/94
miles north of Cairns. Gorgeous, pristine,
golden-sanded beach, with crystal clear,
warm water, coconut palms and stunning
rolling headlands.
Lizard Island, off Cape York Peninsula
240km/150 miles north of Cairns. Take
your pick of 24 white coral beaches ringed
by turquoise waters, plus 1200 species of
fish and 500 species of coral to ogle while
snorkelling. One of the top diving sites in
the world.
South Australia
Glenelg Beach, Adelaide
One of the most
popular beaches in Adelaide, this suburb
south west of the city has a vintage tram
running right to the dunes. Very hip, with
heaps of cafes and a seaside promenade.
Maslin Beach
45km/28 miles south of
Adelaide. Australias first official nude
beach, Maslin features stunning cliffs,
sweeping sands and a devoted set of
sunlovers who loll on the sands all
summer long.
Middleton Beach, Fleurieu Peninsula
83km/52 miles south of Adelaide. Great
surf, great family beach and close to the
thriving hub of Victor Harbor.
The Coorong, Younghusband Peninsula
152km/95 miles south of Adelaide. The
unbroken sweep of a 145-kilometre (90
miles) beach awaits. Cast a line in the surf,
canoe or sail the placid Coorong waters,
meander along the beach, explore ancient
Aboriginal sites and spend some time
birdwatching.
Stokes Bay, Kangaroo Island
112km/70
miles south of Adelaide. On the northern
coast of Australias third largest island, a
beautiful sheltered beach with sweeping
sands and a fantastic entry through rocks.
Whalers Way, Eyre Peninsula
672 km/420
miles west of Adelaide. Also known as
Cape Carnot, this is privately owned so
youll need a permit to camp. Incredible
beaches at Sleaford Bay and further south
is Coffin Bays stunning coast famous for
its oysters.
Tasmania
Wineglass Bay, Freycinet Peninsula
182km/113 miles north east of Hobart. On
Tasmanias east coast, this crescent shaped
beach is a pleasant one-hour walk from the
car park through National Park. Startlingly
white sand and deep, dark water.
Ocean Beach, Strahan
300km/187 miles
west of Hobart. Some of the best sunsets
in Australia occur on the 33 kilometre (20
miles) long wild and pristine beach.
Massive dunes contain the nesting burrows
of thousands of mutton-birds from
September to April. Just behind are
spectacular wilderness forests.
Roaring Beach, Nubeena
140km/87 miles
south east of Hobart. This secluded beach
has huge surf that draws wave punters
from all over the world.
Bay of Fires, St Helens
198km/123 miles
north east of Hobart. Rocky headlands frame
a vast beach of fine white sand with lagoons
and Aboriginal middens (piles of shells).
Great surfing, but the rips are dangerous and
it is best to paddle in the lagoons.
Bruny Island
60km/37 miles south of
Hobart. Peaceful and pretty island, with
varied wildlife including little penguins
and many reptiles. Coastal scenery is
superb, as are Neck Beach, Jetty Beach
and Cloudy Bay.
King Island, Bass Strait
700km/437 miles
north of Hobart. A rugged and beautiful
island with 145 kilometres (90 miles) of
pristine coast. Explore deserted beaches,
scuba dive, meet the penguins, wallabies
and platypuses or visit the many shipwrecks.
Victoria
Berrys Beach, Phillip Island
140km/87
miles south east of Melbourne. A well-kept
secret until now, a board walk leads you
to two kilometres of secluded golden sand
and a great point and beach break for
surfing, surrounded by farmlands.
Express Point, Phillip Island
140km/87
miles south east of Melbourne. The most
powerful tubing waves in Victoria are
found here, which explains why some of
the worlds top surfers say it has the best
waves in the world.
Portsea Back-Beach, Mornington Peninsula
101km/62 miles south of Melbourne.
Popular with surfing locals and masses of
Melburnians, who migrate there each
summer, this cliff-lined beach has powerful
surf and big crowds in January.
Squeaky Beach, Wilsons Promontory
175km/109 miles south east of Melbourne.
One of Australias most popular national
parks, the Prom has surfing and secluded
beaches galore. Squeaky Beach is a
favourite, with squeaky white sand.
Ninety Mile Beach, Gippsland
242km/150
miles east of Melbourne. Part of the
Gippsland Lakes Coastal Park, this narrow
strip of coastal sand dunes is fronted by a
superb sweep of beach. It forms an
unspoilt, spiritual getaway with plenty of
water based activities.
Croajingolong National Park
450km/281
miles east of Melbourne. This incredible
wilderness park stretches for 100
kilometres along Victorias easternmost tip.
