If you ask us, Victoria's beaches have been punching above their weight recently. Last year, we had the news that Lonely Planet named Bells Beach as Australia's top spot for surfing, and only last month, Squeaky Beach in Wilsons Prom was crowned the best beach in the country according to an official beach ambassador. And now comes another sea-toned jewel to add to our salty crown: Tourism Australia's highly anticipated 2025 annual beach ranking just dropped, and Cowes Beach on Phillip Island landed in tenth spot.
The huge call was made by Brad Farmer AM, Tourism Australia’s official beach ambassador, who assesses 130 key factors – from aesthetics and safety to history, facilities and weather – to decide the nation's best beach.
And look, we may be biased – but we think Cowes Beach has it all. The popular, family friendly spot is actually one of Victoria's only north-facing beaches, and it's ideal for swimming, stand-up paddle boarding, rockpooling at low tide and games on the sand. There's a nearby jetty for fishing and grassy reserve, while the main township of Cowes – with it's bustling assortment of cafés, restaurants and boutique shops – is just a short stroll away. Heavenly!
But what came in at number one, we hear you ask? Tassie's breathtaking Bay of Fires snatched the gold medal – the first time a beach on the Apple Isle has earned first place, and also the first time the title was awarded to a cluster of beaches, rather than just one (the honour recognises the shoreline spanning a breathtaking ten-kilometre stretch within the southern end of the Bay of Fires Conservation Reserve). Famous for their impossibly azure waters, bleached-white sand and orange lichen-covered boulders, there's no denying the sheer beauty of this area.
The runner-up for Australia’s best beach in 2025 goes to Woolgoolga, a hidden gem on NSW’s Coffs Coast, while third place was awarded to Emily Bay Lagoon, a remote piece of paradise on Norfolk Island in the South Pacific Ocean.
Farmer’s ranking spreads the love all around Australia, with Queensland’s North Kirra Beach coming fourth, Western Australia’s Little Lagoon in fifth, South Australia’s Fishery Bay in sixth and our very own Cowes Beach rounding out the list in tenth. You can check out the full rankings below.
The ten best Australian beaches for 2025:
- Bay of Fires, TAS
- Woolgoolga, NSW
- Emily Bay Lagoon, Norfolk Island
- North Kirra Beach, QLD
- Little Lagoon, WA
- Fishery Bay, SA
- 1770, QLD
- Scarborough Beach, WA
- Caves Beach, NSW
- Cowes Beach, VIC
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