Are these Australia’s 10 best beaches?

Freya Herring Freya Herring
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We’re pretty lucky in this country to have some of the best beaches in the world, so when TripAdvisor released its yearly ‘Top 10 Beaches’, many were surprised that only one Aussie beach made the list!

 

Amongst those confused by the ranking, were the very vocal members of luxuryescapes.com, a members-only travel site that offers high-end holidays.

 

The well-travelled folk who holiday with Luxury Escapes are used to holidaying to some of the world’s most picture-perfect destinations – so it’s safe to say they know their beaches. Here are their picks for the best beaches in Australia.

1. Whitehaven Beach, Queensland

people's choice awards australia best getaway
Swirling white sands of Hill Inlet at Whitehaven Beach, QLD.

What is there to say about Whitehaven Beach that hasn’t been said before? The silica sand is impossibly, velvety soft and unicorn-white, and it’s so clean, so untouched, that it’s hard to believe you’re only a boat ride away from the fully functioning resort-ville of the rest of the Whitsundays.

Where to eat nearby:

 

Coca Chu is an Asian fusion restaurant 11.5km from Whitehaven but serves up incredible vegan-friendly grub in a supremely picturesque setting. It also caters to the meat lovers among us, so don’t fret. It features the hawker-street style food of South East Asia that you’ll be craving during your swim.

2. Wineglass Bay, Tasmania

Australia's best beaches luxury escapes
Tasmania’s Wineglass Bay is like a little slice of paradise, no wonder why it’s considered one of Australia’s best beaches.

Seemingly situated on the edge of the Earth – next stop, Antarctica – Wineglass Bay on Tasmania’s Freycinet Peninsula is a little slice of paradise down south. Surrounded by lush bushland, it’s also home to some of the most luxurious accommodation in the state (case in point: Saffire Freycinet).

Where to eat nearby:

 

Freycinet Marie Farm is the perfect pit stop for any seafood lover. You can pick up sumptuous oysters to take back to your accommodation – or to the beach – or settle in for some grilled Tasmanian garlic scallops and a bread roll. Delicious.

3. Hyams Beach, New South Wales

Australia's best beaches luxury escapes
Just a short drive from Sydney, Hyams Beach is renowned for its feathery-white sand and crystal-clear waters.

Its sands have been recorded as the whitest in the world, so it’s hard to believe that Hyams Beach is only three hours out of Sydney. If you get tired of those crystal-clear waters and feathery sand, then check out nearby local bushwalks to experience breathtaking views over Jervis Bay.

Where to eat nearby:

 

Just 3.8km away from Hyams Beach is Albert N Miso, a divine little cafe located in Vincentia. With a hearty breakfast and lunch menu, plus delicious burgers all day (try the fish burger with tomato salsa, tartare and sprouts), and they also start a tapas menu at 6pm, meaning your stroll from the beach into town will be well worth it.

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4. Turquoise Bay, Western Australia

Australia's best beaches luxury escapes
Tucked away in Western Australia, Turquoise Bay is a secluded spot of heaven, it’s also perfect for snorkelling.

When you think of paradise-like beaches, something a lot like Turquoise Bay in far northern Western Australia will spring to mind. Think azure-hued waters, soft white sand, and not another person around for miles. And did we mention there’s some of the best snorkelling around?

Where to eat nearby:

 

Adrift Cafe are your perfect pick if you’re after an incredible big breakfast that’ll do more than just touch the sides – an attractive option if you’ve gone a little heavy on the Coronas the night before. They also tend to feature specials with a Middle Eastern flavour and change the specials up weekly.

5. Eagle Bay, Western Australia

Australia's best beaches luxury escapes
Crystal-clear water and unbelievably white sand at Eagle Bay in Western Australia.

Only a stone’s throw from Margaret River, you’ll find Eagle Bay. White sands and glistening waters contrast against red Australian rock. Head up to Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse to see where the Southern and Indian Oceans meet.

Where to eat nearby:

 

Eagle Bay Brewing Co has a brilliant, casual vibe and outdoor seating and dishes up amazing dishes with a mix of Asian and Italian influence. Order the soy chilli cashews and peanuts for a nibble with your brew, or the espresso braised BBQ brisket for something meatier – literally. The honey & sesame chicken with chinese sausage is also a great choice.

