10 Australian White Sand Beaches to Visit on Your Next Coastal Escape

Put on your sunscreen, pack your car, and charge your phone – you’re going to be taking lots of pics.

The weather’s warming up which can only mean one thing… beach days! Australia is home to some of the most magnificent white sand beaches in the world, and what better way to spend your summer than visiting them.

Whether you’re looking for a coastal escape for the day or in need of a week away camping, we’ve got you covered with this list.

Bed Threads acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

New South Wales

1. Hyams Beach, Jervis Bay

If you’re in Sydney and in need of a weekend getaway, jump in the car, put on your favourite podcast, and drive just under 3 hours down the coast to experience some of the whitest sand in all of Australia. Hyams Beach in Jervis Bay is a natural gem, with bright white sand and crystal blue water, this is the kind of beach you’ll want to spend all day at. If you prefer a quieter beach, definitely head there in the morning – try and catch the sunrise if you can! The beach itself is relatively long, so there’s plenty of room to spread out if you prefer having your own space.

2. Murrays Beach, Jervis Bay

Why not check out another coastal oasis while you’re down Hyams way? Murrays Beach in Jervis Bay is only a short drive from Hyams, offering crisp white sand and ridiculously blue water, this natural beauty is known as the jewel of Booderee National Park. The car park is only a short walk from the beach, so be sure to pack your umbrella, speaker and maybe even some goggles to get a closer look at the incredible marine life – the species here are protected, so remember you can look, but you can’t touch!

3. Wategos Beach, Byron Bay

Heading up the New South Wales coastline now, you’ll find Wategos Beach nestled in the coastline of the magical Byron Bay. A gorgeous little beach with a lovely vibe, this beach hosts surfers, families and maybe even a few dolphins in the summer. The northern area of Wategos tends to be quieter, so if you’re wanting to score a park, we recommend heading up that way. Wategos is lined with Screw Pine Palm Trees, which act as the perfect natural shade from the sun, and double as a cute insta backdrop.

Western Australia

4. Lucky Bay, Cape Le Grand National Park

You’re going to need sunnies for this next location. Lucky Bay in Cape Le Grand National Park is home to some of the whitest sand in all of Australia. 8 hours inland from Perth, this surreal location awaits. Feel the silky, pearlescent sand between your toes while standing next to a joey, Lucky Bay is a truly one of a kind location. If the 8 hour drive is deterring you, this gorgeous beach is located inside Cape Le Grand National Park, which is home to a plethora of stunning bush walks and private beaches. This is the kind of place you’ll be wanting to spend a few days at… or maybe even the week.

5. Hellfire Bay, Cape Le Grand National Park

While you’re soaking up the rays at Cape Le Grand National Park, it’d be rude not to check out the beauty that is Hellfire Bay. This stunning nook is perfect for picnics and refreshing dips into the ocean – pending weather conditions of course! Cape Le Grand National Park continually delivers the goods, this gem also houses some of the whitest sand in Australia along with crystal clear turquoise water. This beautiful beach will have you feeling like you’re on an episode of Lost – without the drama.

Queensland

6. Tallebudgera Beach, Queensland

No visit to the Gold Coast is complete without a trip to Tallebudgera Beach. Tallebudgera Beach has a little bit of everything for everyone, there’s an abundance of breaks to surf and a dog-friendly zone where your pup can run off-leash and into the sparkling creek. This spectacular white-sand beach is also a local hotspot for fishing, watersports and picnics. Whether you venture there on your own or with a group of friends, you’re guaranteed to have a blast at this one-of-a-kind beach.

7. Whitehaven Beach, Whitsundays, Queensland

Of the many things to visit while you’re in Hamilton Island, Whitehaven Beach should definitely be at the top of your list. Just a thirty-minute catamaran ride away, Whitehaven beach is home to breathtaking views that can be experienced on foot or even by helicopter. Stretching for seven kilometres and washed by swirls of turquoise water, Whitehaven Beach’s sand is 98 percent pure white silica, which gives it a brilliant, near luminescent colour. Make sure your phone’s charged, you’re going to be taking lots of pictures.

Victoria

8. Squeaky Beach, Wilsons Promontory National Park

Yes, it really is Squeaky. Located in Wilsons Promontory National Park, this stunning white sand beach is suitable for all kinds of beachgoers. With the southern end suiting young families with its flat terrain, the northern end is better suited to the adventurous beach goer with mazes built out of huge granite boulders for you to get lost in. The bright white sand here is made up of rounded grains of quartz, which make a squeaking sound when you walk on them, giving this popular local beach its name.

Tasmania

9. Boat Harbour Beach

Beautifully positioned between rocky headlands, Boat Harbour Beach is an idyllic harbour of white sand and water that glistens every shade of blue. Basque in the sun, explore marine life in rock pools, and when the day is done head up the road to the local cafe for some chicken salt chips and a chocolate milkshake. This unique beach neighbours Rocky Cape National Park, so you can continue living your best island life even when you leave.

10. Bay of Fires

Now we know this one isn’t technically a beach, but it does have white sand! The Bay of Fires is located four hours east of Boat Harbour Beach. The Bay of Fires Conservation Area comprises a series of breathtaking bays that stretch along the Tasmanian coast. Bright orange lichen encrusts the granite boulders, which contrast beautifully against the whiter-than-white sandy beaches and turquoise water in the bays.

Put on your sunscreen, pack your car, and charge your phone – you’re going to be taking lots of pics.

10 Australian White Sand Beaches to Visit on Your Next Coastal Escape

Put on your sunscreen, pack your car, and charge your phone – you’re going to be taking lots of pics.