WA ‘bay’ tops list of world’s best beaches

A new list reveals the world’s most beautiful beaches, and Australia got quite the mention.

Noni Reginato

Lucky Bay in WA.

less than 2 min read

3:21PMMay 18, 2023.

Updated 12:21PMMarch 23, 2024

When it comes to natural beauty, Australia can boast about a lot. Ochre-red desert, dense tropical rainforest, rugged mountains—there’s no shortage of natural wonders to marvel at in the land Down Under, but there is perhaps no wonder as celebrated as the Australian beach. From sand whiter than paper to oceans so clear they rival that of the Maldives, Australians are so often singing the praises of our bodies of water that Australian culture has become synonymous with beach culture. Given how important the ocean is to the Australian cultural identity—it’s up there with Vegemite and kangaroos—it’s no surprise that we’ve become renowned for our beaches around the world.

While there’s certainly nothing wrong with bragging about our spectacular beaches to visitors, external validation is always welcome, and four spots on the hallowed list of the World’s 50 Best Beaches is the ultimate source of approval. Compiled by Banana Boat—a company firmly rooted in beach culture—the compilation turns to over 750 of the world‘s leading travel journalists, influencers, and agencies to gather their votes on the best places to take a dip around the world.

Rather unsurprisingly, Australia has nabbed two spots in the top 10 and another two in the top 30—it seems that those who live here aren’t the only ones taken by our sandy shores. In a time where the whole world is eager to travel beyond a country that is their own, this list might just be the timely reminder we need to put down the passport and spend a little more time exploring our own backyard.

To see which beaches landed a spot in the top 10, read on.