Awesome Australian Beaches

Australia is renowned for its fabulous city life, beautiful interior regions and , of course, the beach life. As the country is so huge and with many different climates, there is a huge number of pristine beaches just waiting to be checked out. Try some of the following to find an amazing beach paradise.#

 Airlie Beach, Whitsundays

Airlie Beach is worth a mention as it is the start of the Whitsunday Islands. The Great Barrier Reef is here and attracts all kinds of aquatic creatures – both marine and human in form!. The coral reef that is established in these turquoise waters are perfect for the boating life and there are many companies that are happy to take you out to the reef from the shore (about 60 km). Airlie Beach has an intriguing mix of visitors as this is backpacker territory but many holiday goers come here too. Its party central and most people like to chill in the bars with a cold one. The cruise charters all start from here so it is an ideal place to start a journey towards the Whitsunday archipelago – there’s nothing like it on earth thats why it’s  World Heritage Site territory.

  Bells Beach, Torquay

Any surfer worth their salt will have heard about Bells Beach. The Rip Curl Easter Pro is one of the world’s most prestigious surfing contests and Bells Beach attracts a global crowd to watch the jaw dropping antics of these hardcore surf junkies.

Catching a wave isn’t much of a problem at this beach as the waves can be as high as five metres. The surf stays good until Autumn and this attracts surfers that are at an intermediate level of skill. One of the truly great thing about Bells Beach is that there is a section called “Front Beach” or “Cosy Corner” because the waters are calm, shallow and great for water lovers young and old who are not surf heads! This beautiful beach is a great introduction to surf culture, imagine hanging out in the same waters that the ultimate surfer Kelly Slater used to surf. Bells Beach is a fantastic people watching location and a great place to take a dream photograph. Surfing is serious stuff around these parts and it really is the Holy Grail of surfing. Accommodation is plentiful, there’s a great campsite opposite the beach. Park your motorhome in a prime position, kick back and enjoy the show.

Wineglass bay, Tasmania

Its a beautiful name for one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Wineglass bay can be found in Tasmania’s first coastal national park. And what a place. The area is renowned for its abundant wildlife, especially for whales (which can be easily spotted in the Winter months) or the dolphins that are happy to swim freely in these waters all year round.

 Bird watchers come from all over the world to spot species such as the wedge tailed eagle or even a penguin or two. Star gazing is also a popular thing to do here in Tasmania – the lack of light pollution ensures that a wonderful  nightly display is available for everyone – telescope or no telescope. The water clarity is certainly unique in the bay – there’s five metres of crystal clear water below the surface making it really easy to spot fish even from the shore. The sand is white and the palm trees could easily trick your brain into thinking that this is Caribbean territory but don’t be fooled. Catching sight of a wombat or a wallaby helps! There are numerous places to indulge in the local gourmet produce but a glass of the famous wine at sunset seems to be a Wineglass Bay tradition.

Byron Bay Beach, New South Wales

Byron Bay Beach is situated in the easternmost point of the country and is a popular spot for surfers because of the sheltered conditions found here. What was once a beach with a quaint little town has become hugely popular with property developers.
However, this fabulous beach is long and generally uncrowded, making it one of Australia’s finest. The town now has a number of bars and cafes as well as walking tracks and esplanades. The town is overlooked by a beautiful lighthouse, which is one of its most popular attractions. This spectacular beach has soft sand and is less crowded than other nearby beaches of Queensland.

>> Check out our guide to the best beach tents available, essential if you are hitting the beach with children.

75 Mile Beach, Fraser Island

Fraser Island is the largest sand island in the world and has one of the best beaches in Australia. 75 Mile Beach is a huge beach, stretching for (you’ve guessed it) 75 miles! One of the most beautiful aspects of this beach is the changing colours of the sands along its huge expanse. From soft white to burnt orange, the range of colours is stunning.

The water around Fraser Island is unsuitable for swimming due to the large number of tiger sharks inhabiting the shallows. It is for this reason that most visitors choose to head a short distance inland to the freshwater lakes. These lakes offer a unique swimming experience, with bubbling foam caused by the ocean water crashing into the rocks surrounding them. It is no surprise that some have been named the ‘Champagne Pools’.

Whitehaven Beach, Whitsundays

Whitehaven Beach is one of Australia’s most beautiful beaches. The silica sand here is so fine that it feels like velvet. Because the grains are so fine, the sand does not get too hot, so it is the ideal location to spend the day. There is no doubt that the soft white sand steals the show, but the beautiful blue waters are also a real treat.
Whitehaven Beach is a picture-perfect, seven kilometre beach along the coast of Whitsunday Island. Although extremely popular, it is never overcrowded due to its immense size.

Mandalay Beach, Western Australia

The western coast of Australia is beautiful, but less popular than the east coast. There are many wonderful beaches worth visiting here, and Mandalay Beach is just one of them. It is situated in Walpole-Nornalup National Park and is isolated, yet stunning. Off the coast is the Mandalay shipwreck, from which the beach gets its name; it can sometimes be seen from the beach when tides are low. It is also possible to see Chatham Island from the beach. To get to Mandalay Beach, you will need to have a four-wheel drive vehicle, but the treasures that await are certainly worth the effort.
Casuarina Beach, Darwin

Casuarina Beach can be found in Darwin, in Australia’s Northern Territory. The beach and town of Casuarina get their name from the casuarina trees that grow nearby. The beautiful beach has plenty of wildlife as well as surrounding woodlands, vine-forest, and mangroves. It is a stunning place to visit; the nearby town of Casuarina has the Northern Territory’s largest shopping centre as well.
Turquoise Bay, Western Australia

Turquoise Bay is a spectacular beach near Exmouth and the Ningaloo Reef. It is considered one of the best beaches in Australia, if not the world, and it is popular with those who want to enjoy the warm sunshine or some swimming in the crystal clear waters. The reef is easily accessible and has some of the most amazing coral and marine life imaginable, so snorkelling is obviously hugely popular here.
Monkey Mia, Western Australia

Monkey Mia is located in the Shark Bay World Heritage Area and is popular because of the dolphins that have been visiting the beach for more than forty years. It is just 25 kilometres from the town of Denham and certain visitors are chosen by rangers to feed the dolphins each day.
As well as the chance to see these playful creatures up close, there are many opportunities to spot other wildlife in the nearby reserve.
Noosa Main Beach, Sunshine Coast

There are a number of beaches in Noosa, but Noosa Main Beach is truly spectacular. Here, visitors are treated to fabulous white sands, crystal clear water, and amazing underwater wildlife. Dolphins are often spotted in the water and, during migration season, it is even possible to spot some whales. It is no surprise that this is one of the most popular beaches in the Sunshine Coast.
Noosa Main Beach is ideal all year round because of its sheltered conditions; with plenty of restaurants and cafes nearby, it is a popular choice for a full day in the glorious sunshine.

The beaches in Australia are so varied that there is a piece of paradise waiting for everyone.

Jane Freeman

Jane Freeman is a travel blogger from the UK.