Australia has some of the whitest sand beaches in the world. When soil scientists compared sand samples from beaches around the country, Lucky Bay in Western Australia came out on top, according to Australian Geographic. Whitehaven Beach in the Whitsundays only just missed out.
Here are seven white-sand beaches worth the trip, and how to get to each one.
Lucky Bay and Hellfire Bay, Western Australia
Photo credit: Andrew Watson
Lucky Bay and nearby Hellfire Bay are in Cape Le Grand National Park, east of Esperance. The Lucky Bay campground is about 62 km from Esperance by road, according to
Parks and Wildlife WA, and the park is classed as remote, so carry water and supplies. Fly into Esperance and
hire a car in Esperance, or build it into a longer south-coast drive from
Perth.
Whitehaven Beach, Whitsundays, Queensland
Photo credit: Whitsunday.com
You can't drive to Whitehaven Beach. It's on Whitsunday Island, and
Queensland Parks says the national park is reached by tours, transfers and boats from Airlie Beach and Shute Harbour. Base yourself at Airlie Beach with a
hire car or a
campervan from Airlie Beach, and take a day trip across.
Tallebudgera, Gold Coast, Queensland
Photo credit: destinationgoldcoast.com
Tallebudgera Creek meets the ocean at the southern end of the Gold Coast, and the calm creek water suits families. It's about 100 km and an hour and a half south of Brisbane, or a short drive from
Gold Coast Airport.
Hyams Beach, Jervis Bay, New South Wales
Photo credit: Visit NSW
Jervis Bay is about 200 km and three hours south of Sydney, which makes Hyams Beach an easy first stop on a south-coast road trip. Pick up a
campervan in Sydney and head south via the Grand Pacific Drive.
Squeaky Beach, Wilsons Promontory, Victoria
Photo credit: Visit Victoria
The sand at Squeaky Beach really does squeak underfoot. Wilsons Promontory National Park is about three hours south-east of Melbourne, so it works as an overnight trip with a
campervan from Melbourne.
Boat Harbour Beach, Tasmania
Photo credit: Discover Tasmania
Boat Harbour Beach is on Tasmania's north-west coast, about 15 km from Wynyard. Fly into Burnie (Wynyard) Airport and pick up a
hire car at Wynyard, or drive west along the coast from
Devonport after the ferry.
Henley Beach, Adelaide, South Australia
Henley Beach is in Adelaide's western suburbs, a short drive from the city and from
Adelaide Airport, which makes it an easy first or last stop on a South Australian trip.
Shelley Richardson
Shelley has been working in the travel industry for over 30 years, in aviation, for tour operators and since 2016 for DriveNow. Having travelled extensively worldwide, alone, as a couple and with her family, Shelley has experience to share about how to make the most of your holiday, especially road-trips to amazing destinations.
