Best Beaches of Australia

What a land of contrasts! Australia has some of the best of nature, awesome scuba and snorkel along the Great Barrier Reef and elsewhere, and the most fantastic beaches we've seen. In fact, many people put Australia on their list of must see destinations! Let's get started.

Palm Beach in Sydney is at the end of miles and miles of beaches as you head north out of Sydney. Palm Beach is one of Australia's fun surfing beaches. And if golf is your fancy, Palm Beach has one of the best.


Hyams Beach is fantastic because it's harder to reach. This beach on Jervis Bay has the whitest sand we've ever found. The reflection off the sand can cause sunburn. Beware.


Four Mile Beach in Port Douglas, QLD, reminds us of the Caribbean - turquoise waters, warm sun, swaying palms. Hotels are low-rise and keep that "in the middle of nowhere" feeling. Beware of Queensland's seasonal marine stingers - these jellyfish are deadly!

Mission Beach in Queensland has azure water with the most beautiful horizon - small islands! Amazing white sand bordered by a green forest, Mission is spectacular. Again, beware of marine stingers.


Whitehaven Beach on Whitsunday Island, Queensland, is an almost four mile stretch of pristine sand. And guess what? The island is uninhabited so plan a day of peace!


Surfers Paradise Beach, Gold Coast, Queensland, is part of some 35 beaches of the 19 mile Gold Coast in south Queensland. The sand here "squeaks"! The surf is fantastic and you'll appreciate the breeze.


Cable Beach - Broome, Western Australia, another marine stinger beach - but if you come June through September, you'll be fine - they're not around. 16 miles of sand here - pure white. Australia's most exotic beach - you'll think you're in the South Sea!

Bells Beach, in Victoria. Back in the 1840's the first family to settle in this part of the coast was named Bell. No one surfed back then, but around 1939, surfers from Torquay, a town nearby, started surfing this beach.


Cottesloe Beach, Perth, Western Australia, is part of Perth's 19 glorious beaches -this one is the nicest. Check out the beach, then head for the Indiana Tea House facing the water. Surf is fine as well.

If sun and sand isn't your cup of tea, check out our best diving and snorkel sites in Australia.

Surfers Paradise Beach, Queensland, Australia

The name says it all: this is one of the ritziest, glitziest beaches in Australia. Surfers is a clever creation, fabricated by corporations. It started out like every other beach town on Australia's East Coast, but in the past 50 years, its transformed into an entirely different beast. Rampant commercialization and condo and hotel building have led to an incredible increase in tourism. Casinos also abound in this tourism mecca. In our opinion, Surfers is similar to Venice Beach in Los Angeles: worth seeing for the spectacle, but worth skipping for the beach experience.

The beach, though beautiful, is jam-packed with people almost all of the time. Surfers serves as the beach destination point of many Australians, including playing host to the "Schoolies Week", when groups of recent high school graduates looking to party roam the streets day and night. This festival in December is one of the best and worst times to visit Surfers Paradise, depending on what kind of fun you're looking for.

The enormous number of tourists means an enormous number of companies and tour agencies, so you'll never run out of things to do. There's parasailing, jetskiing, and the sling shot, a bungee like adrenaline experience right outside of town. Surfers is also home to Australia's only outdoor beach cinema. Watch a flick while curling your toes in the sand. If you're into fine dining, Surfers has some of the most options outside of Sydney and Melbourne.

Surfers is a party spot; there's no other way to put it. Definitely don't miss this wild ride, but if you're looking for a quieter, more tranquil vacation, we suggest one of the other towns of the Gold Coast like Byron Bay or Noosa.

Rainbow Beach - Fraser Island, Queensland, Australia

When people talk about Rainbow Beach, they're not focused on Rainbow Beach. That's because Rainbow primarily serves as a gateway to Fraser Island, the largest sand island in the world at almost 110 KM long and an average of 14 kilometers wide. Declared a World Heritage Site in 1992, Fraser is a gem, with beautiful freshwater lakes and dramatic scenery.

Rainbow Beach and Fraser are approximately 250 kilometers north of Brisbane. The most popular way to tour Fraser Island is by renting a 4WD truck, either by yourself or as part of a larger group. These tours generally go out for two nights. One of the best parts of your trip will be driving the truck. I actually learned to drive a manual transmission on Fraser Island!

