Australia beaches are among the best in the world, and each one has something unique and special about it.
When traveling the country, you’ll be surprised by the vast amount of stunning coastline and the array of opportunities to have an entire beach to yourself.
While most of the more secluded Australian beaches require you to rent a car and explore, many of the best beaches in Australia are in commuting distance from the major cities.
What makes Australia beaches so great is how well maintained they are and the opportunity to do other activities while you are there. It’s a surfers and sun soakers paradise with excellent local facilities that make imitating the Aussie way of life and having a bbq with your friends easy.
We have put together a list of the top 10 Australia beaches for all you beach lovers and where they can be found.
Here are the 10 best beaches in Australia
- Whitehaven Beach – For soft and white sand
- Bondi Beach – For people-watching
- 75 Mile Beach – For an amazing beach drive
- Byron Bay – For relaxing
- Mandalay Beach – For something different
- Wineglass Bay – For variety
- Noosa Main Beach – For family time
- Burleigh Beach – For watersports
- Lucky Bay – For Stargazing
- Cable Beach – For sunsets
1. Best Australia beach for soft white sand: Whitehaven Beach
Location: Whitsundays, Queensland
Whitehaven Beach is situated on an island in the Great Barrier Reef, and the scenery will take your breath away. The sand is 98% pure silica, so unlike other Australian beaches, the sand never gets hot, which is perfect as it negates the effects of the warm Queensland sun. It also makes a squeaking sound when you walk on it.
Most people get there by boat and enjoy the various hikes and lookouts in the area. It’s also a hot spot for those wanting to propose, and many people get a character helicopter out to a remote stretch of the beach and pop the question.
2. Best Australian beach for people-watching: Bondi Beach
Location: Sydney, New South Wales
Located on the footsteps of Sydney, Bondi Beach is always busy, but for a good reason. The beautiful sandstone cliffs surrounding the beach are easy on the eye, and the curling waves are perfect for a dip.
It’s packed full of cool bars, cafes, and drinking spots for revelers to enjoy. The abundance of crowds makes it the ideal place to sip on something beautiful in a vibrant atmosphere.
3. Best Australia beach for taking a drive: 75 Mile Beach
Location: Fraser Island, Queensland
Situated on the scenic Fraser Island off the coast of Queensland, 75 Mile Beach is a rare find. Strong currents, a native shark population, and jellyfish make it an unappealing prospect for swimming. However, it makes up for this with expansive rainforest and rock formations surrounding it.
The beach is a tourist hotspot for renting 4WD vehicles and letting rip along the 75-mile coastline. While you are there, make sure to check out Indian Head, which has some fantastic volcanic rocks.
If you want to take a dip, go to Champagne Pools, they are protected from the sharks and stingers so you can at least get your feet wet.
4. Best Australian beach for relaxing: Byron Bay
Location: New South Wales
Byron Bay was once considered a small hippy town but has grown to be one of Australia’s best beaches. It’s boutique shopping, and chilled cafes are a far cry from the chaos of Bondi beach and ideal for anyone who wants real downtime.
The beach’s location makes it ideal for surfing and draws enthusiasts from across the globe. It’s a short journey from the Gold Coast but more than worth it if you’re trying to avoid the crowds. The coastline is vast, so don’t be afraid to explore and take a long walk, just make sure to bring ample water.
5. Best Australia beach for something different: Mandalay Beach
Location: Walpole, Western Australia
Western Australia is full of untouched natural beauty, and Mandalay Beach is no exception. It’s situated near the town of Walpole and surrounded by rocky headlands. It has a real sense of untamed wilderness that other Australian beaches don’t have, making it a unique entry on our list.
To get to Mandalay Beach, there are a couple of entry points around a 30-minute drive from Walpole. The last 8km are on unkempt roads, but they are good enough for 2WD vehicles to handle.
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6. Best beach in Australia for variety: Wineglass Bay
Location: Freycinet National Park, Tasmania
Wineglass Bay is the poster child for tourism in Tasmania. It’ll take you around 2 hours from Hobart but is well worth the drive. The pink granite rocks that break into stunning turquoise water will leave you breathless.
The beach has a lot to offer in terms of activities, including kayaking, snorkeling, hiking, and even wildlife spotting. There is a lookout that requires an hour hike but is fantastic and gives the beach’s best view.
Take a trip to Wineglass, not many tourists venture over to Tasmania, and I think it’s arguably the most beautiful place in Australia.
7. Best Australian beach for the family: Noosa Main Beach
Location: Sunshine Coast, Queensland
The sunshine coast is packed full of amazing beaches, but I think Noosa’s main beach is the standout. The pristine waters and golden sands make it a perfect spot to take a dip.
More importantly, the beaches are heavily patrolled by lifeguards so you can have peace of mind that the family will be well taken care of.
Dolphins and humpback whales can also be spotted off the coast in June, July, and August, so a trip at this time would be even more memorable.
Aside from its natural beauty, Noosa Main beach has a lot to offer families in terms of restaurants, coffee shops, and boutiques. It’s a must-visit.
8. Best Australia beach for watersports: Burleigh Beach
Location: Gold Coast, Queensland
Burleigh Beach is one of Australia’s best beaches and has a variety of different wave patterns to suit all water sports fans.
At one end, it has rolling waves for surfers to enjoy, at the other a calm tributary for kayakers, swimmers, and paddle boarders to explore.
If you are a surfing fan, you have to take a trip here, it’s where the iconic Burleigh barrel first came to prominence, and it’s home to the Burleigh Boardriders – longest-running surfing club on the coast.
9. Best Australian beach for stargazing: Lucky Bay
Location: Esperance, Western Australia
Lucky Bay was my favorite stop during my Aussie Adventure. You won’t find hectic waves and busy crowds here, but you can gaze at the milky way. Western Australia’s remoteness makes it a stargazer paradise.
The beach itself is beautiful with soft white sand, but the place comes alive at night, where you get an unimpeded view of the stars. Pitch up your tent, grab a drink, sit back and enjoy the view.
10. Best Australia beach for a sunset: Cable Beach
Location: Western Australia
Rave reviews and social media snaps are slowly making this beach one of the most popular Australian beaches.
Its untouched beauty is what you would expect from many of the beaches in Western Australia, but unlike the others, you peer across the Indian Ocean, instead of the Pacific.
Make sure to check out the Sunset Bar for one of the best sunsets you will ever see. If you go between March and October, you will get the best view of the Staircase to the Moon. It’s a natural phenomenon when the sun sets and looks like there is a pathway to the Moon.
Which of the best beaches in Australia should you visit?
Australia is so vast that you’ll have to pick either the west coast or the east. While the west coast has more beautiful beaches, in my opinion, going here means you’ll have to skip out the major Australian cities.
So if time is short, head out west and tick off a few of the best beaches in Australia in one go.
Check out our Australia Travel Guide for tips on everything you need
to know when planning your trip to Australia so you can make the
most of your time Down Under!
