The beach occupies a special place in Aussie identity. In fact, there are around 10,685 beaches in Australia.
As an island hugged by the shorelines of the Indian and Southern Oceans, you can be sure that some of its secluded beaches, coves and bays are among the most beautiful in the world.
Sure, you may find yourself having the time of your life among travellers and partiers along world-famous Bondi Beach, we wouldn’t blame you. But perhaps your dream adventure along Australia’s famous coast involves dipping in pristine, quiet coves, or surfing uncrowded, long waves among cheery locals. If that’s the case, here is your checklist of hidden coastal treasures, courtesy of Peterpans.
1. Hydeaway Bay – Whitsundays, Queensland
This tiny coastal hamlet is set on a long, white, sandy beach on a no-through road about 50 kilometres from Airlie Beach. The private beach has five public access points and you can comb for shells on a low tide, swim the fringing coral reef, or try your luck fishing from the beach. It’s guaranteed you will hardly see a soul, but you could be lucky enough to spot a dolphin, whale or turtle on your travels.
It’s about a 45-minute drive from Airlie Beach, but a few Whitsundays Day Trips will visit the bay. Or perhaps you’ll team up with a group from your hostel, rent a car, and head north along the Whitsunday Coast. You can even stop off at Dingo Beach pub along the way.
Image thanks to Larissa Denning Photography
2. Palm Cove, Queensland
Image thanks to Inspire Family Travel
Named after the palm trees that line this secret beach, this paradise is perfectly situated between Port Douglas and Cairns (20 minutes from Cairns city), making Palm Cove the perfect home base for your holiday or perhaps a sneaky day trip out of Cairns. The beach is arguably the most pristine of all Cairns’ northern beaches and frequently receives awards for being Queensland’s cleanest and friendliest beach.
3. Seven Mile Beach, NSW
One of the best beaches to learn how to surf is Seven Mile Beach, a pristine wave break on the coast of the town of Lennox Head, which is home to some of the highest rated surf breaks in the world.
Windy conditions also make the beach popular with kite and windsurfers. At 7.8 miles in length (12.5 km) there is lots of room to settle down. Be sure to visit the beach at night as well, as shooting stars and the milky way can clearly be seen on a cloudless night.
The town of Lennox Head is nestled just 20 minutes south of the world famous Byron Bay, making it the perfect day trip out of a must-stop destination on your East Coast trip.
Image thanks to Discover Ballina
4. Hyams Beach – Jervis Bay, NSW
We know that when you think of white sand, you’re probably daydreaming of the swirling marble sights of Whitehaven Beach, but unbeknown to many, the Guinness Book of World records claims Hyams Beach to have the whitest sand in the world!
Hyams Beach is located in Jervis Bay, a coastal town 18 km south of Sydney. The seaside village has a population of just 290 and there are nearby attractions such as Jervis Bay Marine Park and surrounding trails and forests.
You can take a day tour departing Sydney to Jervis Bay, or rent a car and head south along the coast.
Image thanks to TripAdvisor
5. Sunshine Beach- Noosa, Queensland
Okay, so you may say this one isn’t exactly a secret, but a 10-minute drive out of the Noosa Heads township will reward you with sites of the most crystal clear waters and clean wave breaks you’ll ever see.
It’s a surfers paradise with larger waves and smaller crowds. You can sit back on the deck of the surf club, look out over the ocean and spot dolphins and whales, listen to live music, enjoy a meal or just relax with a cold drink. Now that is what we call Australian coastal lifestyle.
Image thanks to Visit Noosa
6. Double Island Point, Queensland
Double Island Point is home to the longest wave break in Australia, but this dreamy landscape offers a hell of a lot more than surf. Wildlife meets the ocean at the coastal headland that is north of Noosa, in the Cooloola section of the Great Sandy National Park.
It has been dubbed one of the Sunshine Coast’s best-kept secrets, where camping, surfing, snorkelling, and scuba diving can be enjoyed.
Image thanks to Rainbow Beach Tours
7. Hermit Bay NSW
Image thanks to Postcard Sydney
Hermit Bay is located on a walk that can be started at either Shark beach or Queens Beach for anyone staying in Sydney, both located in the suburb of Vaucluse. The walk isn’t as busy as the world famous Coastal walk from Coogee to Bondi (it can happen that you’ll find no one on one of the beaches along the walk), but it is almost as beautiful and definitely worth trying!
Hermit Bay offers still, calm, turquoise waters which hug a quiet shoreline you’ll never want to leave.
8. Dingo Beach, Whitsundays, Qld
Dingo Beach is the sister town of Hydeaway Bay and is also only accessible by car (hires can be made in Airlie Beach). The beach also boasts crystal clear waters, bountiful fishing, and plenty of opportunities to relax in the sun or kick back with a cold bevvie or meal from one of the small group of beachfront pubs and eco-resorts.
Image thanks to booking.com
9. Squeaky Beach – Wilson’s Promontory, VIC
Located in Wilson’s Promontory, 2 hours south of Melbourne, Squeaky Beach is a local’s secret with sand so pure that is squeaks as you walk upon it! It can be accessed by vehicle or via short walks from Lilly Pilly Gully carpark, Picnic Bay or Tidal River.
Image thanks to Australian Traveller
10. Kitty Miller Bay, VIC
You’ll find the beach off Kitty Miller Road, on the south-western side of Phillip Island (140 km south-east of Melbourne, a 90-minute drive). This secluded cove at the base of an extinct volcano not only has great surf, but it boasts that windswept and interesting rugged appeal you look for in a Victorian beach. Also, keep an eye out for the shipwrecked remains of the SS Speke at low tide.
Image thanks to Visit Bass Coast
By Julie Mackay
