Words by Julie Mackay

The Beach occupies a special place in Aussie identity. In fact, there are around 10,685 beaches in Australia. Don’t get stuck in the crowd at popular beaches like Bondi – especially on a Sunday when your Opal travel cap is at $2.50. Lay down your towel and worries at these beautiful, secluded beaches instead.

1. Hydeaway Bay – Whitsundays, Queensland

 This tiny coastal hamlet is set on a long, white, sandy beach on a no-through road about 50 kilometres from Airlie Beach. The beach has five public access points and you can comb for shells on a low tide, swim the fringing coral reef, or try you luck fishing from the beach. It’s guaranteed you will hardly see a soul but you could be lucky enough to spot a dolphin, whale or turtle on your travels.

2. Palm Cove, Queensland

Named after the palm trees that line the beach, this paradise is perfectly situated between Port Douglas and Cairns (20 minutes from Cairns city), making Palm Cove the perfect home base for your holiday. The beach is arguably the most pristine of all Cairns’ northern beaches and frequently receives awards for being Queensland’s cleanest and friendliest beach.

3. Seven Mile Beach, NSW

One of the best beaches to learn how to surf is Seven Mile Beach in enchanting Gerroa, south of Gerringong. Windy conditions also make the beach popular with kite and wind surfers. At 7.8 miles in length (12.5 km) there is lots of room to settle down. Be sure to visit the beach at night as well, as shooting stars and the milky way can clearly be seen on a cloudless night.

4. Hyams Beach – Jervis Bay, NSW

The Guinness Book of World records claims Hyams Beach to have the whitest sand in the world! Hyams Beach is located in Jervis Bay, a coastal town 18 km south of Sydney. The seaside village has a population of just 290 and there are nearby attractions such as Jervis Bay Marine Park and surrounding trails and forests.

5. Sunshine Beach- Noosa, Queensland

Many beachgoers never stray from Noosa Main Beach and see Sunshine Beach (10-minute drive from Main Beach), which is quieter and has larger waves. You can also sit back on the deck of the surf club, overlooking the ocean and spot dolphins and whales, listen to live music, enjoy a meal or just relax with a cold drink.

6. Double Island Point, Queensland

Double Island Point is a coastal headland that is north of Noosa and is within the Cooloola section of the Great Sandy National Park, at the southern end of the bay. It has been dubbed one of the Sunshine Coast’s best kept secrets, where camping, surfing, snorkeling, and scuba diving can be enjoyed.

 7. Hermit Bay NSW

Hermit Bay is located on a walk that can be started at either Shark beach or Queens beach, both located in Vaucluse. The walk isn’t as busy as the Coastal walk from Cogee to Bondi (it can happen that you’ll find no one on one of the beaches along the walk), but it is almost as beautiful and definitely worth trying!

8. Dingo Beach, Whitsundays, Qld

Dingo Beach is the sister town of Hydeaway Bay and is also only accessible by car (hires can be made in Airlie Beach). The beach also boasts crystal clear waters, bountiful fishing, and plenty of opportunities to relax in the sun or kick back with a cold bevvie or meal from one of the small group of beachfront pubs and eco resorts.

9. Squeaky Beach – Wilson’s Promontory, VIC

Located in Wilson’s Promontory, 2 hours south of Melbourne, Squeaky Beach is a local’s secret with sand so pure that is squeaks as you walk upon it! It can be accessed by vehicle or via short walks from Lilly Pilly Gully carpark, Picnic Bay or Tidal River.

10. Kitty Miller Bay, VIC

You’ll find the beach off Kitty Miller Road, on the south-western side of Phillip Island (140 km south-east of Melbourne, a 90-minute drive). This secluded cove at the base of an extinct volcano not only has great surf, but it boasts that windswept and interesting rugged appeal you look for in a Victorian beach. Also keep an eye out for the shipwrecked remains of the SS Speke at low tide.