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! The fact is there are so many beaches on this continent of varied terrain that there is something for everyone. People seem to flock to the best beach. Let's see if that's true here. Ready to get started? Pick a beach and get ready to enjoy!

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.

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.