Australia snubbed in annual ‘best beaches’ of the world list 2025
As a country with thousands of kilometres of coastline, it’s come as quite the shock that not a single Aussie beach made the top 10 in the world.
Forget the sandy shores of Bondi Beach and Byron Bay, or even the glistening waters of Hyams and Hamilton Island — because in a new global list, Australia has been brutally snubbed.
TripAdvisor has released its latest edition of their ‘Travelers’ Choice Awards: Best of the Best Beaches for 2025’, and while visitors Down Under come for the relaxed lifestyle and stay for the never-ending beaches — not a single Aussie cove or corner has been crowned.
Coming in on top for 2025 is Elafonissi Beach in Greece — rejoining the list for the first time since 2021 and climbing 23 spots.
It’s not hard to see why this gem in Greece won the top spot, with its pink sand and crystal-clear water, Elafonissi is a remote beach located on the southwest coast of Crete and is truly sensational.
According to TripAdvisor, the family-friendly beach gives visitors an opportunity for both relaxation, water sports and other activities.
Elafonissi is also perfect for hiking the dunes as well as rolling out a towel on the sand after enjoying a dip in the warm water.
According to the travel site, the best time to visit is reportedly in May and September when the weather is warm, but less crowded than during the peak summer months of June, July and August.
Coming in second was Banana Beach on the Thai island of Phuket, followed by Eagle Beach in Aruba and Siesta Beach in Siesta Key, Florida.
Praia da Falésia in the Algarve, Portugal, came in fifth place.
Banana Beach, according to the platform, is good for boating, parasailing, day trips and snorkelling to explore the mass coral and fish. The best time to visit is between November and March.
For 2024, the only Aussie beach to crack the top 25 list was Manly Beach in Sydney, with TripAdvisor saying the popular spot is the “centre of everything. Just a quick ride from the Sydney CBD, it’s surrounded by shops, cafes, and more.”
Each year, the Travelers’ Choice Awards feature the highest-rated beaches by real travellers who have been to these destinations and have shared their experiences.
This year, the list spans six continents and 50 countries.
“Tripadvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Awards uniquely reflect the voices of millions of global travellers and help guide people to plan their best trip yet. In my family, beaches aren’t just for sunbathing – we like to get out and explore! The diversity of this year’s winners really showcases everything that a beach trip can have to offer,” Kristen Dalton, President of TripAdvisor, said in a statement.
“Whether it’s strolling the beautiful pink sand beaches of our world winner, Elafonissi beach, in Greece, experiencing breathtaking vistas in Indonesia, whale watching in Hawaii or diving in magical bioluminescent waters in Thailand – there really is something for everyone,” she added.
– with New York Post
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