Fraser has over 100 dune lakes, beautiful desert oasis' that are some of the cleanest in the world. The most famous is Lake McKenzie, blessed with sand that is nearly pure silica. Don't be surprised to see people rubbing the sand over watch faces and jewelry; the non abrasive silica works well as a cleaner. The sand also exfoliates the skin.

The 75 mile beach on the east coast of Fraser Island isn't as popular for swimming, due to dangerous currents and plentiful tiger sharks. Other highlights include Champagne Pools, a rock outcropping constantly hit with bubbly ocean overflow, and Indian Head, a vantage point from which you can usually spot schools of sharks knifing through the waves. Another popular spot is the Maheno shipwreck, right on the beach. You can walk through the wreck, but keep an eye out for sharp and rusty edges.

If you have some extra time in Australia, Fraser Island is a great getaway for a few days. It’s sure to provide some of your favorite memories.

Noosa Heads, Queensland, Australia

Noosa is one of our top beach towns in Australia. It's a perfect blend of tourist and local, hip yet laid back. The beach also offers great surfing and body boarding. What really makes this beach shine, however, is the town itself, a charming oasis on the sometimes overcrowded East Coast of Australia.

Noosa is about an hour north of Brisbane, and almost directly in the middle of the continent. This spot on the continent ensures beautiful weather year-round, with water temperatures of 19 degrees Celsius (or 66.2 degrees Fahrenheit). That means pleasant water whenever you visit.

There's no shortage to activities in Noosa. If you're not into surfing, you can rent a fishing rod, or rip through the ocean on a jet-ski. If you want to navigate the ocean under your own power, take out a canoe. Admire some of the beautiful million dollar houses on the Noosa River, only a short drive from the town.

For the more shopping inclined, Noosa will be a field day. Window shop at some of the boutique stores. There are also numerous high-end fashion stores, along with great surf shops. There are also a ton of great restaurants, including some spectacular high-end options if you have a few extra dollars to spend. In particular, Hastings Street is your best option, with sun splashed outdoor dining. Noosa also has a great cooking school, if you're more into doing it yourself.

Nature abounds in and around Noosa, as well. Nearby Fraser Island is the largest sand island in the world, and home to a number of Australia's most beautiful beaches. One of our all time favorite days in Australia was spent touring the Australia Zoo, created by famed Croc hunter Steve Irwin. Pet a koala, or view one of the incredible crocodile shows. Whatever you do, you really can’t go wrong in this beach paradise.

Maroubra Beach, Sydney, Australia

Trying to dodge the draft? Rumor has it that Maroubra Beach is the perfect spot. According to legend, during World War II, surfers would take their boards out from this beach and hang out in the ocean for hours while draft officers combed the coast for recruits. Even if you're not avoiding the army, Maroubra Beach is a great option for a sunny day while you're vacationing in Sydney.

To get here, drive or take one of the many buses along Anzac Parade (one of the main thoroughfares out of Sydney). Maroubra is located about 10 kilometres south-east of Sydney's Central Business District, so if you’re feeling adventurous, you could even bike it on a nice day.

Most people come to Maroubra for the surf. Maroubra is only the second beach in Australia (after Bell's Beach) to be named a National Surfing Reserve, ensuring that the breaks and reefs here will remain unchanged by man for perpetuity. That means the great surfing here isn't in danger of being affected by any dredging or port building. If you're a beginner, start off with a lesson from the Sydney Safer Surf School and Safaris. Lessons are available 365 days a year.

If you get bored of Maroubra, take a stroll to Coogee and Clovelly Beaches along the beautiful coastal walk. Bondi is only a few kilometers further. You can spend an entire day ambling along this fantastic walk, a great day to see the best of Sydney’s beaches on the cheap.

Many residents lament Maroubra's commercialization since the 1970's, with increased food prices and difficulty finding parking. We still enjoyed it, however, with our favorite section being the rock pool a bit further up the beach. Check it out along with Sydney's other beach spots.

Margaret River Beach, Perth, Australia

This is just one of our favorite spots in Australia. Located south of Perth on the West Coast of the continent, Margaret River receives fewer tourists than most other spots in the country. For all you wine lovers out there, the surrounding country is famous for its wine production, with vineyard tours being a nice break from the beach on a hot day.

