Babe, wake up! The list of best Aussie beaches for 2025 just dropped!

 

  1. Bay of Fires, Tasmania, Palawa Country
  2. Woolgoolga, NSW, Gumbaynggir Country
  3. Emily Bay Lagoon, Norfolk Island
  4. North Kirra Beach, Queensland, Kombunerri Country
  5. Little Lagoon, WA, Malgana Country
  6. Fishery Bay, SA, Barngala Country
  7. 1770, Queensland, Gooreng Gooreng Country
  8. Scarborough Beach, WA, Whadjak Noongar Country 
  9. Caves Beach, NSW, Awabakal Country
  10. Cowes Beach, Victoria, Bunurong Country

 

Taking out the number one position in 2025 is one of Australia’s most well-known and loved beaches, the Bay of Fires on Tasmania’s East Coast. It’s the first time a Tassie beach has topped the list and the first time a group of beaches (the 10km stretch in the southern area of the Bay of Fires Conservation Reserve) has taken the gold over a single beach. 

 

Tassie's East Coast on Wheels - 5 Days of White Beaches, Waves, & Wilderness, Leigh Williams, Unsplash, Bay of Fires, ocean

Bay of Fires | Photo by Leigh Williams on Unsplash

 

‘I spent plenty of time in Tasmania assessing the beaches and in the end there were so many incredible options I couldn’t even settle on one which is why, for the first time, I’m awarding the best beach to a cluster of neighbouring beach bays in the Bay of Fires,’ said Brad Farmer AM, AKA man with the best job in the world. 

Every year, Mr Farmer, one of Tourism Australia’s Friends of Australia and lifelong conservationist, travels around the country visiting stretch after stretch of perfect sand, with the chore of whittling down a list of the top ten beaches in the country. 

With over 11,000 beaches to choose from, even visiting one beach every day would take you over 30 years to hit them all. 

 

 

Only one mainland beach made the top three, Woolgoolga on NSW’s Coffs Coast, coming in second, with Emily Bay Lagoon on Norfolk Island, one of Australia’s island territories, getting the bronze. 

Neither the ACT nor the Northern Territory featured on the best beaches list in 2025, but every state made an appearance or two. 

‘Every beach which makes the list is a winner and this year really highlights the incredible diversity of the beach offerings we have here in Australia. It really is like nowhere else in the world. In 2025 we recognise beaches of all shapes and sizes right around the country’, Mr Farmer said.

 

Feature photo thanks to Will Wardle Media

2. Woolgoolga, NSW | Photo by Liz McGinnes
3. Emily Bay Lagoon, Norfolk Island | Photo by Norfolk Island Tourism
4. North Kirra Beach, QLD | Photo by Coastal Reflections
5. Little Lagoon, WA | Photo by @theultimateaus
6. Fishery Bay, SA | Photo by Serio Photography
7. 1770, QLD | Photo by Londoner in Sydney
8. Scarborough Beach, WA | Photo by Will Wardle Media
9. Caves Beach, NSW | Photo by Lake Macquarie City
10. Cowes Beach, Victoria | Photo by Coastal Reflections

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