Back to grid

Oceania's best beach destinations

Back to grid
Byron Bay
Bohemian Beaches and Laid-Back Vibes
8.3
Cape Byron Lighthouse marks the easternmost point of mainland Australia above the town's main beach. Dolphins and, in season, migrating whales are a common sight from the headland trail. Surfers fill the breaks at The Pass most mornings. Laid-back beach towns and cafes line the coast just behind the sand.
Highlights:
  • 🛶 Kayak with dolphins in the clear coastal waters
  • 🏄‍♀️ Surf the waves at Main Beach or Wategos Beach
  • 🌅 Watch sunrise at Cape Byron Lighthouse, Australia's easternmost point
Whitsunday Islands
Paradise within Great Barrier Reef
9.0
Whitehaven Beach is made almost entirely of silica sand, so fine it stays cool underfoot even at midday. Swirling patterns form where the tide pushes sand and turquoise water together at Hill Inlet. The 74 islands scatter across the Great Barrier Reef's sheltered inner waters. Sailing charters hop between the islands' beaches over several days.
Highlights:
  • 🐠 Snorkel vibrant coral reefs at Hardy and Bait Reefs
  • 🏖️ Relax on the pristine white sands of Whitehaven Beach
  • ⛵ Sail the turquoise waters between the beautiful islands
Esperance
Australia's Whitest Beaches and Turquoise Waters
8.6
Lucky Bay on Western Australia's south coast is known for sand so white it squeaks underfoot. Kangaroos regularly rest on the beach itself, unfazed by passing visitors. The water here often ranks among the clearest and bluest in the country. Cape Le Grand National Park surrounds the bay with granite headlands.
Highlights:
  • 🥾 Explore Cape Le Grand National Park’s rugged trails and beaches
  • ⛰️ Hike to Frenchman Peak for panoramic coastal views
  • 🏖️ Visit the stunning pink sands and turquoise waters of Lucky Bay
French Polynesia
Paradise of Crystal Clear Lagoons
8.9
Moorea, a short ferry ride from Tahiti, rises in steep green peaks above its own turquoise bay. Bora Bora's lagoon nearby rings Mount Otemanu with rows of overwater bungalows. Humpback whales pass through these waters each year between July and October. Black pearl farms operate in several of the islands' sheltered lagoons.
Highlights:
  • 🐠 Snorkel the coral gardens of Moorea’s turquoise lagoon
  • 🤿 Dive with sharks and manta rays in Rangiroa
  • 🏝️ Stay in an overwater bungalow above the Bora Bora lagoon
Gold Coast
Sun, Surf and Adventure
8.6
Surfers Paradise anchors the Gold Coast's skyline with high-rises rising right behind the sand. Surfers head to breaks like Snapper Rocks and Kirra further south for some of Australia's most consistent waves. Lifeguard-patrolled beaches run for more than 50 kilometres along the coast. Theme parks and rainforest hinterland sit just a short drive inland.
Highlights:
  • 🌇 Climb the Q1 SkyPoint for sweeping coastal views
  • 🎢 Ride thrilling roller coasters at Warner Bros. Movie World
  • 🏄‍♂️ Surf the legendary waves at Surfers Paradise Beach
Bora Bora
Turquoise Lagoons, Overwater Dreams
8.4
Bora Bora's lagoon rings the jagged peak of Mount Otemanu, the remnant of an extinct volcano. Overwater bungalows line coral islets just off the main island's shore. Glass floor panels in many rooms let guests watch reef fish pass below. Snorkellers can drift among coral gardens just steps from their own deck.
Highlights:
  • 🚤 Take a private boat tour around Mount Otemanu
  • 🏝️ Stay overnight in a classic overwater bungalow
  • 🐠 Snorkel crystal-clear lagoon with rays and tropical fish
Broome
Pearl Coast Sunsets and Red Earth
6.8
Cable Beach stretches 22 kilometres of white sand along Broome's Indian Ocean coast. Camel trains file across the sand each evening as the sun sets over the water. The beach takes its name from a telegraph cable laid to Java back in 1889. Four-wheel drives are allowed on parts of the beach at low tide.
Highlights:
  • ⚓ Learn pearling history at the Pearl Luggers Museum
  • 🌕 Watch the Staircase to the Moon phenomenon
  • 🐪 Ride a camel along Cable Beach at sunset
Ningaloo Coast
Australia's Accessible Underwater Wonderland
9.1
Whale sharks gather along the Ningaloo Reef each year between March and July, drawing snorkellers worldwide. The reef sits close enough to shore that swimmers can reach the coral in a few strokes. Manta rays pass through the same waters on a similar seasonal pattern. Turquoise Bay's current carries swimmers gently along the reef's edge.
Highlights:
  • 🏞️ Explore Cape Range National Park’s rugged gorges
  • 🤿 Snorkel vibrant coral reefs from sandy beaches
  • 🦈 Swim with gentle whale sharks off the coast
Cook Islands
Tropical paradise with year-round warmth
8.1
Muri Lagoon on Rarotonga stays shallow and calm enough to wade to several small motu islands at low tide. Glass-bottom boats glide over coral gardens just offshore. Kayaks and paddleboards are easy to rent right on the beach. The lagoon's turquoise water rarely drops below bath temperature.
Highlights:
  • 🛵 Explore Rarotonga’s lush jungle trails by scooter
  • 🐠 Snorkel over coral gardens filled with tropical fish
  • 🌊 Swim in the turquoise lagoon of Aitutaki
Federated States of Micronesia
Scattered paradise with tropical diversity
7.5
World War II shipwrecks rest on the seafloor of Chuuk Lagoon, drawing wreck divers from around the world. Coral and sponges now cover the sunken hulls of an entire Japanese fleet. Mangrove channels wind through several islands near the coast. Traditional stone money still stands on parts of Yap as a cultural landmark.