There's no end to the things you can do around here. Only twenty minutes and six kilometers from the beach, the Town of Margaret River is a center for just about every kind of leisure activity imaginable, which means you'll never be bored. Rent a kayak or surfboard, or if you’ve got a bit of extra cash, take a helicopter ride and check out the scenery from a bit of a different angle. There are also opportunities for rock climbing all around.

We didn't have the time, but everyone has great things to say about the Cape to Cape Track, running from Cape Leeuwin to Cape Naturaliste. It's a bit of a commitment at five days, however. The visitor centers in Margaret River sell detailed maps.

The Margaret River is great for fishing. Fish abound, including bream, herring, and yellow fin whiting. There are also a ton of little nooks along the coast that are popular with locals, so a bit of socializing at the local bait shop might be a good idea.

As for the wine tours, take your pick. There are tons of options, including half-day and full day tours. Margaret River is best known for its wonderful chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, and cabernet. Buy a bottle to take back to the beach for sunset, and see where that takes you.

Manly Beach, Sydney, Australia

Only a stone’s throw from Sydney, Manly Beach is a great option for getting away from the hustle and bustle of Australia’s largest city. Sydney residents often prefer it over some of the closer beaches (like Bondi), as it's quieter and less popular with tourists. Towards sunset on a weekday, you might even have the whole beach to yourself.

The quiet oceanside hamlet of Manley is only a quick thirty minute ferry ride from Sydney's main terminal at Circular Quay. The waves here are some of the finest in New South Wales, and on a sunny day, it's not unusual to see a substantial number of surfers waiting for that perfect wave. Even more than the surf, however, it's the white sand and huge Norfolk pines set Manly apart from the other beaches in the Sydney metro area.

Surfing isn't the only opportunity for fun in Manly, however. Other activities include kayaking, beach volleyball, and scuba diving. Numerous companies operate tours, including an informative nature cruise. There’s even an academy for volleyball, if you’re interested in improving your spiking and setting.

Within walking distance of Manly lies Shelley Beach, well known as the only beach in Australia to face inland. It's also a prime spot for scuba diving, offering you a great chance of finding your own little Nemo.

After a full day of fun and sun, retire to the town for a range of dining choices, along with a number of drinking establishments to take care of any of those surfing bruises. There's also an array of accommodations, from inexpensive hostels to the glamorous Manly Resort. Wherever you stay, Manly is sure to live up to its motto as a beach "seven miles from Sydney, a thousand miles from care."

Cronulla Beach, Sydney, Australia

Cronulla Beach is a quieter alternative to Sydney’s beaches at Bondi and Coogee. Like both of those beaches, Cronulla is only a short drive or train ride away from Sydney’s Central Business District. Furthermore, you can feel safe at this beach: the Cronulla Surf Lifesaving Club is one of the finest in Australia, having won three World Championships. This proud organization is housed in a marvelous art deco building right on the beach.

There are a ton of activities for all ages at Cronulla Beach. Popular options include surfing, body boarding, and bike riding. There are even free body boards provided by the beach for the public to use! For the more adventurous, skydiving and hang gliding are also available. The Sydney Hang Gliding Centre actually pioneered the tandem technique, enabling the instructor to ride along with the beginner. This might just be the best place to take that initial leap!

Cronulla Park directly behind the beach provides picnic tables and barbecues. Nearby Royal National Park has over 150KM of walking tracks. We walked the Palm Jungle Loop Walk, and it took us almost 5 hours. The National Park Service rates it as a “hard” trek, and we discovered they most certainly weren’t lying. We were definitely pretty beat, but that wasn’t anything that a cold beer at one of Cronulla’s many bars couldn’t handle.

The town of Cronulla boasts one of the finest YHA hostels in the country, along with a number of hotels for those with a bit more cash to spend. There are also a ton of restaurants. Best of all, if you can’t find anything that strikes you in Cronulla, you’re only minutes from one of the culinary capitols of the world.

While you’re in Sydney, check out Cronulla. It’s sure to satisfy, especially if you’re looking for a quieter, romantic moment with that special someone.

