Blinding white sand meets azure water: These are the top 10 beaches in Australia
AUSTRALIA’S top 10 beaches have been named and they are nothing short of spectacular.
Australia's top 10 beaches have been ranked and they are picture perfect
In a country surrounded by stunning sandy views, Australians are spoilt for choice.
But the national tourism board has managed to select the beaches that shine beyond the rest.
Tourism Australia has teamed up with the coastal studies unit at the University of Sydney to find the ultimate spots along the shoreline.
The country's 101 best coastal settings have been ranked, according to factors including capacity for tourism, economy, lifestyle, leisure, surfing and play.
It’s a tough task, but some one had to do it - and these 10 beaches soared to the top of the coveted list.
Cossies Beach on the Cocos Islands was named Australia's best
1. Cossies Beach, Western Australia
This remote territory belongs to the largely untouched Cocos (Keeling) Islands.
Almost 1,000 miles off the mainland, the islands were visited by Charles Darwin back in 1836.
To describe the scene staring back at him, he wrote: "Shallow, clear and still water…under the blue vault of heaven”.
The study’s researcher, Brad Farmer, labelled Cossies Beach the “holy grail” of coastal spots.
Nudey Beach was voted the second best coastal hang out in Australia
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2. Nudey Beach, Queensland
Located on stunning Fitzroy Island in perpetually sunny Queensland, Nudey Beach is filled in by a tropical mix of sand and dead coral.
Despite its suggestive name, clothing is no longer optional at this once-nudist destination.
3. Moonee Beach, New South Wales
Midway down the New South Wales coast, Moonee Beach offers calm waters, rock pools and luscious green headland.
Fishing, boating and bushwalking make this sandy site a popular choice for family holidays.
Turquoise Bay in Western Australia came in fourth place
4. Turquoise Bay, Western Australia
The real-life postcard of Turquoise Bay effortlessly lives up to its paradisiacal moniker.
Impossibly bright waters merge into blinding white sands, offering a mecca for snorkelers and swimmers alike.
5. Burleigh Heads, Queensland
Surfers from the world over flock to Burleigh Heads for its year-round foaming waves.
With an emerging cafe culture and arms length distance from swarming Surfers Paradise, the stunning beach is the new jewel in the Gold Coast’s crown.
The sunshine state of Queensland boasts some of the clearest waters in the world.