Australia's Hidden Beaches and Secret Spots Locals Love

Bondi Beach is genuinely beautiful and worth visiting — but it is also one of the most photographed beaches in the world, and in summer it reflects that. Australia has thousands of beaches along its coastline, and some of the best ones are known almost exclusively to locals and the tourists who specifically seek them out.

Hyams Beach in New South Wales holds a Guinness World Record for the whitest sand — it's blinding in sunlight and the water is the kind of Caribbean turquoise you don't expect to find in a temperate climate. The beaches around the Yorke Peninsula in South Australia are pristine and rarely crowded. Tasmania's Wineglass Bay is consistently rated one of the most beautiful beaches in the world and is genuinely that good.

This guide covers eight secret and semi-secret beaches across Australia, with practical information about how to get there and the best time to visit.

We're building out our full destination guides. In the meantime, if you're planning a trip to Australia, start with your visa — we've got the full cost breakdown and document checklist ready.