Cottesloe Beach, Perth, Australia

Most of our beaches lay on the East Coast of Australia, and that’s where most of the tourists go. The West Coast, with the city of Perth as its anchor, can offer you the perfect beach experience, with miles and miles of coast all to yourself. One of the best on this side of the continent is Cottesloe Beach. Cottesloe is Perth’s most popular beach, and the town it’s centered in is also one of the most affluent suburbs of the great city. At only a 15 minute drive from the city center, this beach is one of your best options while staying in Perth.

The beach itself is a marvelous stretch of white sand, with warm Indian Ocean water beating waves down the coast. You can see for miles in either direction, one of the best unspoiled views from any beach in Australia. Swimmer, surfers, and bodyboarders all enjoy Cottesloe, along with snorkelers perusing through nearby reefs. There are a bunch of shops that rent out both surfboards and snorkeling gear. There are also convenient facilities available such as toilets, showers, and picnic tables.

If you’re lucky, you’ll catch the Rottnest Channel Swim from Cottlesloe Beach out to Rottnest Island. At a distance of over 20 miles, this is one of the longest open water swims in the world. The youngest swimmer to complete this epic journey was only 13 years old. Rottnest Island is Australia’s Alcatraz, having once served as a prison.

End a day in Perth with a beautiful sunset over the Indian Ocean facing west. That’s only one of the many differences between the East and West Coasts of Australia. You won’t be disappointed taking time to experience everything that Perth and the west have to offer.

Coogee Beach, Sydney, Australia

One of your best beach options while in Sydney is Coogee Beach, eight kilometers and only minutes from the central business district. A number of buses shuttle back and forth, so combine shopping and surfing for the perfect sunny Australian day. The nearby city of Ranswick has many restaurants, along with hostels and hotels. Ranswick is also home to the University of South Wales, and the Sydney Football Stadium.

With a wide swath of perfect white sand, Coogee Beach is only one of the many beaches on what’s now commonly referred to as “the Sports Coast”. With ample opportunity for sailing, snorkeling, and horseback riding, there are activities to be found for all. Body boarding is also a popular way to spend time enjoying the beautiful warm water.

Coogee Beach is also famous for its coastal walks. Clearly marked, each of the trails hugs the coastline, and the dramatic scenery provides for stunning pictures. The walks incorporate signs that share some of Coogee’s history. Even more impressive are the shipwrecks strewn along the beach, a testament to the tumultuous oceans habit of tossing ships around.

Nearby Botany Bay National Park offers even more opportunity for experiencing the unique natures scenes particular to this part of Australia. Botany Bay is also steeped in history, as it was one of the first sites visited by Captain James Cook. There is also a significant Aboriginal influence, with much evidence of their way of life before the European colonization.

There are also facilities for large groups of people, including picnic tables and barbeques. Kids will enjoy the playgrounds, with the ocean only steps away when it comes time to cool down. These convenient amenities make entertaining at Coogee Beach a great option for any special occasion.

Byron Bay Beach Australia

Actually, Byron Bay is a small town in New South Wales, a state in Australia. If you were to go to the eastern most point, that's where Byron Bay Beach is located. The name came from Captain James Cook who named the cape here after John Byron, grandfather of English poet Lord Byron. But boy, we got away from taking beaches!

Head north out of Sydney and some 800 kilometers up the coast you're at Byron Bay. Feeling homesick for the States while you’re in Australia? The closest to the U.S. you’re going to get is Byron Bay, the most easterly point on the continent. Come for the geography, but stay for the beautiful beach and fun resort town.

Byron enjoys a warmer climate than Sydney or Melbourne, so you can enjoy the beach almost year-round. Temperature during the winter has an average high of 21 degrees Celsius, or almost 70 degrees Fahrenheit. That means that, even in June, you can get lucky with a scorcher, and have all day to play in the sand.

This beach town is immensely popular with backpackers, with many considering it to be a "must see" attraction. This gives Byron quite an international feeling. Cooking dinner in a hostel, you could hear four or five different languages spoken over the course of your dinner.

Byron Bay is well known for its surf, with the waves being regarded as some of the finest in all of Australia. Body boarding is also popular, along with scuba diving and snorkeling. There are numerous shops that rent surfboards for reasonable prices, usually around 10-15 dollars an hour. For novices, the Byron Bay Surf School offers lessons for less than 50 dollars for four hours.