6. Four Mile Beach, Queensland

Australia's best beaches luxury escapes
Beautiful Four Mile Beach in Queensland.

Such is the length of this celebrated Port Douglas beach, that it was used as an airplane runway back in the early days of aviation. It’s beautiful, clean and not too overcrowded at this time of year (just watch out for crocs).

Where to eat nearby:

 

When you’re done at the beach for the day, head over to The Beach Shack on Barrier Street for incredible pizza and cocktails. And when we say come from the beach, we mean it – the restaurant’s floors are already sandy – and surfboards hang from the walls – so you’re bound to fit right in.

7. Pennington Bay, South Australia

Australia's best beaches luxury escapes
Pennington Bay’s remote location means that you can have this photogenic beach all to yourself. Kangaroo Island, South Australia.

This beach on Kangaroo Island deserves a place on your bucket list. Not only is the surfing world class, but the remote location means it’s secluded from the hordes of tourists who would usually frequent a beach this photogenic.

Where to eat nearby:

 

Cactus serves up incredible coffee and food on Kangaroo Island. They do a Friday night Mediterranean feast that draws massive crowds and again, the coffee – very, very good.

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8. Tallow Beach, New South Wales

Australia's best beaches luxury escapes
Tallow Beach in New South Wales can be enjoyed with your furry pooch pals.

A little bit tired of busy Byron? Head over to Tallow Beach, just a few kilometres out of town, and feel immediately rested. Dogs have a good long stretch of beach to themselves, so your pooch doesn’t have to stay at home while you catch some rays.

Where to eat nearby:

 

Suffolk Bakery offers up some of the best freshly baked goodies you can get your hands on. They often showcase live musicians alongside their fresh coffee and amazing croissants. Perfect for a takeaway lunch or to nestle in and enjoy the atmosphere.

9. Trinity Beach, Queensland

Australia's best beaches luxury escapes
Trinity Beach is just a short trip from the Cairns city centre and is perfect for families.

Even though Trinity Beach is a suburb of Cairns – and only 20 minutes from the airport – you’d hardly know it, with properties and restaurants set back from the sand, so the ocean feels like it’s all yours.

Where to eat nearby:

 

Trinity Beach Bar & Grill offers up delicious eats, including the freshest fruit and yoghurt, they also do delicious hot sandwiches and even themed nights such as ‘pasta night’ – that one is not to be missed – and neither are the cocktails.

10. Seaford Beach, Victoria

Australia's best beaches luxury escapes
A romantic sunset over Seaford Beach in Victoria.

Boasting a long pier dotted with fishermen, Seaford Beach is the gateway to Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, and only a 45-minute drive from Melbourne. The shallow waters and gentle waves around the pier make it perfect for swimming with little ones.

Where to eat nearby:

 

Beach Cafe Seaford offers coffee, cake and a light daytime menu and an incredible terrace overlooking the bay. The atmosphere is relaxed – and kind of feels as though you could stay there all day – but how can you when the beach is calling so loud?

 

Want more on Australia’s best beaches? Check out the secret beaches you won’t find on the tourist maps…

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Freya Herring

Freya Herring

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Inside Geelong’s glow-up from factory town to creative capital

    Chloe Cann Chloe Cann
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    Abandoned mills and forgotten paper plants are finding second lives – and helping redefine a city long underestimated. 

    Just 15 years ago, Federal Mills was a very different place. Once among the most significant industrial sites in Victoria, the historic woollen mill was one of a dozen that operated in Geelong at the industry’s peak in the mid-20th century, helping the city earn its title as ‘wool centre of the world’. But by the 1960s global competition and the rise of synthetic fabrics led to the slow decline of the industry, and Federal Mills finally shuttered its doors in 2001. Within a few years, the abandoned North Geelong grounds had become makeshift pastoral land, with cows and goats grazing among the overgrown grass between the empty red-brick warehouses. It was a forgotten pocket of the city, all but two klicks from the bustle of the CBD.  

