Australia is known for its 27,000 kilometers of coastline and blue waters, and boy, do they make the most of it! Australians appear happiest at the beach, whether indulged in a game of beach volley or soaking in the summer sun. The country has a lot to offer to its residents and tourists, and that’s what makes Australia what it truly is. When they say there’s nothing like Australia, they say it right. You’ve come to the right place if you want to plan a visit to Australia and would like to know which Australian beaches are a must-visit.
You’ll be amazed to know that there are more than 10,000 beaches in the country. Some of the Australian beaches rank as the best beaches in the world. You can’t possibly visit all Australian beaches in a single lifetime, let alone your short vacation. However, no matter how short your visit to Australia is, you should most definitely visit some of the best Australian beaches.
This article lists down the best Australian beaches that are a must-visit. You’ll go there once, and you’ll want to keep going there. You’ll come back home after your trip, but your heart might not.
Best Australian Beaches
1. Bondi Beach, Sydney
Bondi Beach is located at a short distance from the heart of Sydney. You can either opt for a bus ride or go to the beach on private transport. The breathtakingly beautiful curved beach dotted with sunbathers, surfers, and swimmers will welcome you. The water at this beach isn’t the warmest, but it still offers a pleasant and enjoyable swimming experience throughout the year. Bondi Beach is the perfect tourist spot with numerous cafes and bars where you can enjoy a relaxing time and take uncountable memories home. Boutique shops are also a major highlight of Bondi beach. Another noteworthy attraction for the tourists and the locals is the coastal walk that extends from Bondi to Coogee through a cliff-top pathway. You can either enjoy a pleasant walk or an energetic jog while letting the beauty of Bondi Beach settle in.
2. Whitehaven Beach, Queensland
Whitehaven Beach is located along the world-famous, Great Barrier Reef in the Whitsunday Islands. It bags a spot as the best beaches in the world for all the right reasons. The beach features a 7km-long arc of beautiful white sand. The sand at Whitehaven Beach isn’t the regular sand that you see at other beaches. It’s pure silica. The white of the sand creates an eye-catching contrast with the turquoise water and the beautiful emerald headlands. Whitehaven Beach is a part of the Whitsunday Island national park, ensuring its beauty is protected and preserved.
There’s a lot that you can enjoy at Whitehaven Beach. Apart from swimming and sunbathing, you can visit the popular bareboat anchorage, Tongue Bay. If you set out on a 10 to 15-minute hike from Tongue Bay, you can get a chance to enjoy the breathtaking view of the entire beach from the Hill Inlet.
3. Cossies Beach, Cocos Islands
The next on our list of must-visit Australian beaches is Cossies Beach, located in Cocos Islands. The striking white sand, luminous aqua-colored water, and coconut palms create the perfect picture – just how you see it in the movies. You’ve got to board a 4.5-hour-long flight from Perth to reach the Cocos (Keeling) Islands.
The entire beach is lined by lush coconut palm trees. The curving beach curves gracefully out in the turquoise water. You can either enjoy walking along the shore or snorkel among the diverse marine life and coral gardens in the crystal-clear water.
Cossies Beach isn’t highly developed. You shouldn’t expect to find well-furnished resorts and tourist facilities. The only signs of development that you’ll see at Cossies Beach include some eco-toilets, walking trails, wood-fired BBQs. You can even set out a camp at the beach and take in the beauty of sunrise and sunset.
4. Wineglass Bay, Tasmania
Wineglass Bay is a part of Tasmania’s Freycinet National Park. This Australian beach is something you’ve never seen before and won’t ever see again. It’s a jewel that you must not miss on your visit to Australia. The shoreline is curved and fringed with bushes. The striking white sand meets the sapphire of the water, and the sight will leave you mesmerized for good.
Once you’re over the enthralling beauty of the beach, you can then move on to the lookout that’s located at the southern end of Wineglass Bay. From the lookout, you can let the pink granite peaks, named Hazards, mesmerize you further.
The best time to visit Wineglass Bay is from December till April, when the weather is warm. You’ll have to drive for about 2.5 hours from Hobart to reach what you call one of the prettiest beaches in the world.
5. Burleigh Heads, Queensland
Burleigh Heads is another breathtakingly beautiful Australian beach situated on the Gold Coast. The relaxing charm of the Burleigh Heads is what pulls locals to the beach all year round. The water at the Burleigh Heads is always calm at the shore. However, if you’re an avid surfer, you’ll like the area around the headlands more, where there are lots of waves to make your surfing experience memorable.
