I don’t have kids, but I reckon deciding on Australia’s best beach is kinda like choosing who you like more: Sally or Ronny. On an island nation fringed with 10,000+ beaches – spanning the rolling blue waves of New South Wales to the sugar-white sands of Far North Queensland and the calm turquoise sea of Western Australia – it’s a bloody tough question. (Freshwater Beach would be my pick, for the no-one-cares, yes-I’m-biased record.) Though each year, the good people of Tourism Australia undergo this near-impossible task, with this year’s top honour going to the Bay of Fires, located on the northeastern coast of Tasmania.
Brad Farmer AM, conservationist, professional beach spotter and Tourism Australia’s official ‘beach ambassador’ (side note – how do I apply for that job?) looked at 130 key factors – including aesthetics, safety, history, facilities and weather – across 12,000 beaches to conclude that Bay of Fires was the winner for 2025. I was lucky enough to be on a road trip in Tassie earlier this year and spent a couple of days hiking, swimming and frothing on Australia’s best beach – here’s what shocked me the most.
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First of all, Australia’s best beach in 2025 is not one beach – but 10 kilometres of them
For the first time ever, Tourism Australia has awarded the best beach in the country to, well, multiple beaches, as the Bay of Fires is actually a ten-kilometre stretch of beaches made up of perfect coves, crystal-clear azure water, powdery sand and fire-orange boulders.
“I spent plenty of time in Tasmania assessing the beaches and in the end there were so many incredible options I couldn’t even settle on one which is why, for the first time, I’m awarding the best beach to a cluster of neighbouring beach bays in the Bay of Fires,” Brad Farmer said. Nice one, Brad – I like rule breakers.
I dived like a dolphin and enjoyed an afternoon beer at Binalong Bay, stood in awe of the Garden’s beauty, and did a 10km hike along the remote and serene Bay of Fires coastline, stopping only for snacks and water – and another 100 times to take a photo.
The Bay of Fires did not get its name from the flame-coloured rocks
You won’t miss the striking, lichen-coloured rocks all along the Bay of Fires. They’re everywhere – and look like nature has waved its wand and spray-painted the boulders a fiery bright orange. But interestingly, that’s not where the Bay of Fires gets its name. In 1773, English adventurer Captain Tobias Furneaux was sailing past Tasmania and spotted fires lit by First Nations people along the coastline. He called that stretch of Tassie the Bay of Fires in reference to those campfires.
I didn’t see one bit of plastic or rubbish on the beach
Anyone who has spent five minutes in Tasmania knows what I mean when I say Australia’s heart-shaped southern island is pristine. Its natural beauty reminds me of New Zealand’s, and road-tripping around here is a true joy (be sure to drop in to the Lobster Shack in Bicheno). And while I knew the beaches here were stunning, after a few days of swimming, walking and relaxing at the Bay of Fires I turned to my friend and said: “I haven’t seen one piece of rubbish.”
As a born-and-bred Sydneysider, I love our beaches, but you’re pretty much guaranteed to see rubbish on them or left in the water. I’ve even seen plastic on remote beaches in Mexico and water bottles washed up on the San Blas Islands. But not in Tassie. Long may it continue. And if you do see rubbish on our beautiful beaches, take three for the sea.
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The water is take-your-breath-away beautiful (and cold)
The first thing you’ll notice when you arrive at the Bay of Fires is the water. I’ve snorkelled in Fiji, sailed throughout the Caribbean and surfed in Hawaii – and the Bay of Fires is up there with the bluest, clearest and most beautiful water I’ve ever seen. So of course, I went in. And holy moly, it was cold. Forget about dropping serious cash on ice baths and come here instead. The best part? It’s free. And you’ll be sharing the beach with only a couple of others, as opposed to the whole of Bondi. I left the Bay of Fires feeling fresh, clear-headed and alive – and so grateful to have visited Australia's best beach.
I now want to move to Tasmania
This one isn’t so shocking, really. My brother got married there, one of my best friends just moved there, and I think Tassie may be the coolest place in Aus right now. Plus, it’s also home to the best beach in the country. Now to chat to my boss about a great, original idea. It’s called Time Out Tassie. It’s got a nice ring to it, don’t you think? Wish me luck.