Surprise winner of Australia’s best beach named despite bloody past

It may have a bloody past, but a little-known stretch of sand has been named Australia’s best beach. See the full list.

Some of Australia’s most iconic stretches of sand have been upstaged by a little-known former whaling spot in Western Australia to be named Tourism Australia’s best beach.

Misery Beach, near Albany on the southern tip of WA, was named the country’s best beach for 2022 by Tourism Australia on Sunday.

The beach, a five-hour drive from Perth, is home of a former whaling station and used to be covered in blood and debris when the site was operational.

The announcement was made by Tourism Minister Dan Tehan on Sunday morning with the list compiled by Tourism Australia’s beach ambassador Brad Farmer.

Misery Beach in Western Australia has been named Australia’s best beach for 2022. Picture: Merr Watson.

Mr Farmer claims that he has visited most of the country’s beaches over the last 35 years and put Misery Beach at the top ahead of more famous spots from NSW, Queensland and Victoria.

“With more than 11,000 beaches to choose from, narrowing down the top 20 beaches must be one of the toughest jobs in Australia,” Mr Tehan said.

“As Australia continues its successful reopening, we’re going to see a surge in tourists that will support jobs and businesses.

“My message to the world is to start planning your next holiday to Australia and to include as many of our top 20 beaches on your itinerary as you can fit in.”

Amy Van Den Akker at The Spit in Queensland, which has been named the country’s No. 3 beach. Picture: Nigel Hallett.

Flaherty's Beach on the Yorke Peninsula, South Australia came in at No. 4 Picture: Andrew Harvey.

Horseshoe Bay, near, South West Rocks in NSW, came in at No. 2. Picture: Jay Black.

The list is designed to inspire tourism as the industry looks to rebound after coronavirus restrictions.

NSW scored the most spots on the top 20 with six including Horseshoe Bay on the mid-north Coast at No. 2 and Depot Beach and Murrays Beach, which both slotted into the top ten.

Queensland grabbed four spots including the Gold Coast’s The Spit which came in at No. 3.

AUSTRALIA’S BEST BEACHES

1. Misery Beach, WA

2. Horseshoe Bay, NSW

3. The Spit, Queensland

4. Flaherty’s Beach, SA

5. Loch Ard Gorge, Victoria

6. The Neck, Tasmania

7. Blue Pearl Bay, Queensland

8. Depot Beach, NSW

9. Murray Beach, NSW

10. Dundee Beach, NT

11. Dudley Beach, NSW

12. Thompsons Beach, Victoria

13. Coogee Beach, WA

14. Mots Beach, Victoria

15. Alexandria Bay, Queensland

16. Emu Bay, SA

17. Lake Wabby, Queensland

18. Congwong Beach, NSW

19. Jelly Bean Pool, NSW

20. Ethel Beach, Christmas Island