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Subscribe The Best Beaches in Australia for Postcard-worthy Swims
From Whitehaven to Wineglass Bay and back again, here are the best beaches in Australia, each one more jaw-droppingly beautiful than the last!
There’s something about the Australian coastline that plays with time — stretches it thin, lets it drift like sea mist. The edges of the day blur into wind and salt; each grain of sand feels like a secret kept by the tide, each wave a gentle rhythm you never quite forget. From the sugar-white sweep of Whitehaven to the wild, untamed calm of Misery Beach, these shores don’t just invite you in — they ask you to stay awhile, to exhale, to listen.
These are Australia’s most breathtaking beaches: places where nature writes her poetry in salt and light, and where every swim, every footprint, feels part of something timeless.
And it’s not just us saying so. Nudey Beach, Wharton Beach and Turquoise Bay have all earned their place among the world’s top 50 beaches. Nudey’s coral-fringed shoreline drifts seamlessly into the Great Barrier Reef; Wharton’s glassy surf curls over the untouched southern coast; and in Cape Range National Park, Turquoise Bay delivers snorkelling so pristine it feels almost sacred — an underwater world just steps from the shore.
The Best Beaches in Australia: Western Australia
Misery Beach
Misery Beach, just outside Albany on Western Australia’s south coast, is anything but its name. A serene crescent of sugar-white sand framed by sheer granite cliffs and glassy turquoise waters, it’s a place where nature’s quiet drama unfolds in perfect balance. Once shadowed by its whaling past, the beach now feels reborn — wild, luminous, and utterly peaceful. Crowned Australia’s best beach in 2022, it remains a breathtaking reminder that beauty often lies in simplicity.
Cable Beach
Cable Beach, a 22-kilometre sweep of white sand on the edge of Broome, is one of Australia’s most cinematic shorelines, where the outback meets the ocean in vivid contrast. Here, turquoise waters kiss rust-red cliffs, tides retreat to reveal glistening flats, and at dusk, the horizon ignites in molten gold. Camels trace silhouettes against the setting sun, a scene so surreal it feels almost staged.
Once the landing point for the 19th-century telegraph line linking Australia to the world, this stretch of Yawuru Country feels entirely untethered now. It is a beach where the air glows with salt and heat, and colour itself seems to breathe.
Elephant Rocks
Elephant Rocks, found within William Bay National Park near Denmark, feels like stepping into a natural sculpture garden. Towering granite boulders, shaped over millennia, resemble a majestic herd of elephants wading gracefully in crystal-clear waters. Just steps from the serene Greens Pool, this awe-inspiring coastal treasure serves as a moment of quiet wonder, where every stone tells a story etched by time and tide.
Wharton Beach
Wharton Beach, hidden within the folds of Duke of Orleans Bay, feels like something dreamt up by the sea itself. White sand stretches in long, gentle curves, kissed by turquoise waves that roll as smooth as silk. The air hums with salt and stillness, broken only by the rush of surf against the shore. Just 80 kilometres from Esperance, this wide, untouched expanse is made for slow swims, barefoot wanders, and that delicious kind of silence you only find at the edge of the world.
Turquoise Bay
As the name suggests, Turquoise Bay draws you in with it’s majestic waters. Sitting within the Cape Range National Park, it is the dreamiest beach to while away the day exploring the natural beauty that lies beneath the Ningaloo Marine Park as well as the pristine white sands that lead to the unspoiled national park.
Roebuck Bay
Roebuck Bay, near Broome in Western Australia, is a stunning fusion of aquamarine waters and vivid red sands. Its vast tidal flats and mangroves teem with life, from playful dugongs to graceful green turtles. At low tide, the bay transforms, revealing intricate creeks and shimmering mudflats. This ever-changing landscape is one of the more captivating beaches in Australia, blending raw natural beauty with an enchanting sense of discovery.