    Geelong cellar door wine bar
    Geelong has shed its industrial identity to become an innovative urban hub with reimagined heritage spaces. (Image: Ash Hughes)

    Federal Mills: from forgotten factory to creative precinct 

    Today, the century-old complex stands reborn. The distinctive sawtooth-roof buildings have been sensitively restored. An old silo is splashed with a bright floral mural, landscapers have transformed the grounds, and the precinct is once again alive with activity. More than 1000 people work across 50-plus businesses here. It’s so busy, in fact, that on a sunny Thursday morning in the thick of winter, it’s hard to find a car park. The high ceilings, open-plan design, and large multi-paned windows – revolutionary features for factories of their time – have again become a drawcard.  

    Paddock Bakery andPatisserie
    Paddock Bakery and Patisserie is housed within the historic wool factory. (Image: Gallant Lee)

    At Paddock, one of the precinct’s newer tenants, weaving looms and dye vats have been replaced by a wood-fired brick oven and heavy-duty mixers. Open since April 2024, the bakery looks right at home here; the building’s industrial shell is softened by ivy climbing its steel frames, and sunlight streams through the tall windows. Outside, among the white cedar trees, families at picnic benches linger over dippy eggs and bagels, while white-collar workers pass in and out, single-origin coffee and crème brûlée doughnuts in hand. 

    Geelong: Australia’s only UNESCO City of Design 

    Paddock Bakery
    Paddock Bakery can be found at Federal Mills. (Image: Gallant Lee)

    “A lot of people are now seeing the merit of investing in Geelong,” says Paul Traynor, the head of Hamilton Hospitality Group, which redeveloped Federal Mills. A city once shunned as Sleepy Hollow, and spurned for its industrial, working-class roots and ‘rust belt’ image, Geelong has long since reclaimed its ‘Pivot City’ title, having reinvented itself as an affordable, lifestyle-driven satellite city, and a post-COVID migration hotspot.  

    And the numbers stand testament to the change. In March 2025, and for the first time in its history, Greater Geelong became Australia’s most popular regional town for internal migration, overtaking Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. Current forecasts suggest Geelong will continue to outpace many other Australian cities and towns, with jobs growing at double the rate of the population.

    Tourism is booming, too. The 2023-24 financial year was Geelong and The Bellarine region’s busiest on record, with 6.4 million visitors making it one of the fastest-growing destinations in the country. It’s not hard to see why: beyond the city’s prime positioning at the doorstep of the Great Ocean Road, Geelong’s tenacity and cultural ambition stands out.  

    As Australia’s only UNESCO City of Design, Geelong is swiftly shaking off its industrial past to become a model for urban renewal, innovation, sustainability and creative communities. The signs are everywhere, from the revitalisation of the city’s waterfront, and the landmark design of the Geelong Library and Heritage Centre and Geelong Arts Centre, to the growing network of local designers, architects and artists, and the burgeoning roster of festivals and events. That’s not even mentioning the adaptive reuse of storied old industrial buildings – from Federal Mills, to Little Creatures’ brewery ‘village’ housed within a 1920s textile mill – or the city’s flourishing food and wine scene.  

    The rise of a food and wine destination  

    boiler house
    Restaurant 1915 is housed within a restored former boiler house. (Image: Harry Pope/Two Palms)

    Traynor credits now-closed local restaurant Igni, which opened in 2016, as the turning point for Geelong’s hospo industry. “[Aaron Turner, Igni’s chef-patron] was probably the first guy, with all due respect, to raise the bar food-wise for Geelong,” he says. “People now treat it really seriously, and there’s clearly a market for it.” While Igni is gone, Turner now helms a string of other notable Geelong venues, including The Hot Chicken Project and Tacos y Liquor, all within the buzzy, street art-speckled laneways of the CBD’s Little Malop Street Precinct. Many others have also popped up in Igni’s wake, including Federal Mills’ own restaurant, 1915. Housed within the cavernous boiler house, 1915’s interior is dramatic: soaring, vaulted ceilings with timber beams, exposed brick, a huge arched window. The share plates echo the space’s bold character, playing with contrast and texture, with dishes such as a compressed watermelon tataki, the sweet, juicy squares tempered by salty strands of fried leeks, and charred, smoky snow peas dusted with saganaki on a nutty bed of romesco. 

