Move over Bondi: Surprising beaches named Australia's best

Kristine Tarbert
·Features and Health Editor
New year's day at famous Bondi beach, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
A busy day at the famous Bondi beach, Sydney. Photo: Getty

Australia is blessed with thousands of kilometres of pristine coastline and world-famous beaches.

But while the likes of Bondi Beach in Sydney and Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast continue to draw huge crowds of both tourists and locals, neither have been named in Australia’s best beaches for 2019.

Tourism Australia ambassador Brad Farmer, who has been reviewing beaches worldwide for more than 35 years, has listed Australia’s 20 Best Beaches for 2019 with Cabarita Beach, found between Byron Bay and the Gold Coast, taking out the number one spot.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAA view of Cabarita Beach, Far North New South Wales, Australia
Cabarita Beach has been named best beach in Australia for 2019.

Coming in second is Currumbin Beach in Queensland, with a small, secret spot in Minnamurra, NSW taking out third place.

But some of the most surprising inclusion on this year’s list are beaches that aren’t even on the coast.

Wagga Beach, in the NSW regional town of Wagga Wagga five hours southwest of Sydney, has placed ninth overall. With Lake McKenzie on Queensland’s Fraser Island coming in 10th.

WAGGA WAGGA, AUSTRALIA - MAY 05: A group of men congregate in the waters of Wagga Beach on the Murrumbidgee River on May 05, 2019 in Wagga Wagga, Australia. Wagga Wagga is a major regional city in the Riverina region of New South Wales, with a population of more than 54,000 at the 2016 census. Wagga Wagga is the state's largest inland city and is an important agricultural, military, and transport hub of Australia. (Photo by Jenny Evans/Getty Images)
The historical Wagga Beach is loved by locals. Photo: Getty

Brad said in a statement he thought it was high time “we extend the meaning of a beach”.

“Given there are so many aquatic environments across Australia’s interior. These water spaces which often rely on rain and flow are significant as they socially connect rural and remote communities in often dusty and dry, drought conditions,” he said.

The top-20 Australian beaches:

1. Cabarita (NSW)

2. Currumbin (QLD)

3. Minnamurra (NSW)

4. Maria Island (TAS)

5. Cape Tribulation (QLD)

6. Brighton Beach (VIC)

7. Bettys Beach (WA)

8. South Port Beach (SA)

9. Wagga Wagga Beach (NSW)

10. Lake McKenzie (QLD)

11. The Basin, Rottnest Island (WA)

12. Fingal Bay (NSW)

13. Smiths Beach (WA)

14. Neds Beach, Lord Howe Island (NSW)

15. Quobba Station Red Bluff (WA)

16. Cossies Beach (IOT)

17. Lake Tyers Beach (VIC)

18. Diamond Head (NSW)

19. Pondalowie Bay (SA)

20. Killiecrankie Beach, Flinders Island (TAS)

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