Australia’s best beaches and islands

Author: Chris Hawkins, Programme Director

I'll be honest with you from the start: this article is a little biased. Everyone who's spent real time in Australia has a favourite beach, and I'm no exception. As Programme Director here at Australian Sky, I've walked more of this coastline than I can count on both hands, and the spots below are the ones I genuinely send clients to - the perfect antidote after a few days on the road, or the ideal way to round off one of our tours. Australia is spoilt for choice when it comes to beaches and islands, so consider this my personal shortlist, built from years of seeing what actually makes people fall in love with this country.

No article on Australian beaches would be complete without Bondi. Join the locals for the atmosphere, the ocean pool, and the coastal walk - it's a cliché for good reason. For my money though, the better Sydney beach day is the ferry to Manly. There's something about that harbour crossing, watching the Opera House and Harbour Bridge shrink behind you, that sets the tone perfectly. Walk the ten minutes across to the ocean side and you've got a proper surf beach waiting. It's one of my favourite half-day escapes from the city.

Possibly my favourite pocket of coastline in the whole country sits a very leisurely three hours south of Sydney, around Jervis Bay. If you're driving, take the route through the Royal National Park and stop at Wattamolla Beach on the way - it's a genuine hidden gem, and most visitors never find it. Once you reach Jervis Bay, base yourself in Huskisson. For something really special, stay at Paperbark Camp, tucked into the forest just outside Jervis Bay - it's genuinely one of my favourite places to stay anywhere in Australia, luxury safari tents among the trees with the sound of Currambene Creek nearby.

The beaches in and around Huskisson are exceptional. Top honours go to Murrays Beach in Booderee National Park (a small entry fee applies) - white sand, turquoise water, the kind of place that has me reaching for the word "Maldives" even though the water's a fair bit chillier. Nearby you've got Cave Beach, Moona Moona Creek, and Huskisson beach itself, all superb. The headline act, though, is Hyams Beach - a long stretch of talcum-powder-fine sand against aqua-blue ocean. It's genuinely beach heaven.

If self-driving appeals, the underrated stretch from Sydney to Melbourne pairs great road-trip energy with idyllic beach stops - and it's a route I always recommend for clients wanting to explore the southeast coast at their own pace. At Batemans Bay, look out for Pebbly Beach, home to a famously tame kangaroo population, and Depot Beach, a little-known hideaway down a steep forested track - we can even arrange a cabin here for you. Further south, Mollymook has bigger waves and plenty of fun in the water.

Lakes Entrance offers a gorgeous 90-minute sweep of a walk along its beach, and heading down towards the Mornington Peninsula, south of Melbourne, you'll find bay after bay of beautiful spots worth a detour.

For the genuinely intrepid, the most remote and stunning beaches I know lie between Adelaide and Perth, in Cape Le Grand National Park and nearby Esperance. Make it out to this far-flung corner of Australia and you'll be hooked - it really is the Maldives of Australia, and I mean that.

Head to Tasmania and you'll almost certainly find yourself at Freycinet National Park, home to some of the most beautiful beaches in the country, including the endlessly photogenic Wineglass Bay. If you'd like to see it properly, our Taste of Tasmania self-drive takes you right through Freycinet. The Bay of Fires walk takes in plenty of Freycinet's quieter, emptier beaches too.

For the vast majority of first-time visitors, though, it's Australia's east coast that calls loudest. Starting with the wild, gorgeous beaches near Forster - Bluey's Beach and the beautiful Shoal Bay Peninsula - the real gems start unfolding as you head towards Brisbane, with none finer than my personal favourite, Byron Bay. This small beach town has almost legendary status, with a wonderfully eclectic mix of people and a genuine bohemian spirit. The arc of beach here is a brilliant spot to unwind, and I'll warn you now - leaving is often harder than the decision to come.