The beaches all along here are magnificent unspoilt, wind-sculpted and wild.
Ocean Grove, Bellarine Peninsula
97km/60 miles south west of Melbourne.
On the ocean side of the peninsula, this
surf town has greet scuba diving and
wrecks. The main beach at the surflifesaving
club is very popular.
Point Impossible, Torquay
95km/60 miles
south west of Melbourne. Two excellent
breaks, great fishing and an Aboriginal
midden here. Theres also a very popular
nude beach around the point.
Bells Beach, Torquay
95km/60 miles south
west of Melbourne. Immortalised in cult
surfing flicks, Bellss towering cliffs and
horseshoe shaped beach are host to the
worlds oldest and biggest surfing contest
each April, the Bells Beach Classic
Johanna Beach, Apollo Bay
183km/113
miles south west of Melbourne. Remote and
unspoilt coastline with beach breaks and
enormously powerful 3 to 4 metre waves.
Wilderness camping is available nearby.
Western Australia
Sunset Coast, Perth
Perths famous Indian
Ocean coastline features excellent
swimming and seaside relaxation minutes
from the city centre. Try historic Cottesloe,
Scarborough, trendy Sorrento or any of the
15 beaches in the coast stretching north to
Yanchep. Be sure to watch a sunset over
the ocean.
Rottnest Island, Off Perth
18km/11 miles
west of Perth. Any beach on this superb
11-kilometre (6.8 miles) long island is
good. Try the ever-popular Basin or
Parakeet bays if youre into skinnydipping.
Crystal-clear water and heaps of
coral and shipwrecks to visit for others.
Koombana Beach, Bunbury
180km/112
miles south of Perth. Dolphins have been
coming here to see wading humans almost
daily since 1990 in a low-key version of
Monkey Mia.
Geographe Bay, Dunsborough
255km/
160 miles south of Perth. A delightful
sheltered bay with shallow swimming
coves and deeper waters for sailing.
Stunning natural scenery makes a
backdrop of deep azure waters.
Margaret River, Margaret River
277km/173
miles south of Perth. Second only to Bells
for its surf; the massive swells here are
backed by wild cliffs and dunes. The beach
is cut by the mouth of the Margaret River,
and the five breaks make it a surfing mecca.
Emu Point/Oyster Harbour, Albany
409km/255 miles south of Perth. The
Oyster Harbour entrance to the sea
provides a fantastic swimming, windsurfing
and sailing spot. Emu Point, further round
is ideal for paddling and swimming in
shallow waters.
Lucky Bay, Esperance
721km/450 miles
south east of Perth. Dazzling white sand
that squeaks underfoot, azure water, good
fishing, magnificent scenery and a beach
shared by humans and kangaroos
Monkey Mia, Denham
785km/487 miles
north of Perth. Famed for its regular visits
by a pod of bottlenose dolphins,
burnished sand and shimmering Shark Bay
perfect holidays for families.
Shell Beach, Shark Bay, Denham
785km/487 miles north of Perth. A beach
made entirely of tiny white burrowing
bivalve shells up to ten metres deep. The
beach arcs 60 kilometres along the coast
of the World Heritage Listed Shark Bay
and offers excellent protected swimming.
Hamelin Pool, Shark Bay, Denham
785km/487 miles north of Perth. Not
strictly a beach you can never the less get
your feet wet before examining the
evidence of the beginning of life on Earth.
One of only two places in the world
where they occur, the marine stromatolites
provide an ancient landscape in the
shallow waters of the bay.
Turquoise Bay, Exmouth
1,260km/782
miles north of Perth. Named after the
amazing water colour, the pure sand and
famed Ningaloo Reef just 100 metres off
shore make it perfect for snorkelling and
diving enthusiasts
Port Headland, Pilbara
1,635km/1,015
miles north of Perth. Take your pick of
beaches the best are Cooke Point,
Munda and Cemetery. Flatback turtles nest
on these sands from October to March,
plus theres great whale watching.
Cable Beach, Broome
2,237km/1,398
miles north of Perth. A 14-mile (22 km)
long paradise of sand and white shells,
pawed by the warm waters of the Indian
Ocean. Camel riding, sand dunes and a
nudist area for those willing to bear all.
(Adapted from Australias 50 hottest
beaches; Expanse )
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If you're gonna travel abroad, make sure you are prepared... take it from us, travel insurance is an absolute must!
If you're gonna travel abroad, make sure you are prepared... take it from us, travel insurance is an absolute must!
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