There are a number of festivals year-round, most involving local, national, and even international music. The Byron Bay Film Festival in March, first put up in 2006, draws films critics from across Australia. Nearby Nimbin is likened to Woodstock in the United States as a progressive, free-spirited town (plus the whole legalized marijuana thing).

Byron Bay is a great stopping point on the Gold Coast between Sydney and Brisbane. This is regarded as one of the premier beaches in Australia, and for good reason.

Bondi Beach Sydney Australia

Bondi Beach delightfully wraps itself around the suburb of the same name in Sydney, Australia. Pronounced BOND-eye, this one kilometer beach has a good mix. On one end, you'll find water gentle enough to let your cares escape. And on the other end, Surf Life Saving Australia has given Bondi Beach a 7 out of 10, with 10 being the most hazardous! Where's the Bondi Blonde?

What gives Bondi Beach its celebrity is a famous rip current. Locals call it the Backpackers Express, the Bondi Tram, or the Bronte Express, as you would supposedly end up at Bronte Beach if you got caught in the thing. But Bondi Beach has more than the one rip. We were told there are five known rip currents that operate off the beach. Backpackers is simply the most common because it is closest to shore, to people wading, swimming. You get the picture.

Isn't offshore Sydney shark territory? Indeed. And Bondi shares a shark net with other beaches in the area. The local government checks the nets often for tears. There are also lifeguards on duty. And there hasn't been a shark fatality since... 1937.

Remember the Olympics in Australia? That was in the summer of 2000. It was here on Bondi Beach that the Olympic beach volleyball was held. A temporary stadium made to hold 10,000 was placed on the beach. The local government of Waverley now frowns of volleyball at the beach, not because it isn't cool, but because of the amount of space it takes up on the sand. Remember, one kilometer beach, thousands of residents living within meters.

So now that we have you scared with the shark and rip currents, why go? Ha! The southern end of Bondi Beach we found some cool "Baths" - the Bondi Baths - over 100 years old we're told. And at the northern end there is a wading pool for kids. These are actual pools, two of them! Now out in the ocean, remember to stay within the marked swimming areas (red/yellow flags), and when the surf is up. It's best to stay near the shore.

Bondi Beach - Beach Index:

• Sand - lightly packed light tan in color, medium to fine grain
• Facilities - full with the beautiful Bondi Pavillion and the Swiss Grande Hotel
• Shade - rent an umbrella, otherwise lots of sunscreen
• Sports - a few rentals along the strip, beach toys, surf boards
  
• Notes - obey local signage, nice beach in the metro area
  

Bells Beach Australia

Australians don't need a Bells Beach map to show you what parts of this wonderful beach are best. Every few hours a Bells Beach Surf Report goes out on this internationally famous surfing beach in Victoria, Australia. This gem of down under is about 100 km southwest of Melbourne, off Great Ocean Road. Surfers come from all over the world to experience the different break Bells Beach has. The break is known as Bells Bowl, or simply Bowl.

Bells Bowl happens because there is reef directly below. But what is nice about the surfing at Bells Beach is that the Bowl can be surfed at almost any tide. And here is where you will find the famous Bells Beach SurfClassic. The first one was held in January of 1961. Since then, Bells Beach SurfClassic has been held at Easter. Bells Beach accommodations during this time can be real hard to come by although there are many of the "Bells Beach Cottages", famous for lodging surfers from all cities of the globe. In fact, during Easter, you can hear so many different languages right on the beach.

And just how did this stretch of beach get its name? Back in the 1840's the first family to settle in this part of the coast was named Bell. No one surfed back then, but around 1939, surfers from Torquay, a town nearby, started surfing this beach. It was so hard to get to and surfing wasn't that popular.

But when surfing began to take hold worldwide, in the late '50's and '60's, Joe Sweeney, who had wrestled in the Olympics and loved to surf, hired a bulldozer to clear a road down to the beach. It was expensive, but Sweeney had an ingenious way of paying for it. He charged fellow surfers two dollars to use the road to the beach. You can still see this original road as the Torquay to Anglesea walking trail.

