The beaches of Oz: Australia’s top beaches

The continent-nation that is Australia is a paradise for beach-seekers on the lookout for a haven away from the hustle and bustle of city living. Here are some of the big country’s best beaches. 

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Turquoise Bay, Western Australia 

This magnificent beach can be found in the Cape Range National Park near Exmouth, about a 12-hour drive from Perth. It lies in the shallows of the Ningaloo Marine Park, and offers crystal-clear blue waters and living corals. The Ningaloo Reef is easily accessible (just 50m-100m offshore), and is a great spot for snorkeling. 

Maslin Beach, Adelaide 

Located 40-km south of Adelaide and facing Gulf St Vincent, this beach is renowned for being the first ‘legal’ nude beach in Australia. The 1.5-km beach is lined with limestone cliffs, and is the site for the Nude Olympics and the annual Best Beach Bum awards. It is the ideal Aussie hideaway to boldly go (pun intended) for fun and leisure. 

Boat Harbour Beach, Tasmania 

Tasmania, for those who don’t know, is an island state of Australia. And Boat Harbour Beach is located on its Nature Isle coast. It is a quiet seaside town, 30 minutes from Burnie on the state’s north coast. It is especially recommended for its diving and snorkeling, as well as for its proximity to the famed Rocky Cape National Park. 

Cossies Beach, Indian Ocean 

This is the most remote beach on our list, but is easily one of the country’s best. Located in the Cocos or Keeling Islands, Cossies was just named so in 2016, in honor of Peter Cosgrove, Australia’s 26th Governor-General. It is a 4.5-hour flight from Perth, and closer to Indonesia than mainland Australia. It is for the beach purist, boasting of a 300-meter stretch of white sand. 

Image source: visitningaloo.com.au

Lisa Dudzik is an expat who as traveled to many parts of the world. She enjoys her work and the people she meets along the way. Originally from Perth, she is an adventure-seeker and a lover of the great outdoors. More on her hobbies and interests here.