The top 10 Australian beaches of 2025 have been revealed

Tourism Australia has revealed the most idyllic beaches for those seeking pristine coastal beauty.

With over 30,000 kilometres of coastline, Australia is blessed to have what we would argue are the best beaches in the world. From the white sandy stretches of Whitehaven Beach to the picturesque shores of Cottesloe Beach, there’s no shortage of idyllic oceanfront escapes to fall in love with. When there are more than 12,000 recorded beaches, you’re spoilt for choice as to which to visit. But choosing the best is no mean feat.

Fortunately, the job is in competent hands, with beach expert Brad Farmer appointed Tourism Australia’s official beach ambassador to curate the annual best Australian beaches list. “Having to pick from almost 12,000 candidates is not an easy job and at times the selections create plenty of debate, which I welcome, and I look forward to the feedback on this year’s top 10," Farmer said.

Last year Squeaky Beach in Victoria took the crown, recognisable by the impressive, coloured granite boulders at either end. This year, we’re heading to Tassie.

1. Bay of Fires, Tasmania

While technically not just one beach, this 10-kilometre stretch of beaches in the southern portion of the Bay of Fires Conservation Reserve in Tasmania has taken the number one spot on the list this year. This stunning pocket of Australia features burnt orange lichen-dusted boulders, lucid blue waters, and squeaky, bone-white sands. The Bay of Fires represents Tassie at its most spectacular: rugged and unique.

2. Woolgoolga, New South Wales

Woolgoolga is somewhat of a hidden gem in New South Wales. Located 20 minutes’ north of Coffs Harbour, it has been judged Australia’s best mainland beach. The beach itself is a divine stretch of golden sand, ideal for swimming, surfing, and fishing, and is typically quieter than the region’s more famous beaches.

3. Emily Bay Lagoon, Norfolk Island

Charming Norfolk Island is home to a spectacular array of unspoiled and secluded beaches and bays. Renowned as one of the safest beaches in the world, Emily Bay Lagoon features sheltered reefs, calm horizons and aqua-azure waters reminiscent of the Maldives. Its gentle waters make it perfect for swimming, snorkelling, and kayaking.

4. North Kirra Beach, Queensland

Located on the southern end of the Gold Coast, this north-facing beach is bathed in white sand and crystal-clear water, providing tranquil swimming all year round. This stretch of beach is also a renowned surfing spot with three-time Men’s World Surf League Champion Mick Fanning being the marquee star of the Kirra Surfriders Club.

5. Little Lagoon, Western Australia

Western Australia is a haven for stunning beaches, with travellers utterly spoilt for choice. The most unique beach in the line-up, Little Lagoon is an inland saltwater lagoon situated near Denham in Western Australia’s Shark Bay region. This beach features shallow, turquoise waters surrounded by white dunes and coastal vegetation. It offers perfect conditions for swimming, paddleboarding, and boating.

6. Fishery Bay, South Australia

The Eyre Peninsula in South Australia boasts numerous pristine beaches. This secluded bay is a popular destination for both surfing, with several surf breaks, and fishing, as the name suggests. The surrounding waters are teeming with marine life, including snapper, whiting, and garfish. If you have a 4WD, you can drive onto the beach and settle in for the day.

7. 1770, Queensland

1770 beach — The sun-kissed shores of 1770. (Image: londonerinsydney.com)

The charming coastal town of 1770 in Queensland is located on the Discovery Coast, near the southern tip of the Great Barrier Reef. Its namesake beach boasts beautiful golden sandy shores and clear blue seas that are brimming with marine life, such as fish, coral, and turtles.

8. Scarborough Beach, Western Australia

Perth arguably boasts the best beaches of any Australian capital. Scarborough Beach is one of the local favourites, particularly with surfers and kite surfers who relish its impressive surf breaks and regular swell. Being on the west coast also means this pretty patch of sand is privy to some breathtaking sunsets.

9. Caves Beach, New South Wales

The aptly named Caves Beach on the Swansea peninsula is renowned for the caves that line its golden shores. When the tide is low, visitors can explore the spectacular sea caverns that are carved into the sandstone cliffs and make for stunning photo opportunities.

10. Cowes Beach, Victoria

Cowes Beach is one of Victoria’s only north-facing beaches and the most popular sweep of sand on Phillip Island. This small swimming beach has low winds and calm waves making it ideal for families or those wanting to take a relaxing dip. The jetty is a handy spot for fishing, while the esplanade with its cafes, restaurants, and shops makes for the perfect post-dip hangout.

Time your visit to Margaret River just right, and you can spend the ultimate weekend wining, dining and exploring the region with Pair’d Margaret River Region x Range Rover.

Wine, world-class produce, surf, sun and beaches: it’s an alluring combination. And the reason so many pin the Margaret River region high on their travel hit-lists. There’s drawcard after drawcard to the southwestern corner of Western Australia, and the Pair’d Margaret River Region x Range Rover food and wine festival showcases the best of it over the course of one weekend in November. It’s never been easier to sip, see and savour the Margaret River region.

In partnership with Pair’d Margaret River Region, Range Rover invites you on a seven-day itinerary of refined adventure, where luxury and exploration go hand in hand. It’s the perfect WA road trip, and there’s no better way to do it than in a Range Rover.