Highlights:
  • 💰 Explore the ancient stone money on Yap Island
  • 🪼 Swim among giant jellyfish in Palau’s Lake
  • 🏛️ Visit the UNESCO-listed Nan Madol ruins, the "Venice of the Pacific"
Fiji
Tropical paradise with diverse landscapes
8.2
The Mamanuca Islands scatter small coral cays across turquoise water west of Fiji's main island. Cloudbreak, a reef pass nearby, draws surfers chasing some of the Pacific's best waves. Village stays on smaller islands offer a quieter alternative to the resort-lined beaches. Manta rays pass through certain channels on a predictable seasonal schedule.
Highlights:
  • 🐠 Explore the underwater coral gardens at Rainbow Reef
  • 🏖️ Relax on the pristine sands of Natadola Beach
  • 🌊 Snorkel in the crystal-clear waters of the Mamanuca Islands
New Caledonia
Tropical Paradise with French Flair
8.0
New Caledonia's lagoon is one of the largest in the world, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Isle of Pines takes its name from native pine trees that line its beaches. Natural swimming pools form in shallow coral basins near Oro Bay. Snorkellers can spot sea turtles and dugongs in the surrounding reef.
Highlights:
  • 🏝️ Swim in the turquoise waters of the Natural Pool at Île des Pins
  • 🏛️ Explore Kanak culture at Jean-Marie Tjibaou Cultural Centre
  • 🌅 Climb to the top of Amédée Lighthouse for stunning views
Tasmania
Wilderness, Wildlife and Wild Coasts
8.7
Wineglass Bay curves into a perfect arc of white sand on Tasmania's Freycinet Peninsula. A lookout trail climbs through granite boulders for a view of the bay's curve from above. The water here stays cold year-round, fed by currents from the Southern Ocean. Wallabies and echidnas often wander the trails near the beach.
Highlights:
  • 🏛️ Tour the convict ruins at Port Arthur Historic Site
  • ⛰️ Explore Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park trails
  • 🏖️ Hike to Wineglass Bay and marvel at its white sand
Kangaroo Island
Wildlife, Wonders and Rugged Coast
8.6
Seal Bay lets visitors walk along the sand among a colony of wild Australian sea lions. Rangers lead small groups close enough to watch the animals nap and play in the surf. Remarkable Rocks, a cluster of wind-sculpted granite boulders, sits a short drive away. Much of the island's wildlife roams freely across its beaches.
Highlights:
  • 🦭 Swim with playful sea lions at Seal Bay
  • 🪨 Marvel at the Remarkable Rocks and their surreal formations
  • 🦘 See wild kangaroos and koalas roaming freely at Flinders Chase
Marshall Islands
Remote atolls with pristine waters
7.5
Bikini Atoll's lagoon hides the sunken remains of ships used in Cold War-era nuclear tests. Wreck divers now explore the aircraft carriers and battleships resting on the seafloor. Majuro's lagoon, calmer and shallower, offers easier swimming and snorkelling. Coconut palms and low coral islets ring most of the country's 29 atolls.
Highlights:
  • 🐠 Snorkel vibrant coral reefs teeming with tropical fish
  • 🏖️ Relax on the pristine beaches of Majuro Atoll
  • 🤿 Dive at Bikini Atoll to explore historic WWII shipwrecks
Palau
Pristine paradise with underwater wonders
8.3
Jellyfish Lake on Eil Malk Island lets snorkellers swim among millions of harmless golden jellyfish. The creatures migrate across the lake daily, drifting with the sun. Palau's Rock Islands scatter hundreds of mushroom-shaped limestone formations across turquoise water. Sunken World War II wrecks rest nearby, now covered in coral.
Highlights:
  • 🛶 Paddle a kayak through Palau’s turquoise Rock Islands
  • 🤿 Dive into the stunning Blue Corner reef
  • 🌊 Swim among harmless jellyfish in Jellyfish Lake
Tonga
Tropical paradise with volcanic islands
7.8
Humpback whales migrate to Tonga's warm waters each year to calve and nurse their young. Swimmers can join guided tours to snorkel alongside them under strict local rules. Vava'u's coral reefs and sheltered anchorages draw sailors from across the Pacific. Limestone caves along the coast hide freshwater pools reachable by boat or a short swim.
Highlights:
  • 🌊 Discover blowholes at Mapu'a 'a Vaea coast
  • 🗿 Explore the ancient Ha'amonga 'a Maui Trilithon
  • 🐋 Swim with humpback whales in Ha'apai waters
Kiribati
Remote Pacific paradise with atolls
6.1
Kiribati spreads 33 coral atolls across a stretch of the Pacific wider than the continental United States. Christmas Island, the largest coral atoll on Earth, draws anglers for its bonefish flats. Most of the nation's land sits barely two metres above sea level. Outer islands remain reachable only by boat or small charter plane.
Highlights:
  • ⚓ Visit the WWII relics scattered across South Tarawa
  • 🐠 Snorkel among vibrant coral reefs in Tarawa Lagoon
  • 🌅 Watch the sunrise at the world’s earliest time zone
Great Barrier Reef
World's largest living coral wonder
The Great Barrier Reef stretches over 2,300 kilometres along Australia's northeast coast, the largest living structure on Earth. Whitehaven Beach, within the reef's Whitsunday Islands, is made almost entirely of silica sand. Snorkellers and divers reach coral gardens directly from several island beaches. Clownfish, turtles and reef sharks are common sights just below the surface.
Highlights:
  • 🚁 Fly over the reef to spot the Heart Reef
  • 🤿 Take a scuba dive at the outer reef
  • 🐠 Snorkel among colorful coral gardens and tropical fish
Feedback