When the hustle and bustle of everyday life becomes too overwhelming, there’s nothing like escaping to the beach. Stretching out on the soft white sands, watching the waves gently kiss the shore and feeling the fresh ocean breeze on your skin – pure bliss, right? If you’re hoping to sneak in some rest and relaxation before the Christmas chaos begins, consider this your sign. A newly released list of the world’s ten most relaxing beaches has crowned a Queensland gem as the second-best spot for ultimate tranquillity – meaning you’re only a quick drive or flight away in Australia.
The relaxation gurus at SpaSeekers.com compiled a list of the world’s most chilled-out beaches, ranking them by the percentage of reviews that mentioned the words ‘relaxing’ and ‘relax’. North America and Asia dominated the top ten, with Little French Key on a private island in the Caribbean taking the top spot as the ultimate beach for zen. Only one Oceania beach made the top ten, with Palm Cove Beach in Tropical North Queensland (just a 30-minute drive from Cairns) securing the second spot.
More than 15 per cent of beachgoers rated Palm Cove Beach as relaxing, and it’s not hard to see why. Just imagining leisurely barefoot strolls under swaying coconut palms and 500-year-old melaleuca trees, floating in warm, crystal-clear waters, and unwinding with a cocktail at one of the many stylish beachfront restaurants instantly brings us a sense of calm.
Palm Cove’s exclusive, adults-only Reef House Boutique Hotel and Space was even crowned Tripadvisor’s best hotel in Australia for 2024, making it the perfect place to fully switch off. The best part? No crying kids in sight.
Here are the ten most relaxing beaches in the world:
- Little French Key, Honduras
- Palm Cove Beach, Australia
- Nautholsvik Geothermal Beach, Iceland
- Yas Beach, UAE
- Saud Beach, Philippines
- Otres Beach, Cambodia
- An Bang Beach, Vietnam
- White Bay, British Virgin Islands
- Boca Grande, USA
- Maremegmeg Beach, Philippines
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