The best 'secret' beaches in Australia where you can get a huge stretch of sand to yourself
Sometimes going to the beach in summer feels like a constant battle - dodging Cool Cabanas, trying to drown out other people's music... and don't even mention trying to find a car park.
That's why, when you find a beach that's truly off the radar, it's worth travelling just that little bit further to visit.
Lonely Planet has compiled a list of Australia's 100 best beaches, and among the usual suspects (Bondi, Burleigh, etc.) they've also highlighted the country's best 'secret' beaches.
These idyllic escapes are remote and unknown, where you'll often be able to stake out a huge stretch of sand to yourself.
Read on to see which 12 beaches made the list.
Lonely Planet's Best Beaches Australia is available from shop.lonelyplanet.com or in bookstores.
Wharton Beach, WA
This is what desktop backgrounds are made of: bright turquoise water, blindingly white sand, and scrub-covered dunes make this WA beach simply perfect.
It's popular in summer (both with people and with the pods of dolphins swimming in the waves), but is secluded enough that it never gets busy.
Nudey Beach, QLD
Found on Fitzroy Island, Lonely Planet calls this stretch of sand "a classic tropical‐island experience just 45 minutes from Cairns".
It's only accessible by a 1.2km walking track from the ferry wharf, so it rarely gets busy.
PS, don't worry, it's not a clothing-optional beach, despite its name.
Landing Beach, TAS
No sand, freezing cold water, and a high chance of rain every day.
It doesn't seem like this beach on Macquarie Island should be on this list, but it's pretty spectacular in its own right.
This World Heritage–listed wildlife sanctuary is home to countless fur seals, four million penguins, 90,000 elephant seals, and an estimated 3.5 million seabirds.
As it's about halfway to Antarctica, the only way to visit there as a tourist is to join a small‐ship expedition cruise.
Emily Bay Beach, Norfolk Island
Norfolk Island may only be 8km long and 5km wide, but it packs an absolute punch for travellers who love the great outdoors.
Emily Bay Beach is clear and warm all year round, and a good spot for snorkelling if you swim out to the reef.
It's not easy to get to - Norfolk Island is about 1400km east of Byron Bay. Flights to the island depart from Brisbane, Sydney, and Auckland.
The Basin, WA
Rottnest Island has many stunning beaches, but if you want to escape the crowds, The Basin is your best bet.
The natural rock pool is "so clear and calm it feels like slipping into a cool salty bath," according to Lonely Planet.
It's also a ten-minute walk from the main town so you don't even have to stray too far to find it.
Seventy Mile Beach, QLD
As its name may suggest, this beach is looooong. Spanning the entire east coast of K'Gari, it is popular with 4WDers who are permitted to drive on the sand.
It's also a great spot for camping and spotting wildlife.
Because it's so long, it's easy to find a secluded spot to yourself.
Misery Beach, WA
Don't be put off by the name, which was bestowed upon this beach thanks to the whaling station that once operated nearby.
Nowadays, Misery Beach is a low-key stretch of sand with calm waters for swimming and snorkelling.
In fact, it's so good that it was named Australia's Best Beach in 2022 by Tourism Australia.
Wreck Beach, VIC
This beach can only be visited at low tide - as the water rises, the beach vanishes, leaving nothing but a precarious rock shelf.
Accessed by a steep staircase, the 2km-long beach is home to two different shipwrecks. It's too rough to swim here, but is a great place for a walk among history.
Hopground Beach, TAS
This stretch of sand on Maria Island is Lonely Planet's pick thanks to its unique history and wildlife.
It's home to the Darlington Probation Station, a convict settlement founded in 1825 - now a heritage-listed site with ruins you can explore.
Hopground Beach is also the island's campsite, where you can pitch a tent just metres from the sand, and sleep alongside wombats and pademelons.