Now for non-surfers, don't worry. The beach is great for relaxing and catching some sun. Don't expect much at this off the beaten track beach. It's mainly a surf haven. We thought it was fun just people watching.

There have been a few issues with shark off this beach. Ask the locals before you head out.

Bells Beach - Beach Index:

• Sand - tan colored with medium powder, sea grass along north end
• Facilities - full, even more when surfing event happening
• Shade - morning sun, shade from cliff in afternoon
• Sports - surfing is the only game in town
• Notes - try your luck at surfing, instructors abound

Palm Beach Australia

As early as 1832 this grand area of Australia has appeared on maps as Cabbage Tree Boat Harbour. Palm Beach got its name from the Cabbage Tree palms nearby.

But this is no lost spot on the map.

Palm Beach is one of Sydney's chic hang outs with the wealthy spending holiday between Christmas and New Year. Same as in Brazil's Buzios. Yes, you're bound to see a trendy socialite if you're here for a few days.

For Aussies, they know the well known soap opera, Home and Away is shot almost entirely here and many music videos have been filmed right here. The town is just right and the beach - well, breathtaking.

The northernmost point of Palm Beach rise from the beach to 350 feet and has an operational lighthouse called "Barrenjoey". We didn't find any roads on the headland, but it is worth the hike - the views are awesome. Lined by cliffs from Barrenjoey Lighthouse down to Careel Bay, Palm Beach is a haven for water sports.

Palm Beach is home to a number of parks, beaches, and sporting areas, including part of the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, and the beach which gives the area its name.

Palm Beach also has a golf club, sailing club and surf school, and two surf lifesaving clubs, one of which, North Palm Beach, is where Home and Away is filmed and has "Summer Bay Surf Club" painted on the beach side of it. The other, Palm Beach, was founded in 1921 and today is patrolled by paid surf lifesavers on weekdays during summer, and by volunteers from the Palm Beach SLSC on weekends. The Surf Club is one of the biggest in NSW, with members coming from all over Sydney.

To get here, bus is the best way to Wynyard. Takes about an hour and a half. If you can afford it, there's a seaplane from Rose Bay.

Beach Index - Palm Beach

• Sand - Mix of rock/coral, medium.
• Facilities - Full throughout the area.
• Shade - umbrellas, trees.
• Sports - windsurfing, sailing, catamrans. Local Palm Beach Watersports at Governor Phillip Park rents everything.
• Notes - barbeque, food kiosk, and nine holes of golf awaits.
  

In 1978, Mel Gibson stared in the movie "Tim" filmed mostly at Barrenjoey Customs House (1911).

Hyams Beach Jervis Bay Australia

Welcome to the number one tourist destination in the state of New South Wales. Hyams Beach at Jervis Bay is just two and a half hours from Sydney and around three hours from Canberra. There are so many natural attractions around here you won't run out of things to do. We promise.

Jervis Bay is a National Park and is really nice. Some say Hyams Beach has the clearest water in Australia - possibly the world. You'll find the resort area around Hyams Beach inviting and simply fun. There are people from all over the world on holiday.

Did you know they spot kangaroos in the mornings on the beach? Along with the daily dolphins - this is a delight. We didn't catch any, but you can find trails all around. This place is exploding with life. Snorkeling and diving are great. Make sure you try over by the rock outcroppings to see the most sea life.

We mentioned dolphin watching, but Hyams Beach in Jervis Bay has great facilities for jet-skiing, whale watching, sailing, swimming, fishing, exploring up and down the beach, tours, relaxing in the sun, and diving.

These guys boast the whitest sand in the world, but we think it may be an Ozzy tail. We found the sand medium grained and very dry. Nice to the feet.

Check out the Hyams Beach Caf & General Store with great staples and snacks. And you'll find accommodation at any of a number of holiday homes and B&B's. Make sure you take a dolphin or whale cruise and hike the beach for nature. You'll be glad you did.

Beach Index: Hyams Beach Jervis Bay

• Sand - mainly coral based which makes it very white. You be the judge.
• Facilities - throughout the beach.
• Shade - some high trees at the fringes otherwise, none.
• Sports - everything, even paragliding.
• Notes - we recommend staying in a local home. Check OzStayz.com.au for a wide variety.