If surfing is on your mind, or you've always wanted to learn, Main Beach is world-famous for good reason. Further north lies one of the world's great natural phenomena: K'gari (formerly known as Fraser Island), the largest sand island on Earth, ringed by ocean yet home to pristine freshwater lakes with astonishing swimming. I love K'gari - pair it with whale watching at Hervey Bay on the mainland and you've got an easy, unforgettable few days.

The east coast is also turtle heaven. At Mon Repos Beach between November and January, you can spot nesting loggerhead turtles coming ashore - a genuinely special thing to witness.

By this point we're well into Great Barrier Reef territory, and no trip to Australia feels complete without Airlie Beach, the picture-perfect gateway to the Whitsundays. One of my favourite day trips anywhere in Australia is out to Whitehaven Beach - for something extra special, take a helicopter for a jaw-dropping perspective over the Coral Sea. Kayaking across the clear, aqua waters is also well worth the effort.

In Port Douglas, where I always encourage clients to stay a few days rather than pass straight through, unwind after a day's adventuring on the dreamy sunset beach at Thala Beach Nature Reserve - a private headland eco-resort with genuinely some of the best sunset views on this coast.

Islands

Australia has so many islands that narrowing it down feels almost unfair - honestly, I like them all. There are the top-tier luxury hideaways offering sublime views, hidden bays, and incredible food alongside true peace and quiet. Bedarra Island is a standout - an unparalleled, blissful escape.

Lord Howe Island is a real favourite of mine precisely because so few people make it there. It's a unique three-hour flight from Sydney, a hideaway with plenty to fill your days, from snorkelling the calm lagoon waters to hand-feeding fish and, if you're feeling ambitious, conquering Mount Gower on an all-day hike.

Queensland's most northerly tropical resort is Lizard Island, reachable only by charter plane from Cairns. With just 40 suites spread across 24 glittering beaches, it's entirely possible to have a beach entirely to yourself, or book one of two beachside marquees for a private seven-course degustation dinner with matching wines.

Haggerstone Island, with just four huts and a rustic-luxury vibe, is about as close to a genuine castaway experience as you'll get in Australia while still enjoying real creature comforts. It's extraordinary, and it's a long way north, up near Cape York.

One of my personal under-the-radar gems is Orpheus Island - 30 beaches, just 14 stylish rooms, and only ten miles from the outer Barrier Reef, with some of the best snorkelling I've experienced anywhere.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time of year to visit Australia’s beaches?

Because Australia is vast, the best time depends on the region. For Sydney and the southern beaches like Jervis Bay or Melbourne, the summer months of December through February offer warm beach weather. For the Great Barrier Reef, Whitsundays, and Tropical North Queensland, the dry season from May to October offers warm temperatures, low humidity, and minimal rainfall.

Can you swim in the ocean everywhere in Australia?

Most ocean beaches are safe, but it is important to follow local advice. In southern Australia, look out for strong surf rips and always swim between the red and yellow flags on patrolled beaches. In Tropical North Queensland, marine stingers can be present between November and May, so swimming in designated enclosure nets or wearing a protective stinger suit is recommended.

How do I get to remote islands like Lord Howe or Lizard Island?

These exclusive islands are reached via regional flights. Lord Howe Island is accessible via a flight from Sydney, while Lizard Island requires a small charter flight operating out of Cairns. Tropical Sky handles all internal flights and seamless transfers as part of your tailor-made holiday package.

Is it easy to do a self-drive holiday along the Australian coast?

Yes, coastal self-driving in Australia is exceptionally easy and rewarding. Roads are well-maintained, signage is clear, and routes like the Sydney to Melbourne coastal drive or the Pacific Highway from Sydney to Brisbane offer plentiful places to stop, eat, and stay overnight.

How many days should I spend in the Whitsundays?

We recommend spending at least three to four days in the Whitsunday region. This allows enough time to take a sailing or helicopter trip to Whitehaven Beach, explore the Great Barrier Reef, and enjoy a few relaxing days at a resort in Airlie Beach or on one of the offshore islands.