Australia is known for its fantastic beaches, making it one of the best beach holiday destinations in the world.
Home to almost 12,000 beaches dotted along the coastline, Australians and tourists are spoilt for choice when it comes to beaches.
From the white sand on Whitehaven Beach to the azure blue waters of Twilight Beach, here are the top eight beaches in Australia.
Whitehaven Beach, Queensland
Located in The Whitsundays, Whitehaven Beach is the most photographed beach in Australia and has to be on everyone’s bucket list.
What makes this beach so unique? The powdery white sand is made of 98% silica, making it some of the softest and whitest sand in the world. Stretching over seven kilometres, it’s not hard to find a secluded spot on the sand.
Whitehaven Beach also boasts turquoise waters and emerald headlands, the perfect contrast on either side of the white sand.
One of the best things to do while at Whitehaven Beach is to hike 15-minutes from Tongue Point to the Hill Inlet lookout. From the lookout, you’ll be blown away by the views of the turquoise water mingling with the white sand that creates a mosaic as the tides shift.
Related: How Expensive Is Australia As A Tourist?
Nudey Beach, Queensland
Located on Fitzroy Island in Tropical North Queensland, Nudey Beach is one of the best beaches in Australia.
Situated on the island’s southwest coast, the walk to Nudey Beach from the jetty takes around 20-minutes.
Before you even reach the beach, you’ll be blown away by the views from the top of the stairs. As you make your way down to the beach, you’ll notice that instead of sand, there’s coral. However, the crystal-clear water makes up for that!
Since the island is located near the Great Barrier Reef, the snorkelling at Nudey Beach is exceptional. Put on your snorkel and flippers and explore the underwater world of Nudey Beach; you may even swim alongside a sea turtle or baby reef shark!
Blue Pearl Bay, Queensland
Located on Hayman Island in The Whitsundays, Blue Pearl Bay is not only one of the best beaches in Australia, but it’s also a hidden gem!
What makes this beach one of the best in Australia? The pristine marine park is something to be experienced. Blue Pearl Bay is popular for snorkelling and scuba diving because of the unrivalled marine life and coral reefs.
With diving depths ranging from three to 18 metres and excellent visibility, it’s one of the region’s best places to go diving.
If you’ve experienced the water from below and want to see it from above, a bush walk on the south bay takes you up the hill for jaw-dropping coastal views.
While it’s possible to get to Blue Pearl Bay on foot, the best way to get there is by boat at high tide.
Related: This is the best time to visit Australia.
Hyams Beach, New South Wales
Situated in the Jervis Bay Marine Park, Hyams Beach was named by Guinness World Record to have the whitest sand in the world.
The squeaky, white sand isn’t the only thing that draws visitors to Hyams Beach. The clear, blue waters are perfect for swimming, snorkelling, kayaking and fishing.
From May to November, whales migrate along the coast, so you may spot one from the coast! Bottlenose dolphins are frequently spotted in the waters off the beach. You may spot them from the shore or while in the water!
Wineglass Bay, Tasmania
Found in the country’s most southern state, Wineglass Bay in Tasmania is one of the best beaches in Australia worth visiting.
Situated in Freycinet National Park, it’s hard to beat the jaw-dropping beauty of Wineglass Bay on a clear day. From the lookout, you’ll be blown away by the curved shoreline, white sand and glistening azure waters.
The best things to do at Wineglass Bay include kayaking, sailing, fishing and hiking throughout the national park.
Since Tasmania is located at the bottom of Australia, it can get extremely cold. Therefore, the best time to visit Wineglass Bay is from December to April.
Related: This is the ultimate three-week Australia itinerary.
Turquoise Bay, Western Australia
Western Australia is said to have the most beautiful beaches in Australia, and it’s hard to argue that when it’s home to beaches such as Turquoise Bay.
Located south of Exmouth in Cape Range National Park, Turquoise Bay lives up to its name, with glistening blue-green water lapping against the white sand.
Much like how the Great Barrier Reef lines the coast of northern Queensland, the Ningaloo Reef lines the coast of northern Western Australia. Turquoise Bay is also one of the few beaches where you can snorkel on the reefs right from the shore.
The Ningaloo Reef is World Heritage-listed and has more than 250 species of coral and 500 different species of marine animals, including stingrays, sea turtles and whale sharks, all of which you can experience a few metres off the shore of Turquoise Bay.
Twilight Beach, Western Australia
Located on the southwest coast of Western Australia, Twilight Beach is even more beautiful than the photos.
Instead of finding palm trees lining the beach, you’ll find turquoise water lapping against white sand flanked by smooth granite boulders.
The flat shoreline and shallow sandbar make it a perfect spot for swimming. Many people also like to swim out to the granite rocks, climb to the top for the views and then jump into the water!
Lucky Bay, Western Australia
Finally, Lucky Bay is one of the top beaches in Western Australia not only for its azure blue waters and pearly white sand but for its resident kangaroos that lounge on the shore!
Located in Cape Le Grand National Park near Esperance, Lucky Bay is one of the most popular beaches in WA.
Snorkeling, swimming, surfing, and fishing are all great things to do at this crescent-shaped bay. But the most popular thing is to get a photo with one of the many friendly kangaroos!
Home to nearly 12,000 beaches, choosing the top beaches in Australia can be hard.
However, if you love visiting beaches with unique quirks, you must add these eight beautiful beaches to your Australia travel list.
Which of these stunning beaches will you tick off first?
