Despite having over 50,000 kilometres of coastline to share, Aussies tend to flock to the same small group of beaches. From Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach to the tropical Sunshine Coast in Queensland, our most renowned stretches of sand can get really crowded during summer.
If you’re sick of competing for the best waves, we can tell you where to enjoy some blissful isolation by the sea. You may have to travel a little farther to find Australia’s best secluded beaches, but exploring undiscovered landscapes is half the fun.
Sunshine Beach – The Sunshine Coast, Queensland
With its abundance of beaches and laidback culture, it’s easy to see why tourists flock to the Sunshine Coast. While popular spots like Noosa Main Beach, Kings Beach and Currimundi Lake can get busy, it’s not impossible to escape the crowds on the Sunshine Coast.
Found on the southern side of Noosa National Park, Sunshine Beach has the advantage of being over 15 kilometres long and hidden behind a nature reserve. Even at its most busy, this secretive expanse of coastline never feels cramped, making it an ideal destination for quiet beach holidays in Australia.
Ingenia Holidays Noosa is 15 minutes’ drive from Sunshine Beach.
Dreamtime Beach – Kingscliff, New South Wales
Dreamtime Beach is one of Northern New South Wales’ best-kept secrets. Surrounded by black cliffs and dense foliage, it features low-lying sand dunes, bright blue water and white sand speckled with rock formations. To get there, you’ll need to take the walking track through Fingal Headland Reserve, an ancient coastal rainforest (the start of the walking track can be found on Lighthouse Parade).
Even though Dreamtime Beach sits just outside the bustling town of Kingscliff, its out-of-the-way location keeps the crowds away.
It takes just 5 minutes to reach Dreamtime Beach by car from Ingenia Holidays Kingscliff.
Ellis Beach – Far North Queensland
Ellis Beach is technically a town, but less than 50 people actually live there. It’s situated on the Captain Cook Highway, around 20 kilometres north of Cairns. Although it’s not that hard to find, Ellis Beach is often overshadowed by more famous destinations in Far North Queensland (the Great Barrier Reef is a hard act to follow).
Even though it’s only 5 kilometres long, this blink-and-you’ll-miss-it beach is a great place to relax. You won’t have to worry about being bothered by hordes of tourists, and there’s a net to keep swimmers safe during stinger season.
Travelling by car to Ellis Beach from Ingenia Holidays Cairns Coconut takes around 35 minutes.
Rainbow Beach – Bonny Hills, New South Wales
Rainbow Beach is as peaceful and scenic as the town it sits next to, Bonny Hills. A hidden gem of the New South Wales coast, it’s the perfect setting for a secluded escape. One end of the beach is patrolled by lifeguards, and there are plenty of picnic areas scattered along the foreshore.
The surf at Rainbow Beach can get fairly big in the right weather conditions, so it’s also a popular spot for surfers. If you’re road tripping along the New South Wales coastline, be sure to stop here for a swim.
Ingenia Holidays Bonny Hills is 10 minutes’ drive from Rainbow Beach.
Once you’ve found your favourite secret beach, make the most of the seclusion by playing these fun beach games for the whole family
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