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Three Aussie beaches just made the world’s 50 best list

Credit: Tourism Western Australia

Taylah Darnell Taylah Darnell
 The World’s 50 Best Beaches list is out – and three Aussie beaches have made quite the splash.

With white sand, impossibly clear water and more hidden havens than you could ever hope to tick off, Australia’s coastline has long been in a league of its own. The proof is in the pudding, too; close to 87 per cent of the country’s population live along our coasts, shaping a culture that’s deeply connected to sea, sand and surf.

So when the annual World’s 50 Best Beaches list dropped, it was hardly surprising to see us featured not once, but three times. While two are making a return appearance (in higher positions, no less), one is joining for the very first time.

The ranking is decided by an extensive panel of well-travelled experts against a range of criteria, from accessibility and isolation to weather conditions and wildlife presence. Here’s where made the cut.

Wharton Beach, WA

Wharton Beach, WA
Wharton Beach is officially among the top five beaches in the world. (Credit: Tourism Western Australia)

Wharton Beach in Western Australia’s Duke of Orleans Bay came in third place this year, impressively climbing from 21st in 2025. Widely considered one of the most beautiful beaches in the state, this local gem is loved for its tranquil atmosphere, crystalline waters and sand so fine it squeaks underfoot.

Whales off Western Australia's coastline
Whales migrate along WA’s coast from May to December. (Credit: Tourism Western Australia)

Thanks to its relative isolation (the nearest town is around an hour away), visitors rarely have to fight for a spot on the sand. But while the crowds are few, you won’t have the place entirely to yourself. Wharton Beach is home to an abundance of wildlife, from kangaroos lounging along the shore to pods of dolphins dancing in the waves. It’s also one of the country’s best whale-watching spots come migration season, with pods of humpback and southern right whales often sighted.

Turquoise Bay, WA

Turquoise Bay, WA
Turquoise Bay is hidden within Cape Range National Park. (Credit: Tourism Western Australia)

Coming in 15th this year is one of WA’s lesser-known beaches. And while it’s down a few spots from 11th place last year, it continues to hold a prominent place in the list among the world’s best. Situated near Exmouth on the North West Cape, Turquoise Bay wears its main asset on its sleeve – or should I say, in its name.

Turquoise Bay, WA
Admiring marine life from a distance ensures they remain protected. (Credit: Tourism Western Australia)

Known for boasting crystal-clear waters, gentle currents and plentiful marine life, the bay has become a natural playground for snorkellers. Its close proximity to Ningaloo Marine Park allows for easy spotting of fish, turtles, rays and coral reefs, as well as dolphins, sharks and whales – if you’re lucky. Set within Cape Range National Park, Turquoise Bay lends itself perfectly to a weekend of swimming, fishing, hiking and camping under the stars. 

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

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Wineglass Bay, Tas

Wineglass Bay, Tasmania
Wineglass Bay has made its debut on the World’s 50 Best Beaches list for 2026. (Credit: Lauren Bath)

Making its debut on the World’s 50 Best Beaches list this year is Wineglass Bay, claiming 21st place, and cementing every Aussie inclusion comfortably within the top 25. Located on Tasmania’s Freycinet Peninsula, it’s part of the Tasmanian Wilderness UNESCO World Heritage Area – and for good reason.

Saffire Jewel in Freycinet, Tasmania
Saffire Jewel will open later this year, just a 10-minute drive from Wineglass Bay.

Wineglass Bay is a place of striking contrasts, where rugged natural beauty meets refined luxury. Sandy shores quickly give way to verdant rainforests. Pink granite peaks rise over cerulean waters. A quiet stillness brings a true sense of calm. Better yet, you can take it all in from the comfort of five-star stays like Saffire Freycinet and its ultra-luxe private sister villa, Saffire Jewel, set to open later this year.