The lush, fragrant pines add to the beauty of the beach and offer multiple spots for BBQs and picnics. You can even try freshly caught fish at any of the numerous cafes spread along the coast. There are also lots of shopping opportunities for shopping addicts at the beach as well. It won’t be wrong to say that the Burleigh Heads in Queensland offers something for everyone.
6. Four Mile Beach, Queensland
Four Miles Beach in Queensland is one of the most inviting beaches of Australia. The clear blue water and clean stretch of sand are a treat to the eyes. You must not skip a visit to the Four Miles Beach if you’re in Port Douglas, which is the departure point for the world-famous Barrier Reef.
One thing that you should know before you plan a visit to Four Mile Beach is that the beach receives lots of poisonous jellyfish during some times of the year. You should keep this point in mind, although there are fine meshes to protect the swimmers from getting stung, and bottles of vinegar are placed every few feet that you can use if you get stung by jellyfish.
The Four Miles Beach is a breath to behold when the fear of getting stung by jellyfish isn’t lingering around.
7. Cable Beach, Western Australia
Cable Beach is a truly picturesque beach that you should definitely visit when in Australia. It’s popular for the camel rides that people thoroughly enjoy during their time at Cable Beach. The beach is spread across 22 kilometers. The contrasting combination of the creamy-shite sand and the attractive turquoise sea makes Cable Beach one of the most beautiful Australian beaches. It’s located along the coast of Broome in Western Australia.
You can enjoy camel rides, 4WD, or even choose to stake out a patch of sand for your private use. The weather can get really hot, and the sunlight can be a little too bright for you, so don’t forget to carry adequate shade protection along.
Keep in mind that you should avoid visiting Cable Beach between November and May as it’s the time when the dangerous jellyfish, Irukandji swim to the shore.
There are lots of restaurant options around. Cable Beach is a popular picnic point. The picturesque beach is a great place to absorb the beauty of the sunset, where the sun sinks slowly into the blue of the massive Indian Ocean.
Things to Do at Australian Beaches
While you can lie down on the clean sand and take in the beauty of the vast turquoise water, there’s a lot more to do at Australian beaches. Let’s have a look at some of the most popular activities that you can try during your visit to any of the beaches in Australia.
Collect Seashells
Australian beaches are heaven for you if you love to collect seashells. You’ll find shells of numerous marine creatures for your seashell collection. Some of the most commonly found seashells at beaches of Australia include shells of Sand Creepers, Abalones, Cockles, Nerites, Periwinkles, Strombs, Sand Dollars, True Oysters, and the list goes on.
Watersports
Australian beaches are host to many watersports like surfing, water skiing, boating, and wakeboarding. If you’re looking forward to experiencing an adrenaline rush, head out to a beach in Australia and let the exhilaration of watersports get better of you. The best time for surfing is during the storms when the waves are wild. However, if you’re just a beginner who wants to learn to surf, you should attempt it during winters when the tide is low.
Kayaking
Kayaking is one of the most popular and highly thrilling activities that Australians enjoy at Australian beaches. You can go boating or on a fishing excursion. Kayaking is one of the finest ways to enjoy the beauty of open blue waters. You can even enjoy a bit of sightseeing while at it. The colorful coral reefs under the surface of crystal clear water are sure to leave you mesmerized. Kayaking in the sea is one experience but what you see while you’re at it is what makes kayaking at Australian beaches so popular!
Beach Ball Games
Australian beaches are an excellent spot to enjoy beach ball games like volleyball, paddleball, Frisbee, and even cricket. While you can play these games at any beach in the world, the beauty of Australian beaches remains unmatched.
When is it the Best Time to Visit Australian Beaches
You may be interested to know when is it the right time to visit the beaches of Australia to save yourself the trouble of traveling all the way, when you can’t really enjoy the beach. You should visit the beaches of Australia between December and April. It’s because the average temperature during these months is 32.6oC, therefore, making it the best time to enjoy all watersports and beach activities.
Australia enjoys 4 distinct seasons. The winters in Australia are pretty cold, and therefore, you should try avoiding visiting Australian beaches during colder months.
People from all around the world visit beaches of Australia, especially in warmer months. Some of Australia’s beaches are on the list of the best beaches in the world. More so, there are so many activities that you can do when at a beach in Australia. All of these factors account for the unmatched popularity of Australian beaches apart from the exquisite beauty these beaches are!
Looking for other beautiful places to visit? Why not Fiji? Here is a handy Fiji travel guide that will help you have a great time there.
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