Two People’s Bay
Two Peoples Bay, just east of Albany, feels like a secret the coastline is keeping. Powder-white sand melts into glassy water, hemmed by sculpted granite and wind-smoothed stone. It’s quiet, untouched, and rich with life — home to rare species like the elusive noisy scrub-bird. Bring your towel, dip beneath the still blue surface, and listen closely; this stretch of coast doesn’t need to shout to be unforgettable.
Shell Beach Conservation Park
We’d be shellfish not to include this stunner on our list of Australia’s best beaches. Within Shark Bay Conservation Park, millions of tiny white cockle shells stretch endlessly along the shore, glinting in the sunlight like scattered pearls. The hypersaline waters are calm and glass-clear, inviting a slow, weightless wade. It’s a surreal, shimmering vision — a beach so pristine and otherworldly it feels more like sculpture than landscape.
The Best Beaches in Australia: Queensland
Whitehaven Beach
Whitehaven Beach feels more dream than destination — a seven-kilometre sweep of pure white silica sand so fine it squeaks beneath your feet. The water shimmers in bands of turquoise and jade, swirling like glass over the shallows of Whitsunday Island. Named the world’s best beach by Lonely Planet in 2025, it’s a vision of the tropics distilled — untouched, weightless, impossibly bright. A bucket-list Australian escape for those who crave the feeling of time dissolving into tide and horizon, leaving only the hush of the sea and the soft gleam of paradise.
Grays Bay
Grays Bay, tucked into sunny Bowen, is the coastal crush you’ll never quite get over. Calm waters meet soft sands in a perfect slow-motion romance — made for paddleboarding at sunrise, floating at noon, and watching the sky catch fire come evening. One of the few East Coast spots where the sun sinks into the sea, it turns every day into golden hour. For families, dreamers, and water babies alike, Grays Bay is serenity with a splash of spectacle.
Ellis Beach
Just north of Palm Cove, Ellis Beach unfolds like a hidden chapter of paradise — golden sands, shimmering Coral Sea and calm waters that embrace rather than challenge. Ellis offers space, peace, and untouched nature, unlike its more crowded neighbour. Here, the day stretches quietly: a book in your hand, the breeze in the palms, the surf a soft hum. But remember: serenity doesn’t equal safety — always respect the water and swim carefully.
Nudey Beach
Nudey Beach is one seriously dreamy Australian beach. Enclosed within rainforest on Fitzroy Island, it’s a pristine haven where soft white sands meet the crystal-clear waters of the Coral Sea. Accessible via a scenic 15-minute rainforest walk from Welcome Bay, this secluded beach offers tranquility and beauty in spades. Renowned for its vibrant coral reefs just offshore, it’s also a paradise for snorkelers eager to explore the rich marine life.
Four Mile Beach
Four Mile Beach, Port Douglas, stretches languidly along the Coral Sea, its golden sands kissed by gentle waves. The palm-fringed shoreline invites barefoot strolls, while the horizon beckons with promises of distant adventures. Stick around for the show, because as the sun dips below the waterline, the sky blushes in hues of pink and gold, casting a serene glow over this coastal dreamboat.
The Best Beaches in Australia: New South Wales
Bondi Beach
Iconic Bondi Beach doesn’t just sit still — it moves, it breathes, it buzzes with an energy that feels distinctly Australian. Golden sand meets rolling surf, and the air hums with salt, sun, and the quiet confidence of a place that knows its worth. Surfers glide, swimmers dive, and beachgoers drift between the waves and the cafe strip, all part of Bondi’s endless choreography. It’s more than a beach — it’s a state of being, equal parts beauty, rhythm, and soul.
Lord Howe Island
Lord Howe Island is a treasure trove of some of Australia’s finest beaches, where the sand is impossibly soft and the waters a dazzling shade of blue. Whether you’re lounging at the serene Lagoon Beach or exploring the secluded delights of Blinky Beach, you’ll find a slow-paced beauty that feels like a quiet rebellion against the ordinary. Swim with sea turtles, hike through lush landscapes, and forget that time even exists.
