Best Secret Beaches in Australia

Some of our favourite secret beaches in Australia

Here’s a list of our 10 favourite secret beaches in Australia. Some of these are almost completely isolated, while others see a small trickle of visitors every year. Grab your beach towels, put on some sunscreen, and head out to spend some quality time with the lapping waves and warm sand!

Somers Beach, Victoria

This 3 km-long beach is an integral part of Somers, a peaceful town on the Mornington Peninsula. Overlooking Phillip Island, it stretches to the east from Merrick’s Creek and is divided into three zones. The first is where the Somers Beach Foreshore Reserve and the Somers Yacht Club are. Further down is the South Beach, and beyond that, a nameless stretch of sand referred to simply as ‘the eastern section.’ You might be surprised to know that despite being quite small, Somers Beach has a designated leash-free dog zone!

The beach can be divided into about 22 sections, and of these, only Seaspray, Woodside Beach, and the Lakes Entrance area are patrolled – so you should only take a dip if you are a regular swimmer. Of course, walking on the golden-orange sand, with the view of some sand-covered reefs across the water, is a treat in itself. If you’re into surf fishing, you never want to leave as this place will draw you in like a fish on a hook

On the busier parts of the beach, you might be even able to go camping, whale watching, or surfing. You’ll also have a great view of the stars once the sun sets.

Boomerang Beach, New South Wales

Boomerang Beach is actually the name of not only a beach, but also the coastal village closest to it. Located to the north of Sydney, the beach is practically within the Booti Booti National Park. If you spend enough time looking out at the adjacent waters, you are sure to catch glimpses of whales and dolphins! The water isn’t calm enough for amateur swimmers and snorkelers, but it’s ideal if you want to go surfing – especially on the northern side. This is largely thanks to the local ocean swells, which are known as the Blueys.

Lifeguards patrol the beach in the summer, but during the rest of the year, the beach is left almost forgotten. We’d suggest you visit primarily for some peaceful beachside lounging or whale-watching. If you must get into the water, make sure you have experienced swimmers in your group.

Coral Bay Beaches, Western Australia

Where can you swim with sharks without getting attacked? At Coral Bay, of course! Or, to be precise, at the Ningaloo Marine Park just offshore, where tourists go to see whale sharks. The park is also home to other beautiful species including manta rays, turtles, humpback whales, dugongs and sea birds.

When you finish marvelling at the marine wildlife and get back to shore, find one of the bay’s many beaches and settle down for a magical evening in the midst of nature. Since most visitors are drawn to the park, the beaches aren’t really crowded, especially if you do some scouting in advance.

On the busier parts of the beach, you might be even able to go camping, whale watching, or surfing. You’ll also have a great view of the stars once the sun sets.

Ninety Mile Beach, Victoria

Spanning 150 km from Port Albert to Lakes Entrance, Ninety Mile Beach is one of the world’s longest uninterrupted beaches. To the south and east, it faces the Bass Strait, and to the north and west, it is backed by three lakes: Lake King, Lake Victoria, and Lake Wellington. In fact, it is part of the Gippsland Lakes Coastal Park.

The beach can be divided into about 22 sections, and of these, only Seaspray, Woodside Beach, and the Lakes Entrance area are patrolled – so you should only take a dip if you are a regular swimmer. Of course, walking on the golden-orange sand, with the view of some sand-covered reefs across the water, is a treat in itself. If you’re into surf fishing, you never want to leave as this place will draw you in like a fish on a hook.

On the busier parts of the beach, you might be even able to go camping, whale watching, or surfing. You’ll also have a great view of the stars once the sun sets.

Alexandria Bay, Queensland

Tucked away between Hell’s Gate and Devil’s Kitchen, the beaches on Alexandria Bay are anything but infernal. They are, however, filled with amazing sunbathing spots. Like most of the beaches on our list, these too are mostly unpatrolled, so it goes without saying that you should swim with caution (and company).

If you go snorkelling or diving here, you will find plenty of sea sponges and corals on the seafloor. Once you decide to get out of the water, you can dry off, bask in the heat and then explore the neighbouring Noosa National Park, which is famous for its koala population.

1770 Beach, Queensland

The village of Seventeen Seventy sits on the spot where, in May 1770, explorer James Cook landed in Australia for the second time. Today, the village is home to around a hundred people who are extremely proud of their heritage and prouder of their beach.

Swimming in the placid waters of the 1770 Beach is a soothing experience. As is sitting on the warm sand and watching the sunset – which, by the way, is a rare sight on Australia’s east coast! If you make your plans in advance, you may be able to book a beach shack for a couple of nights. While you’re here, be sure to buy a ferry ticket to one of the many islands on the Great Barrier Reef, which is just 90 minutes away by sea.

Little Manly Beach, Victoria

Peering out of the Little Manly Cove is Little Manly Beach, a small and unassuming stretch of sand on the Sydney harbour. This beach gained a lot of attention in the late 1800s when the British built a men’s bath on the western end. If you visit, that’s the first thing you’ll want to check out., The eastern end has a boat ramp that can be quite fun to watch (and maybe even use).

The water is quite shallow, and there’s even a fence to zone off the swimming area. The beach also has a kiosk, playground and picnic area, so if you have kids, you can rest assured that they will be kept engaged while you hire a guide to take you snorkelling or bushwalking. On weekends and school holidays, you might run into schoolkids on a tour, but most of the time, you’ll have the place to yourself.

Cape Leveque, Western Australia

The Cape Leveque region, located in the northern part of Western Australia, is owned and managed by the Aboriginal tribe known as the Bardi Jawi. Of its beaches, the best, in our opinion, is the Western Beach at Kooljaman, with its tangerine cliffs, pearly white sand and turquoise waters. In addition to its stunning rock formations, this beach also has a local-run restaurant and an old lighthouse.

Camping spots and beach shacks are available most of the time, as are a number of beach activities. You can go diving, join a tour to learn more about Bardi Jawi history, or catch some fish, but do not get in the water, because saltwater crocodiles show up from time to time.

Coral Bay Beaches, Western Australia

Where can you swim with sharks without getting attacked? At Coral Bay, of course! Or, to be precise, at the Ningaloo Marine Park just offshore, where tourists go to see whale sharks. The park is also home to other beautiful species including manta rays, turtles, humpback whales, dugongs and sea birds.

When you finish marvelling at the marine wildlife and get back to shore, find one of the bay’s many beaches and settle down for a magical evening in the midst of nature. Since most visitors are drawn to the park, the beaches aren’t really crowded, especially if you do some scouting in advance.

Cactus Beach, South Australia

This beach is known as Cactus Beach because of the jagged, sharp cliffs along its coastline. When you drive here from the town of Penong, situated to the north, you won’t find any signs for travellers, so be sure to periodically check Google Maps or ask a local for help. This beach is part of a Coastal Protection Reserve, so be mindful of how you treat any wildlife you come across.

As you walk or drive across one of its sandbanks, you’ll notice that the water is blue on one side and pink on the other. Gorgeous, right? The colour of the water comes primarily from its high salinity, which also draws plenty of algae and halobacteria.

The bay has three breaks – Cactus, Castles and Caves – that make it attractive to surfers, and one major rocky area (Point Sinclair) that serves as a gathering place for tourists in general. Just be sure to carry a lot of drinking water and sunscreen, because it tends to get really hot here.