10 Best Beaches on the East Coast of Australia (that Aren’t Islands)

If you have not been to Australia yet, there are so many reasons for it to be on your list.

Australia has almost every landscape you could think of, and they all rank pretty high amongst the most beautiful in the world.

Mountains, lakes, deserts, beaches, and rainforests are amongst the most well-known features of Australia.

Australia is home to over 10,000 beaches that can be accessed by the public. There is simply no way for anyone to be able to see all of these beaches! (though this would be a challenge most of us would accept) The best way to see everything that Australia has to offer is to travel the country in full.

Break this down into Eastern and Western Australia, and you can start to narrow down and research what you want to do on each side.

No matter what, you are guaranteed to hit a beach, or two, or ten! The beautiful beaches of Australia are so hard to list and compare, but there are some that you should check out more than others!

Traveling to Australia can be a big task, but if you plan correctly you can travel and save some money!

By planning which beach spots you may want to visit before you go, you may have a better idea of how to plan your travel route. It is so easy to plan way more than you can handle, so be sure to narrow your itinerary down to a reasonable amount of activities.

Keep in mind the best of the best things that you want to see, so you know you are getting the most value out of your time.

The East Coast of Australia is a bit more well-known to people from other countries. The East Coast contains Sydney, some parts going into Melbourne, Gold Coast, Brisbane, and Cairns – which holds the Great Barrier Reef!

Breaking down the beaches of the east coast of Australia is no easy task, so it has been narrowed down even more. This list of best beaches contains only the best beaches on the mainland of Eastern Australia, no islands!

Many parts of Eastern Australia have the opportunity to take ferries or boats out to smaller islands that are basically attached to the continent. (Some famous islands you may have heard of could be Fraser Island, Morton Island, Whitehaven Island) These beaches are of course stunning, they are islands!

Lastly, the beaches on this list are specific beaches within some larger, well-known areas.

For example, Sunshine Coast is the home to multiple beaches on the Eastern Coast of Australia, it is these smaller beaches within the Sunshine Coast area that are on this list.

The Eastern Coast of Australia is made up of two states, Queensland and New South Wales.

Victoria can sometimes be considered the east as well, but it does not necessarily start until the southeastern tip of Australia, so no Victoria beaches will be on this list.

Queensland (QLD) is the northernmost state and New South Wales (NSW) is the southernmost on the East Coast of Australia.

The country is surrounded by three of the most beautiful oceans: the Tasman Sea, the Coral Sea, and the Indian Ocean.

Every beach has different a different water tint, sand texture, and overall appeal!

In addition, some beaches are next to rainforests, some are next to bars, some are next to cliffs, and some are just in the middle of a cove.

All of these factors go into ranking the best beach on the East Coast of Australia!

Ranking Factors for Best Beaches

Four factors are going into the ranking of the best east coast beaches of Australia: overall appearance and scenery, activities available within walking distance, nearby break spots, and tendency to be over-crowded.

It is important for a beach to be visually appealing, the best beaches on this list are going to have beautiful clear water, white sand, and other natural landscapes to look at while sitting on the beach.

Secondly, there should be something else to casually do at the beach besides sit on the sand or go in the ocean. Whether this is walking through a nearby trail or being a good snorkeling spot, there should be something to help entertain you.

Third, there needs to be easy access to a change of scenery. If you have a person with you that can’t sit still, but you love the spot- you need to take a break!

This can mean getting out of the sun to go shopping, get food, or even a cocktail!

All of the best beaches have a spot to easily take a quick break at.

And lastly, the beach cannot be overcrowded.

Too many people mean too much noise, less personal space, and usually overall less relaxing for you.

The best beaches on the Eastern Coast of Australia are aesthetic, fun, easy-going, and relaxing. It almost sounds like we are looking for a spouse!

Top 10 East Coast Australian Beaches

10. Ellis Beach, QLD

Ellis Beach is the northernmost beach on this list!