Wattamolla Beach
Wattamolla Beach feels like a secret whispered through the palms — serene, secluded, and softly cinematic. Tucked within Royal National Park, this sheltered cove blends saltwater and freshwater in a tranquil lagoon that calls for slow swims and lazy afternoons. The air is thick with the scent of eucalypt, the cliffs glow gold in the sun, and the only sound is the water folding gently onto the sand.
Narooma Beach
Narooma Beach is beautiful from every angle, but it’s the southern end that truly steals the show. Here, the Glasshouse Rocks rise dramatically from the sea — jagged, ancient formations sculpted by time and tide. Their rugged silhouettes frame the smooth sands and turquoise water, creating one of the South Coast’s most photogenic scenes. Wander down with your camera, set up a quiet picnic among the rocks, and let the view do the talking — this is Narooma at its most mesmerising.
Greenfields Beach
Greenfields Beach is Jervis Bay’s masterpiece in motion — turquoise meeting cream-white sand, framed by lush bushland that hums with summer ease. The water glows like glass, the air smells faintly of salt and eucalyptus, and time slips away between swims and sandy picnics. It needs filters or fanfare — just a towel, a thermos of tea, and a front-row seat to paradise.
Zenith Beach
Zenith Beach is a hidden gem in Tomaree National Park, where clear waters meet soft, golden sands. Surrounded by rugged headlands and the stunning Mount Tomaree, it’s perfect for a quiet swim or a lazy day in the sun. Watch for dolphins playing in the waves, and embrace the peaceful charm of this unspoiled setting.
The Pass
The Pass is Byron Bay’s most effortlessly iconic stretch — golden sand, turquoise waves, and that easy, sun-drunk rhythm that keeps locals and travellers hooked. Surfers paddle out at sunrise, dolphins glide through the break, and the headland trail above gives you the kind of view that feels cinematic. Between the salt, the light, and the hush of the tide, The Pass captures everything that makes Byron magic.
The Best Beaches in Australia: South Australia
Ethel Wreck Beach
History and beauty collide at Ethel Wreck Beach, where the remains of the Ethel — a Norwegian ship wrecked in 1904 — rest quietly against turquoise water and rugged limestone cliffs. At low tide, the rusted hull emerges like a sculpture, a haunting reminder of the coast’s wild past. Walk the windswept shore, take in the sweep of the sea, and feel time slow around you — this is South Australia’s coastline at its most enchanting.
Port Willunga Beach
Port Willunga is all golden cliffs, glassy water and soft sand that squeaks beneath your feet — beauty that doesn’t need an angle. Once a 19th-century port, the beach still wears its history lightly; the weathered jetty pylons now frame sunset like they were built for Instagram. Swim, wander or just watch the light shift across the cliffs — every moment feels cinematic, every wave a quiet nod to the coast’s effortless perfection.
Memory Cove
Dream your escape where sand meets stillness and only the sea breaks the silence. Memory Cove unfolds after a 4WD track through bush and gum-scented air to soft white sands and waters so clear they blur boundaries between land and sky. Wildlife ambles past your towel, the campfire crackles as dusk gathers, and the beachfront site holds only your footprints. No crowded atolls, no processed views — just you, the stars, and the ocean’s hush.
Second Valley Beach
Second Valley isn’t just a beach — it’s a moodboard waiting to happen. Here, limestone cliffs tumble into glassy blue shallows, and every turn feels cinematic. Brave the jumps from its jagged ledges or float the afternoon away between the rocks; either way, you’re part of the scene. Beneath the surface, fish dart through caves made for snorkellers with a taste for adventure. And when you’ve had your fill, drive a little further — Carrickalinga’s quiet coves await.
