Australia’s favourite beach revealed

A panel of experts – including photographer and social media star Mitch Burns - have ranked Australia’s best beaches. And there are a few surprises.

He’s carved out a career photographing what he calls “nature’s untold stories” but for Mitch Burns nothing beats capturing the sunrise at what has been crowned Australia’s top beach.

And with 80 per cent of Australia’s population lives on the coast, it’s little wonder beaches are a huge part of our national lifestyle.

And thankfully, we have some of the best beaches in the world, right here in our backyard.

In this Sunday’s edition of Escape, a panel of experts have ranked Australia’s top beaches.

With a golden stretch of north-facing sand, safe surf from end-to-end, a boardwalk

dotted with pandanus and palm trees and Noosa National Park within view, Escape’s beach experts are calling Noosa’s Main Beach Australia’s favourite.

Ironman and avid beachgoer Jett Kenny has helped crown Australia’s top beaches for Escape. Picture: David Kelly

Photographer, author and social media star Mitch Burns was also on the panel of experts. Picture: Escape/Jason Ierace

Photographer, author and social media star Mitch Burns was photographed on Noosa beach

for this Sunday’s cover. He was one of the panellists who crowned it Australia’s top beach.

He first came to Noosa to visit the Peter Lik fine art photography gallery.

“I came here to get a little bit closer to my dreams and wander around the gallery. Now I

come back to check out the beach and get a shot of the sunrise,” he tells Escape.

Ironman, lifeguard and model Jett Kenny is also a huge fan of this stretch of sand, having grown up on the beaches nearby.

“Noosa in winter is probably one of the best places in Australia because the wind’s usually blowing offshore, there’s not much swell and it’s always so nice,” Kenny said.

“But there is something about Noosa in the middle of summer. Everyone’s there for

the same reason – to get away to the beach and just enjoy themselves.”

Noosa's Main Beach on the Sunshine Coast has been crowned Australia’s favourite by Escape’s beach experts.

As well as being named best beach overall, Noosa took out the “best beach for families”

category.

“The sheltered waters of Laguna Bay are the front yard of bustling Hasting Street with its

hotels, boutiques and cafes, while Noosa National Park protects its eastern headland and

hides more beautiful beaches you can hike to,” travel writer Celeste Mitchell said.

Other categories Escape’s list covers include best beach for food, best beach for nature and

hiking, best beach for swimming, best beach for surfing, best beach for wildlife encounters,

best beach for snorkelling, best beach for water sports, and a list of other highly commended

beaches around the country.

It could be just the inspiration you need for a little Aussie road trip in the warmer months …

The panel of experts

Escape’s beach experts included photographer, author and social media star Mitch Burns,

travel writer Celeste Mitchell, Zulu & Zephyr beachwear director Candice Rose, Ironman Jett

Kenny, pro surfer and Surfers for Climate co-founder Belinda Baggs, paraplegic photographer and motivational speaker Jaimen Hudson, and science communicator Laura Wells.

For the full list of Australia’s best beaches, pick up this Sunday’s edition of Escape in The

Advertiser, Herald Sun, Courier Mail, Daily Telegraph or The Mercury.

You can also visit escape.com.au, or follow Escape on Instagram or Facebook.