Green Point Beach. Tasmania’s best big wave surf spot (home of the Rip Curl West Coast Classic surfing event since 1975) presents plenty of options for non-surfers too.Credit: Tourism Tasmania.
As our national anthem a little eccentrically attests, Australia is a nation girt by sea. That translates to more than 35,000 kilometres of coastline, with about 12,000 beaches on the map. That’s so many beaches that it would take you 30 years to spend a day at each one.
But what makes Australia’s beaches so special isn’t just the wonder of those that make the international lists for best strips of sand.
The special thing is the fact that, all over Australia, there are beaches only locals know about which are often just as good. Some of these secret beaches are not far from our biggest cities, while others are so remote that they are yours to enjoy virtually alone.
Cape Hillsborough. How this piece of North Queensland perfection remains under the radar is anyone’s guess.Credit: Tourism and Events Queensland
Some offer safe swimming in calm, clear waters where the wonder is all too obvious. Others, be warned, can be visited by estuarine crocodiles (this is Australia, after all) or have dangerous rips and currents, making them completely unsuitable for swimming.
At those, it’s the wildness of the beauty that provides the charm. Seek them out: You don’t have to find all 12,000, unless you have a spare 30 years, but do plan to find at least a few or more of Australia’s lesser-known beaches.
Here are Traveller’s best secret beaches (and our take on five not-so-secret ones) to get you in the swim.
CAPE HILLSBOROUGH, MACKAY, QLD
The lowdown Ever seen photographs of kangaroos and wallabies feeding on a tropical beach? That was probably Cape Hillsborough. The animals come at sunrise to feed on mangrove seedpods and seaweed along the shoreline right where the rainforest meets the Great Barrier Reef. The lowest islands of the Whitsundays protect the waters, and whales and dolphins swim by. How this piece of North Queensland perfection remains under the radar is anyone’s guess.
Sunrise brings wallabies and kangaroos to graze on the beach at Cape Hillsborough.
See + do There are hikes all over the adjoining national park, along volcanic headlands and through eucalyptus forests that are home to koalas. Snorkel and swim at the foot of the cape and offshore at Wedge Island, where you’ll see soft corals, fish species, turtles and other marine creatures.
Must know The best time to visit is winter, but that’s a popular time for locals, especially during the July and September school holidays. Book early at Cape Hillsborough Tourist Park, which is right beside the beach.
Make it happen Cape Hillsborough is 50 kilometres north-west of Mackay. Visit between May and October, outside stinger season, when swimming is safe. See capehillsboroughresort.com.au; queensland.com
MADFISH BAY, DENMARK, WA
Sheltered waters are surrounded by rock formations at Madfish Bay in WA’s William Bay National Park. Credit: Alamy Stock Photo
The lowdown Overshadowed by its famous neighbour, Green Pools, Madfish Bay is part of William Bay National Park and has a secluded beach sheltered by an offshore island, making it ideal for swimming. Waves come from two directions around the island and collide spectacularly. Its name is derived from local folklore suggesting that schools of fish go mad when the waves and tides collide. Huge boulders dating back to when Australia split from Antarctica rise from blue water, next to thick forest.
See + do There’s a natural playground of pools and places to snorkel – the warm pools by the rocks provide a safe, warm place to bathe. At low tide you can often walk out to the offshore island.
Must know The water is sheltered, but always be alert for underwater currents. Watch out for snakes if you walk to the island.
Make it happen Madfish Bay is only 15 kilometres from Denmark in south-west WA. It’s safe to visit year-round, but the water gets cold in winter. See australiassouthwest.com
RAPID BAY BEACH, FLEURIEU PENINSULA, SA
Rapid Bay Beach on the Fleurieu Peninsula is considered one of the best dive sites in South Australia.Credit: Ben Goode
The lowdown South Australia’s beaches are vastly underrated, and chances are that if you’re not a diver, you won’t have heard of this beach at all. Nestled among tall green hills, a long, silvery sand beach ends at clear aquamarine waters that are home to more than 70 species of fish. This is also where you’re most likely to see endangered leafy sea dragons. While it’s barely 80 minutes’ drive from Adelaide, you’ll often have the beach to yourself.
See + do Rapid Bay Beach is considered one of the best dive sites in South Australia, with two long jetties that provide sheltered homes to a huge variety of marine species. One jetty is closed, but the other provides a walkway over the water, and lots of ideal fishing spots.
Must know The beach is unpatrolled but its calm waters make it safe for most swimmers. Divers love this beach, but snorkelling provides as many thrills, with most sites close to the surface.
Make it happen Rapid Bay Beach is on the west coast of the Fleurieu Peninsula, 105 kilometres south of Adelaide, so it’s best to visit in summer if you’d like to swim without a wetsuit. See southaustralia.com
GOLDEN BEACH, GIPPSLAND, VIC
Remnants of the Trinculo shipwreck on Gippsland’s Golden Beach.