    Woolstore
    The Woolstore is a new restaurant and bar housed within a century-old warehouse. (Image: Amy Carlon)

     The Woolstore, one of The Hamilton Group’s most recent hospo projects, opened in February. It occupies a century-old riverside warehouse and exudes a more sultry, fine dining ambience. Much like Federal Mills, the blueprint was to preserve the original brickwork, tallowwood flooring and nods to the building’s former life. That same careful consideration extends to the well-versed, affable waitstaff as well as the kitchen. Head chef Eli Grubb is turning out an eclectic mix of ambitious and indulgent mod Oz dishes that deliver: strikingly tender skewers of chicken tsukune, infused with hints of smoke from the parrilla grill, and glazed with a moreish, sweet gochujang ‘jam’; nduja arancini fragrant with hints of aniseed and the earthy lick of sunny saffron aioli; and golden squares of potato pavé, adorned with tiny turrets of crème fraîche, crisp-fried saltbush leaves, and Avruga caviar, to name but a few stand-out dishes.  

    Woolstore menu
    Woolstore’s menu is designed for sharing.

    Breathing new life into historic spaces  

    On the city’s fringe, hidden down a winding side road with little fanfare, lies a long-dormant site that’s being gently revived. Built from locally quarried bluestone and brick, and dating back to the 1870s, the complex of original tin-roofed mill buildings is lush with greenery and backs onto the Barwon River and Buckley Falls; the audible rush of water provides a soothing soundtrack. Fyansford Paper Mill is one of few complexes of its time to survive intact. It feels steeped in history and spellbindingly rustic.  

    “We were looking for an old industrial place that had some charm and romance to it,” explains Sam Vogel, the owner, director and winemaker at Provenance Wines which moved here in 2018. When he first viewed the building with his former co-owner, it was in such a state of disrepair that the tradie tenant occupying the space had built a shed within it to escape the leaking roof and freezing winter temperatures. “To say it was run down would be an understatement,” he notes. “There was ivy growing through the place; the windows were all smashed. It was a classic Grand Designs project.” 

    Provenance Wines
    Provenance Wines moved to Fyansford Paper Mill in 2018. (Image: Cameron Murray Photography)

    The team has since invested more than a million dollars into their new home. Where paper processing machinery once sat, wine barrels are now stacked. Vaulted cathedral ceilings are strung with festoon lights, and hidden in plain sight lies a shadowy mural by local street artist de rigueur Rone – one of only three permanent works by the artist.

    While the award-winning, cool-climate pinot noir, riesling and chardonnay naturally remain a key draw at Provenance, the winery’s restaurant is a destination in itself. Impressed already by whipsmart service, I devour one of the most cleverly curated and faultlessly executed degustations I’ve had in some time. It’s all prepared in a kitchen that is proudly zero-waste, and committed to providing seasonal, ethical and locally sourced meat and produce under head chef Nate McIver. Think free-range venison served rare with a syrupy red wine jus and a half-moon of neon-orange kosho, shokupan with a deeply savoury duck fat jus (a modern Japanese take on bread and drippings), and a golden potato cake adorned with a colourful confetti of dehydrated nasturtiums and tomato powder, and planted atop a sea urchin emulsion.  

    handcrafted pieces
    Bell’s handcrafted functional pieces on display.

    The complex is home to a coterie of independent businesses, including a gallery, a jeweller, and its latest tenant, ceramicist Elizabeth Bell, drawn here by the building’s “soul”. “There’s so much potential for these buildings to have new life breathed into them,” says Bell, whose studio is housed within the old pump room. “Even people in Geelong don’t know we’re here,” she says. “It’s definitely a destination, but I like that. It has a really calming atmosphere.”  

    A Melbourne transplant, Bell now feels at home in Geelong, which offers something Melbourne didn’t. “If this business was in Melbourne I don’t think it would’ve been as successful,” she notes. “It’s very collaborative in Geelong, and I don’t think you get that as much in Melbourne; you’re a bit more in it for yourself. Here it’s about community over competition.”  

    Elizabeth Bell
    Ceramicist Elizabeth Bell has a store in Fyansford Paper Mill.