The world’s top 10 beaches for 2026

1. Entalula Beach, The Philippines
2. Fteri Beach, Greece
3. Wharton Beach, Australia
4. Nosy Iranja, Madagascar
5. East Beach, Fiji
6. Shoal Bay East, Anguilla
7. Dhigurah, The Maldives
8. Playa Balandra, Mexico
9. Koh Rong, Cambodia
10. Donald Duck Bay, Thailand

See the full World’s 50 Best Beaches list here.

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Taylah Darnell
Taylah Darnell is Australian Traveller's Writer & Producer. She has been passionate about writing since she learnt to read, spending many hours either lost in the pages of books or attempting to write her own. This life-long love of words inspired her to study a Bachelor of Communication majoring in Creative Writing at the University of Technology Sydney, where she completed two editorial internships. She began her full-time career in publishing at Ocean Media before scoring her dream job with Australian Traveller. Now as Writer & Producer, Taylah passionately works across both digital platforms and print titles. When she's not wielding a red pen over magazine proofs, you can find Taylah among the aisles of a second-hand bookshop, following a good nature trail or cheering on her EPL team at 3am. While she's keen to check out places like Scotland and North America, her favourite place to explore will always be her homeland.
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Unforgettable First Peoples tours and experiences in Victoria

    Angela Saurine Angela Saurine
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    From ancient aquaculture systems to sacred rock art shelters, Victoria’s First Peoples cultural experiences offer a powerful connection to one of the world’s oldest living cultures – where every site, story and smoking ceremony invites a deeper understanding of the land beneath your feet. 

    Victoria’s sweeping landscapes hold stories far older than any road map can trace – stories etched into stone, sung through generations and woven into every bend of river and rise of hill. From the lava flows of Budj Bim to the ancient middens of Moyjil/Point Ritchie and the volcanic crater of Tower Hill, the state is home to some of the most significant First Peoples cultural sites in Australia. These places, along with other immersive experiences, offer not only a window into a 60,000-year legacy, but a profound way of understanding Country itself. As more travellers seek connection over checklists, guided tours by Traditional Owners offer respectful, unforgettable insights into a living culture that continues to shape the land and the people who walk it. 

    Budj Bim cultural landscape  

    Budj Bim Cultural Landscape
    Budj Bim Cultural Landscape is on Gunditjmara Country. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Venture beyond the surf and sand of the Great Ocean Road to discover a deeper story etched into the volcanic landscape. At Budj Bim, ancient aquaculture channels built by the Gunditjmara people to trap, store and harvest kooyang (short-finned eel) reveal one of the world’s oldest living cultures. While you’re in the area, head over to the state-of-the-art Tae Rak Aquaculture Centre, where you can observe the eels in a special tank, wander the shores of Tae Rak (Lake Condah), and enjoy a bite at the Bush Tucker Cafe. Also nearby is Tower Hill, a dormant volcano reborn as a wildlife reserve, offering trails through bushland teeming with emus and koalas. 

    eel tank
    The kooyang (eel) tank at Tae Rak. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Dumawul Kooyoora Walking Tour 

    Dumawul walkingtour
    Guests are guided through Kooyoora State Park on the Dumawul walking tour. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Step into a timeless landscape with Dumawul’s guided tour through Kooyoora State Park, around an hour’s drive west of Bendigo in north-central Victoria. Led by Djaara guides, this immersive half-day journey breathes life into Country, weaving together stories, bush tucker and ancient rock art. Known to the Dja Dja Wurrung people as Guyura – the ‘mountain of light’ – this dramatic granite range is rich with cultural and spiritual significance.  The adventure begins with a meet-up at the Bridgewater Hotel on the banks of the Loddon River, before guests are welcomed onto Country with a traditional Smoking Ceremony – a powerful ritual that honours ancestors and cleanses those who walk the land. From there, it’s a gentle wander through rugged outcrops and open bushland, with sweeping vistas unfolding at every turn. Along the way, guides share their knowledge of how the Dja Dja Wurrung peoples have cared for and adapted with this land for generations, offering a rare and moving window into an ancient way of life that continues to thrive today.  