The lowdown Somehow this quintessential Australian beach and the adjacent town, just 35 kilometres from Sale, remain largely unknown to all but loyal regulars. This beach is as wild as it is picturesque – kangaroos, echidnas, even emus congregate in the bushland. Strong currents make it ideal for beach fishing – but not so ideal for swims. On the desolate Ninety Mile Beach, you won’t see another soul for miles.
See + do Check the wreck of the Trinculo – iron ribs from the carcass of this cargo ship that was shipwrecked in 1879 remain on the sand. There are plenty of foreshore camping areas – and some well-positioned holiday homes by the next-door Paradise Beach. Although there are few shops in Golden Beach, it’s worth finding a local to have a chat.
Must know Should you require even more isolation, get lost in the wetlands of the Gippsland Lakes Coastal Parks, adjoining the beach.
Make it happen Golden Beach is 250 kilometres east of Melbourne – consider a visit in winter for ultimate isolation. See visitgippsland.com.au
RADICAL BAY, MAGNETIC ISLAND, QLD
The lowdown Maggie Island is home to some of North Queensland’s top beaches – but the best is a secret to all but the locals. It’s on the island’s remote north-east tip, so you’ll have to hike in or risk a very bumpy four-wheel drive-only road. The reward is a 250 metre-wide sandy beach flanked by granite headlands, washed by the emerald-green Coral Sea. It’s home to a derelict 54-year-old resort; passionate locals have kept the site undeveloped for generations.
Magnetic Island’s Radical Bay rewards the hike or bumpy drive in.
See + do Keep your eyes open for green and flatback turtles, which pass close by offshore in the marine park, along with humpback whales between July and November. The swimming’s safe and out of this world, but consider a hike to the next bay round, Balding Bay, should you find another person on your beach.
Must know There have been plans for a fancy new development on the site since 2011, but at the time of writing no action has been taken.
Make it happen Rental cars aren’t permitted on the dirt road, so walk up Radical Bay Road or follow the walking trail from better-known Horseshoe Bay. Don’t swim in stinger season, between November and March. See magneticislandonline.com.au
BUSHRANGERS BAY, MORNINGTON PENINSULA, VIC
A sunset view at Bushrangers Bay on the Mornington Peninsula.Credit: Alamy Stock Photo
The lowdown The peninsula is synonymous with beaches, but you may not have heard of this hidden gem, especially if you’re interstate. It’s surrounded by tall basalt cliffs that are smashed by thunderous waves, and you can reach Bushrangers Bay on foot only. Unpatrolled and unsafe to swim at, the bay has Australia’s cheapest spa baths – rock pools you can see and use only at low tide, heated by the sun.
See + do The walk in means this beach never gets crowded – and that’s one of the best things about it. You’ll admire Victoria’s best coastal scenery as you stroll along the path. Pack a picnic and sit by the beach watching waves explode against the headland; offshore, black volcanic rocks emerge from clear blue water.
Must know There have been drownings, so use the rock pools only at low tide. It’s best to arrive when the tide is still dropping.
Make it happen Drive 90 minutes south-east from Melbourne, then walk from the car parks at Cape Schanck or Boneo Road. Try visiting outside summer too, when fewer people hike in. See visitmelbourne.com
DREAMTIME BEACH, FINGAL HEAD, NSW
Fingal Head greets sunrise moments after neighbouring Cape Byron on the NSW North Coast.Credit: David Kirkland
The lowdown With a border of basalt formed by an ancient lava flow from a nearby extinct volcano, and an entrance through thick littoral rainforest you’ll need to traverse by foot, Dreamtime Beach is a sacred, secret spot just a few kilometres south of the Gold Coast’s mega-popular beaches. Its northern corner gives rare protection from summer’s prevailing north-easters. Walk south to the popular coastal town of Kingscliff.
See + do Facing due east and protruding out almost as far as Cape Byron 40 minutes to the south, Dreamtime Beach is the sweet spot for a watery sunrise. At Fingal Head you’ll see dolphins, whales and turtles swim below you, between the land and nearby Cook Island.
Must know Dreamtime Beach is unpatrolled and can be dangerous in rough seas; even when it’s calm, watch out for undercurrents.
Make it happen Take the M1 motorway turn-off to Fingal Head, near Tweed Heads, on the Queensland-NSW border, then follow the signs. Consider visiting outside summer to avoid local crowds. See visitthetweed.com.au
GREEN POINT BEACH, MARRAWAH, TAS
The lowdown Tasmania’s best big wave surf spot (home of the Rip Curl West Coast Classic surfing event since 1975) presents plenty of options for non-surfers too. Walk 5.7 kilometres of deserted white sandy beach fringed by dunes that get taller (more than 30 metres) the further you walk. Oystercatchers feed along the shoreline, and the cleanest air on Earth (as measured by the CSIRO) blows in from the ocean, with nothing between you and Antarctica.
Watch wild Southern Ocean waves at Green Point Beach at Marrawah in Tasmania’s north-west.
