There are more than 10,000 beaches around Australia, which means it would take almost 30 years to see them all if you visited one every single day.
You might not have that kind of time to dedicate to discovering them all, but we can offer you a car rental and a list of our picks for the most alluring, golden, relaxing beaches in the country, so you can make a beeline straight for the very best.
Here are our five picks for the best beaches in Australia, and arguably also some of the best beaches in the world.
Turquoise Bay, Exmouth, Western Australia
Turquoise Bay is the stuff postcard dreams are made of. The colour of the water is worth the visit alone, as it is more than just clear – it is a bright, enticing turquoise blue, which contrasts beautifully against the golden-white soft sand on the shore.
Not to mention, this spot is right next to the Ningaloo Reef, which means you can jump in with your snorkel gear and spot bright sea life and corals.
Wineglass Bay, Freycinet Peninsula, Tasmania
Like the beautiful curve of a rounded wine glass, this beach is one of Tasmania’s finest, and a must-visit on any Tassie Loop road trip.
Adorned with a thick strip of golden-hued sand and backed by thick bushland, Wineglass Bay is a sight for sore eyes and a site for tired bodies. Lie on the beach and look out at the pink granite cliffs on either side of the entrance to the bay, or head out for a dip in the calm waters for a swim or a snorkel.
You can also take a kayak out on the water to see the granite cliffs up close, or take the one-hour hiking trail to reach the spectacular overlook point. The peninsula is roughly 2.5 hours from both Launceston and Hobart.
Whitehaven Beach, Whitsunday Islands, Queensland
Whitehaven Beach isn’t just one of the best Queensland beaches, it’s easily one of the best in Australia, and the world.
This oasis is a place so perfect that even human imagination couldn’t have dreamed it up. Swirls of white sand are interspersed with clear blue ocean on a grand scale, offering warm swimming spots and countless sunbathing spots throughout the bay. The beach is also surrounded by lush green hills, and rarely sees a day that’s anything but sunshine and the occasional fluffy white cloud in the distance.
Palm Beach, Sydney, New South Wales
Skip the crowds in Manly and the crush of Bondi and make your way to Palm Beach, the most northern of Sydney’s golden stretch of beaches.
This sunset-coloured beach is much less busy than its more famous neighbours, but every bit as beautiful and less than an hour from Sydney. Easily one of the best beaches in NSW, this spot is ideal for escaping the city for a relaxing swim, and is worthwhile for a visit all year round as it’s a popular whale-watching spot through winter.
Make a stop here when you tackle the Pacific Coast Drive, which is one of the best road trips in Australia.
75 Mile Beach, Fraser Island, Queensland
There are countless gorgeous beaches near Brisbane, and if you’re willing to drive a little farther, you can make your way to Fraser Island to 75 Mile Beach.
No matter how busy it gets, you’ll still have plenty of sand to choose from when laying out a towel – after all, this beach is 75 miles long, and located on the largest sand island in the world. This beach is better for sunbathing than swimming thanks to its strong currents, but there are nearby swimming holes inland that offer a place for a dip, including the Champagne Pools, which are like natural spas with bubbling waters.
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