Greenly Beach
There’s wild, and then there’s Greenly Beach — a stretch of coastline that feels entirely untamed, carved by wind, waves and time. Framed by towering dunes and rugged reefs, the water shifts from sapphire to silver with the sun. Rock pools gleam like hidden jewels, calm and clear against the surf’s restless pull. Days unfold slowly here — barefoot walks, salt in the air, and the steady rhythm of waves shaping everything they touch.
Almonta Beach
At the southern tip of the Eyre Peninsula, Almonta Beach feels like a secret between the sea and the sky. Golden dunes melt into glass-clear shallows, and kangaroos, emus and goannas patrol the edges like it’s their private resort. When the tide slips out, rock pools and lagoons glint in the sun, begging to be explored. And because perfection deserves a garnish, swing by Coffin Bay Oyster Farm for oysters so fresh they might still be gossiping about the tide.
The Best Beaches in Australia: Victoria
Kilcunda Beach
Wild, windswept and quietly spectacular, Kilcunda Beach captures the raw beauty of Victoria’s Bass Coast. Vast stretches of golden sand meet craggy cliffs and rolling surf, while shallow rock pools shimmer at low tide, waiting to be explored. Surfers chase perfect breaks, anglers cast from the shore, and walkers trace the coastal path towards the historic Bourne Creek Trestle Bridge.
Squeaky Beach
Named one of the world’s best by Lonely Planet in 2025, Squeaky Beach is a must-visit destination in Wilsons Promontory National Park. Famous for its fine quartz sand that squeaks beneath your feet and crystal-clear turquoise waters, the beach is framed by dramatic granite boulders. With stunning views of Leonard Bay and a scenic walk to Picnic and Whisky Bays, Squeaky Beach provides unforgettable beauty and fun for families on holiday.
Refuge Cove
For those chasing the feeling of being utterly elsewhere, Refuge Cove is as close to paradise as it gets. Hidden deep within Wilsons Promontory National Park, this crescent of ivory sand and glassy blue water feels untouched by time. Reachable only by boat or a soul-stirring 34-kilometre hike, it rewards the effort tenfold — think dawn swims, starlit skies, and the hush of the wild all around. Whale bones still rest along the shore, quiet relics in a place built for dreamers and wanderers alike.
Sorrento Back Beach
At the tip of the Mornington Peninsula, the enchanting town of Sorrento comes with a double dose of coastal charm. Front Beach brings gentle waves and an easy pace made for long swims, while the rugged Back Beach faces the wild Bass Strait — raw, windswept and alive with energy. Also known as Ocean Beach, it’s beloved for surfing, swimming, fishing and cliffside walks. When the tide retreats, rock pools appear like tiny worlds waiting to be explored.
The Best Beaches in Australia: Tasmania
Wineglass Bay
Wineglass Bay, one of Australia’s most iconic beaches, is a vision of natural beauty that never fails to awe. Its sweeping crescent of white sand, kissed by turquoise waters, is framed by the striking Hazards mountain range. Famous for its pristine allure and captivating vistas, this incredible spot draws travellers from around the world to experience its serene and undeniable charm.
Boat Harbour Beach
On Tasmania’s northwest coast, Boat Harbour Beach feels like a deep exhale, all white sand, glass-clear water and gentle rhythm. Rugged headlands frame the bay, keeping the scene calm and close, while families paddle and sunbathers drift between swims. Just beyond the shoreline lies Rocky Cape National Park, its ancient cliffs and Aboriginal heritage adding quiet gravitas to the landscape.
Binalong Bay
Get ready to fall for turquoise waters and powder-soft sands at this Bay of Fires favourite. Binalong Bay is a serene escape for nature lovers, framed by fiery orange granite boulders that stand like warm sentinels against the shoreline. Bathed in soft light and sea breeze, it’s an Australian beach that feels untouched by time — calm, radiant, and endlessly restorative.
Australia’s best beaches aren’t just pretty postcards — they’re where salt, sunlight and soul collide. From secret coves to show-stopping shores, each one’s a reminder that paradise isn’t a place, it’s a feeling. Craving more? Dive into our island holidays and retro stays next.
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