See + do At the beach’s southern end, there’s a free camping site with an electric barbecue – and a breathtaking view. There are rockpools for a dip, but just watching the biggest waves the Southern Ocean can produce will keep you occupied. Order a steak from Cape Grim (50 kilometres to the north) at the 111-year-old Marrawah Inn, three kilometres inland. Consider taking a tour of the nearby Tarkine rainforest.
Must know There are more than 15 known rips, so be careful if you’re going to swim. Experienced surfers only.
Make it happen Green Point Beach is 180 kilometres west of Devonport, on Tasmania’s remote north-west coast. You probably won’t be swimming, so visiting year-round is fine. See northwesttasmania.com.au
PEARL BEACH, CENTRAL COAST, NSW
Take a ferry to sheltered Pearl Beach, an enclave for the elite on the NSW Central Coast.Credit: Central Coast Tourism
The lowdown Once conceived as an estate for Sydney’s wealthiest residents after World War I, this beach reachable by ferry from Palm Beach is a quiet, sheltered swimming spot surrounded by native bushland at the beginning of the Woy Woy Peninsula. A secret to many, particularly those outside of NSW, it’s attracted Sydney’s media A-List, such as Andrew Denton and the late Mike Willesee, for decades.
See + do There’s a 25-metre ocean pool to swim laps at the southern end. While the beach appears calm and safe for swimming, be aware of
rips and out-tows, drownings have occurred here. Nature reserves provide great vantage points and, off the sand, there are picnic areas and playgrounds.
Must know There’s an array of hidden islands and bays on the peninsula, the southernmost point of the Central Coast, but this is what locals dub the “Palm Beach of the Central Coast”.
Make it happen There’s a ferry from Palm Beach to Ettalong (but then you’ll
have to take a bus, or get an Uber) or drive 90 minutes from Sydney’s CBD. Come during the week or in shoulder seasons to increase your chances of isolation. See centralcoastaustralia.com.au
MACASSAN BEACH, EAST ARNHEM LAND, NT
Macassan Beach’s white sand contrasts with the surrounding red rocks and the green of the monsoonal forest. Credit: Tourism NT/Shaana McNaught
The lowdown You won’t hear much about the beaches of the Northern Territory because of the estuarine crocodile danger. Stunning white sand and turquoise waters make Macassan (Garanhan) as good as any beach in Australia, even if you can’t swim here. It’s surrounded by monsoonal coastal vine forest and its shelves of bright red laterite stand out against all that silica-white sand. You can camp here, too.
See + do Visit historic clusters of stones beside the beach, left by local Indigenous elders as a record of the annual visits by Macassan traders hundreds of years ago (to trade for sea cucumber and turtle shells). You can walk along a coastal trail with stunning scenery to other beaches, such as Little Bondi (Barinjura).
Must know You’ll need a visitor access permit from the Dhimurru Aboriginal Corporation to visit, and a camping permit if you wish to stay overnight. Always be croc-smart here.
Make it happen Macassan Beach is 38 kilometres from Nhulunbuy (the biggest town in East Arnhem Land). Access is via an easily driveable dirt and sand track, and it’s best to visit in winter. See eastarnhemland.com.au
Five not-so-secret but still beaut Australian beaches
Whitehaven Beach, Qld
Whitehaven Beach regularly makes lists of the world’s best beaches.Credit: Tourism and Events Queensland
In the top five of practically every world’s-best-beach list and reachable only by boat or helicopter, this seven kilometre strip of white, squeaky silica-sand is part of the Whitsunday Island group. Visitors on day trips walk its silky smooth sand and swim in the turquoise sea beyond. See queensland.com
Wineglass Bay, Tas
It requires a two-hour return walk over granite mountains, but this isolated white sand beach in the Freycinet National Park on Tasmania’s east coast is worth the sweat. The views from the lookout above are enough for most, but make the extra effort to walk beside wallabies down to the beach to swim in its chilly, transparent waters. See discovertasmania.com.au
Wategos Beach, NSW
Longboarders ride waves rolling off Cape Byron as Byron’s rich and famous drive to some of the most expensive homes in Australia. Take the coastal walk to the lighthouse, or just sit back and watch dolphins surf the swell – or humpback whales from June to November – at this cosy bay. See visitnsw.com
Cable Beach, WA
Fiery ocean sunsets on view at this 22km white sand beach on the edge of tourist hot-spot Broome are a rare treat for east-coasters. So are the red ochre cliffs behind the beach, which show just how close the outback lurks here (as do the photogenic camel rides). Choose a drink at a beachside bar and get set for the show. See westernaustralia.com
St Kilda Beach, Vic
Melbourne’s most famous beach might lack surf, but it compensates with beachside attractions. Stroll its palm-lined boardwalk, stopping at al fresco restaurants and bars. Explore the huge parks and lose yourself among the pastry shops of Acland Street. Check for penguins at St Kilda Pier, or just chat to the fishermen. See visitvictoria.com