    Kooyoora walking tour
    Knowledge of the Dja Dja Wurrung is shared on the trail. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Kingfisher Cruises  

    Kingfisher Cruises
    Cruising the Murray with Kingfisher Cruises. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Glide quietly through the Barmah-Millewa forest – the nation’s largest river red gum ecosystem – on a scenic journey along the Murray River and into the Barmah Lakes with Kingfisher Cruises. Led by passionate guides who share stories of the cultural significance of this ancient landscape, these cruises reveal the stories, totems and traditional knowledge of the Yorta Yorta people. As you navigate narrow waterways and spot native birds, you’ll gain a richer understanding of how First Peoples have lived in harmony with this floodplain for tens of thousands of years. It’s a gentle, immersive experience that leaves a lasting impression – one where every bend in the river carries echoes of culture, connection and Country.  

    wawa biik 

    Taungurung leaders
    Exploring Nagambie with Taungurung leaders. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Translating to ‘hello, Country’ in the language of the First Nations People and Custodians of the rivers and mountains of Taungurung Country in Central Victoria, wawa biik guides a range of authentic and deeply immersive experiences. Leaving from either Nagambie or Euroa, the tours are woven with ancient stories of the Taungurung, telling how a sustained connection and responsibility ensures the continued health of biik – benefitting the people, animals and plants that live in and around the Goulburn River. During the wawa Nagambie experience, guests participate in a Welcome Smoking Ceremony, and enjoy lunch and conversation with two Taungurung leaders as they cruise through the wetlands of tabilk-tabilk (place of many waterholes). The 4.5-hour tour begins at Tahbilk Winery, which is set in the wetlands of Nagambie on Taungurung Country and collaborates with Taungurung Elders to share knowledge of biik. 

    Bataluk Cultural Trail  

    Bataluk Trail
    Cape Conran on the Bataluk Trail. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    The Bataluk Cultural Trail winds through East Gippsland like a thread stitching past to present, tracing the deep connection between the Gunaikurnai people and their land. Starting at the Knob Reserve in Stratford, visitors walk among scarred trees and ancient stone tools once used for survival and ceremony. At the Den of Nargun near Mitchell River, the earth holds stories of women’s sacred spaces, cloaked in myth and legend. Further along, Legend Rock at Metung tells of greed and consequence, its surface etched with ancient lore. At Cape Conran, shell middens lie scattered like breadcrumbs of history – 10,000 years of gatherings, stories and saltwater songs still echoing in the wind.  

    Healesville Sanctuary  

    echidna at Healesville Sanctuary
    Get up close with a resident echidna at Healesville Sanctuary. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Set on the historic grounds of Coranderrk Aboriginal Station, Healesville Sanctuary honours the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation through immersive storytelling and connection to Country. Along Wurundjeri Walk, visitors are invited to reflect on the land’s rich First Peoples history, with native plants revealing their traditional uses. Wurundjeri Elder and educator Murrundindi shares culture in-person with the Wominjeka Aboriginal Cultural Experience every Sunday, and most days during Victorian school holidays. Murrundindi’s smoking ceremonies, storytelling and bush tucker knowledge reveal the sacred relationship between people, animals and the environment. Bird-lovers can’t miss the incredible Spirits of the Sky show featuring native birds daily at 12pm and 3pm. 

    The Grampians 

    Rock art at Bunjil Shelter in The Grampians
    Rock art at Bunjil Shelter in The Grampians. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Known as Gariwerd to Traditional Owners, the Grampians is a place of immense cultural and spiritual significance. This rugged landscape holds more than 80 per cent of Victoria’s known First Peoples rock art, offering a powerful window into the region’s deep heritage. Visitors can respectfully explore five remarkable rock art sites: Billimina and Ngamadjidj in the Wartook Valley, Manja Shelter near Hamilton, Gulgurn Manja shelter near Laharum, and the Bunjil Shelter near Stawell, where the creator spirit is depicted. Each site tells a unique story of connection to Country, shared through ancient handprints, dancing figures and Dreaming narratives etched into stone.