Located above Cairns, this beach is a secluded hideaway with a few unique tendencies- landing it on this list. Ellis Beach has a wonderful break spot close by, Ellis Beach Bar and Grill.

Who doesn’t love some barbeque after a swim? In addition, it is a local hidden gem.

Being the most northern beach that has lifeguards and jellyfish nets, it is about as far north on the east coast that you can safely swim!

Ellis Beach has the break spot factor, seclusion factor but it is not so high as high up on the activities and overall aesthetic factors.

Being in a cove, the beach is a bit smaller and it is usually a relaxation beach more than an activity beach. If you are looking for a hidden gem to relax at with crystal clear blue water- this may be your jam!

This is a wonderful east coast beach in Australia that deserves some attention!

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9. Manly Beach, NSW

Manly Beach is located near Sydney and is a great beach with a lot of break spots and activities available. Manly is a breath of fresh air, quite literally, from the big city of Sydney.

Home to many surfers, Manly has waves and the option for many day trips. With a ferry ride that can take you by the Opera House and Bondi Beach, there is definitely plenty to do.

Not to mention, the boardwalk is full of restaurants, bars, and shops nearby.

The only reason Manly is not higher up on this list of best east coast Australia beaches is that the sand is not as pretty as others, swimming can be difficult, and due to the boardwalk, the beach may be overcrowded.

But, this is definitely a one-of-a-kind beach offering a lot of activities!

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8. Bondi Beach, NSW

Located super close to Manly, Bondi is an iconic Sydney beach spot. It is absolutely a must-do beach on the East Coast of Australia because of its sheer uniqueness. Because Bondi is not necessarily a normal beach, it cannot be the best beach in Australia but it is very worthy of this spot within the top 10.

The beach is so visually aesthetic, the water bright blue and sand pure white. The actual beach is situated on a few rocks, where there are two pools.

One of which is the famous Bondi Iceberg Pool. The ocean water overflows into this pool, where many beach-goers go.

This beach is so popular, if you go on a weekend you are almost guaranteed to find a large number of people and a lot of people going in and out. This is a great stop-by but it is not the best destination for a relaxing day at the beach.

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7. Broken Head Beach, NSW

Broken Head Beach is basically a less-known version of the popular Byron Bay.

Broken Head is a beautiful spot that has a lot of things to look at, and if you come prepared you can surf, boogie board, or play games on the soft beach.

The best thing about Broken Head Beach is the surroundings. Broken Head is surrounded by cliffs, cliff walks, and rainforests. The beach itself is beautiful, but there are also plenty of other surroundings to look at.

A bit of a drive away is Byron and a lot of small cafes. Broken Head is usually pretty secluded, but weekends may get busier with families who live nearby.

The beauty of the landscapes and seclusion is landing Broken Head on this list of best beaches on the East Coast of Australia!

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6. Hyams Beach, NSW

Hyams Beach is about three hours south of Sydney, closer to Victoria, and the southernmost beach on this list. This beach is probably the best beach when it comes to looks. The sand has the whitest beach in the world in the Guinness World Records.

The water is situated in Jervis Bay, which combines two beautiful blue hues of watercolor.

This beach, in addition, at the right time of year can be a spot for whale watching and snorkeling! So there are whales, snorkeling, and beautiful beaches and it doesn’t seem to be overpopulated or too well-known.

There is just one issue when ranking it to be the best – there is nothing around it! For some, this may be great, but for others, this is just not ideal. The beach is far from residences even, it is just a hidden shore behind some trees.

Hyams is a well-deserved spot for its beauty alone, but the beach full package isn’t here!

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5. Palm Cove, QLD

Just north of Cairns and many beautiful resorts, Palm Cove is a very secluded beach where not too many people will know about. The beach area has, you guessed it, a lot of palm trees.

Situated right on the beach area with the smooth sand, the palm trees are great to look at, but also provide an ample amount of shade.

Palm Cove is the perfect place to park a beach blanket and relax. In addition, there are paddleboard and kayak rentals right on the beach, for cheap prices!