Day 1

the pool at Pullman Bunker Bay — Check into Pullman Bunker Bay.

There’s no more popular West Australian road trip route than that between Perth and the Margaret River Region. It’s an easily digestible, three-hour drive, with worthy pit stops along the way.

Make the first of them one hour and 15 minutes in, at Lake Clifton. Here, find a 2000-year-old living thrombolite reef. Drive for a further 40 minutes and chance meeting some of Bunbury’s dolphin population at Koombana Bay.

Pullman Bunker Bay is the final stop, just over three hours south of Perth. This beachfront, five-star resort is the ultimate base for exploring the Margaret River Wine region.

Day 2

After a leisurely morning breakfast with an ocean view, start your Range Rover and head towards the Dunsborough town centre. Browsing the decidedly coastal-themed goods of the town’s many independent boutiques is a great way to while away the hours, breaking up the sartorial with an artisan gelato snack stop, or some good old-fashioned Australian bakery fare.

Leave room; you’ll need it for the Good Natured Gathering dinner at Wayfinder. Indulge in a four-course feast by chef Felipe Montiel, which uses produce from the winery’s market garden to enhance a selection of sustainably sourced seafood and meat. But food is just the support act. It’s organic wine that’s the star of the show, generously poured and expertly paired to each dish.

Day 3

Settle in for cabernet at Cape Mentelle Winery.

With a grand total of 20 wines from vintage 2022 to try, it’s a good thing Cape Mentelle’s International Cabernet Tasting kicks off early. Make your way to the estate for a 10:00 AM start, where a global selection of wines will be poured blind, before a long lunch by Tiller Dining is served.

Given that the Margaret River is responsible for more than 20 per cent of Australia’s fine wine production, it’s only right to delve into it while in the area.

Continue exploring the region via taste and terroir aboard Alison Maree, a whale-watching catamaran, as you cruise Geographe Bay . Admire the rolling green hills and crisp white beaches of Quindalup in sunset’s golden light, all the while sipping through the Clairault Streicker catalogue and dining on canapes.

For a more substantial dinner, venture into Busselton for a seven-course British x Australian mash-up , courtesy of Brendan Pratt (Busselton Pavilion) and Oliver Kent (Updown Farmhouse, UK). They’ll be putting their rustic yet refined spin on the likes of local marron, wagyu and abalone – championing the simple beauty of the world-class ingredients.

Day 4

Wrap your fingers around a wine glass and wiggle your toes into the sand at Pair’d Beach Club x Range Rover on Meelup Beach. Sit down to an intimate wine session with sommelier Cyndal Petty – or a four-course feast by Aaron Carr of Yarri – and revel in the open-air beach club, bar and restaurant’s laidback coastal vibe. It’s a whole new way to experience one of the region’s most renowned beaches.

Follow up a day in the sun with a casual Italian party at Mr Barvel Wines . Purchase wines –including the elusive, sold-out Nebbia – by the glass and enjoy canapes with the towering Karri forest as a backdrop.

If you’d prefer to keep it local, head to Skigh Wines for the New Wave Gathering , where the region’s independent wine makers and their boundary-pushing wines will be on show. Street-style eats, a DJ and complimentary wine masterclasses complete the experience.

Day 5

pair'd Grand Tasting — Taste your way through Howard Park Wines. (Image: C J Maddock)

Spend the morning at your leisure, driving the winding roads through the Boranup Karri forest in your Range Rover. Soak in the views at Contos Beach, and call into the small cheese, chocolate and preserve producers along the way.

Make your next stop Howard Park Wines for The Grand Tasting presented by Singapore Airlines . Numerous wine labels will be pouring their catalogues over four hours, accompanied by food from chefs Matt Moran and Silvia Colloca, with live opera providing the soundtrack.

Cap off a big weekend with one last hurrah at Busselton Pavilion. Six ‘local legends’ – chefs Brendan Pratt (Busselton Pavilion), Mal Chow (Chow’s Table), Aaron Carr (Yarri), Ben Jacob (Lagoon Yallingup), Corey Rozario (Dahl Daddies) and Laura Koentjoro (Banksia Tavern) – will be preparing a dish each. Dance the night away as vinyl spins and the sun sets on another day.

Day 6

Ngilgi Cave western australia — Head underground. (Image: Tourism WA)

After a busy few days of wining and dining, it’s wise to observe a rest day. There’s no easier task than unwinding in the Margaret River Region, also famous for its high concentration of world-class beaches.

Relax on the grassy knoll as you watch the region’s most experienced surfers braving the World Surf League break at Surfer’s Point, or don your own wetsuit and try out one of Gracetown’s more beginner-friendly waves. Swimmers will find their Eden at Meelup Beach, Eagle Bay, or Point Piquet, where the sand is brilliantly white and the water as still as a backyard swimming pool.

Not into sun, sand, and surf? Head underground at Mammoth Cave, just one of the region’s many stalactite-filled caves.

Day 7

Burnt Ends event at Pair'd — Farewell the Margaret River.

Pack up your Range Rover with new favourite wines and newfound memories, ready for the three-hour journey back to Perth.

Prebook your discovery journey through the south-west corner of Western Australia with Pair’d Margaret River Region x Range Rover.