The nearby town is not a walking distance, but just a short drive with countrywide well-known restaurants.

While all the activities are not right at your fingertips and the restaurants and shops nearby are a bit of a hop and skip away, the water is crystal clear and the Great Barrier Reef is nearby!

Totally deserving of spot number 5 on the best east coast beaches.

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4. Wategos Beach, NSW

Also a beach very close to Byron Bay, Wategos is a perfect small-town beach with a lot of things to do close by. Wategos is a beach with some free-standing rocks, which makes it great for snorkeling and diving.

The water is a turquoise color and in the background of the ocean are mountains and the infamous Byron Bay Lighthouse. A nature walk along the rocks will take you to the lighthouse and you may see a few pop-up shops as well.

All in all, Wategos has all four factors: beauty, activities on the beach, nearby break spots and it is mildly secluded.

3. Tweed Heads, NSW

Right in the middle of the continent is Tweed Heads. Just barely crossing over into New South Wales, Tweed Heads is usually a stopover for most on a road trip, but this can easily be a fun beach day.

Tweed Heads Beach is below a cliff where beachgoers must park atop. At the top of the cliff is a monument showcasing the two states separating and a perfect little cafe, bar, and art gallery combined into one.

The beach itself is in a small cove, making it a nice swimming spot and surfing spot for those interested. The view on the beach is one of the Gold Coast skyscraper skylines in the distance, with beautiful water, and cliffs. The perfect day could be spent here swimming, walking along the cliff, and in the gallery cafe.

The best part about this beach is that it is easily secluded. This beach is so well-deserved as one of the best beaches in Australia, beyond the east coast.

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2. Noosa Heads, QLD

Noosa, Noosa, Noosa! This is a MUST. This beach is so different than any other beach you will go to, and in the best way possible.

The elegant town of Noosa itself is one you should visit anyway, the beach you could go to multiple days in a row and have a different experience.

One of the best parts of Noosa is the Fairy Pools. The beach runs along a cliff/ rainforest/ national park. You can access the beach from any point in the national park, there is a trail taking you from Main Beach around the cliff.

On all the beaches within this park, the sand is lush and the waves are fun, but not dangerous.

Within this beach, on the cliff walk, you can come across fairy pools, these are a perfect break spot and activity all in one. They are little pools of water in between gaps of the cliffs that you can swim in! The Noosa Main Beach has ice cream shops, boutiques, and bars behind it.

Noosa Heads is the best beach for exploring, activities, relaxing, surfing, swimming, and general Australian beach vibes.

The only reason Noosa Heads is not #1 is that it can get a bit crowded.

There are only a few fairy pools and if you have to share them with other people, it may become a bit crowded!

But, nonetheless, this is one of the best beaches on the Australian East Coast.

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1. Burleigh Heads, QLD

Making it as number one of the best east coast beaches in Australia is Burleigh Heads Beach on the Gold Coast!

The Gold Coast is known for being a city on a beach, which is a sight to see in itself. At the bottom of the Gold Coast, away from the bustling city life is Burleigh Heads.

The best thing about Burleigh Heads is that it is two different beaches in one.

You have Burleigh Heads Beach, then Burleigh Heads National Park leads you to Tallebudgera Creek.

Australia has some of the prettiest lakes and creeks along with its oceans. Burleigh Heads brings you everything you could possibly want.

White sand, bluest of blue water, a nature park element with trees and amazing lookouts, a secluded creek, and bars, restaurants, and boutiques behind the main beach.

Burleigh Heads truly has all of the elements of a great beach, to the fullest extent. The beach, national park, and creek are all some of the most visually appealing in Australia.

The National Park has multiple hikes to do for activities, not to mention there is a surf school on the main beach.

There are plenty of break spots in restaurants, bars, shops, or at the creek, and the multiple layers of this beach create little secluded nooks and crannies everywhere, making it as private or public as you would want!

Australia is full of the best beaches, the East Coast especially, and Burleigh Heads truly has it all, making it the inevitable number one spot for the best beach on the east coast of Australia!

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