For the first time ever, a South Australian beach has taken out Tourism Australia’s annual Best Australian Beaches list.
Stokes Bay on Kangaroo Island has beaten nearly 12,000 Aussie beaches to be crowned the best in the nation for 2023.
The Top 10 list, which features at least one in every state, was curated by expert Brad Farmer AM, who travelled to beaches across the country.
The title has formerly gone to Western Australia’s Misery Beach in 2022, with Cabarita Beach in NSW taking the top spot back in 2021.
Coming in second was Boomerang Beach in NSW followed by Rainbow Beach in Queensland and Victoria’s Apollo Bay in fourth spot.
Balmoral Beach in NSW was also the only Sydney listing to scrape in — coming in tenth.
Mr Farmer, who is a conservationist and advocate for the protection of coastlines, said: “If you look at it [Balmoral] visually, there’s a promenade of Moreton Bay figs, some cool rock bridges, the largest, safest shark enclosure in Sydney Harbour, and, because it’s right near the Heads, you get a good quality of water,” Mr Farmer told The Sydney Morning Herald.
So, what was the criteria? It all comes down to the vibe.
“I go to the beach, get to have a swim, talk to the locals and I get a feel for them. I’m much more immersive, and I guess a bit emotionally invested in it,” Mr Farmer said.
“Very much the [criterion] is, what kind of community are you going to experience when you get there?”
Mr Farmer said it was a conscious decision to include a diverse range of beaches from across the country, including Flying Fish Cove on Christmas Island, which many people don’t know is part of Australia.
It was ranked ninth on the list.
Federal Tourism Minister Don Farrell said every beach that made the list was “not just among the best in Australia, but the best in the world”.
“Australia boasts the world’s best coastline and many international travellers, who are returning to our shores in growing numbers, want to explore the idyllic beaches we have to offer,” he said.
Mawson MP Leon Bignell MP said Stokes has always been one of my favourite beaches
“After making the New York Times top ten places in the world to visit this year, Kangaroo Island is again topping the charts,” he said in a Facebook post.
“Stokes Bay has always been one of my favourite beaches and a great place to take visitors to surprise them with the entrance.
“When they start walking along the sandy passageway through the massive rocks they have no idea how stunning the view is going to be on the other side.
“A safe rockpool for the little kids, waves for the more adventurous and on a calm day it’s as flat as a tack. It’s where Dusty the Kangaroo Island Kelpie was born and had his first surf lesson with the local kids.”
TOP 10 BEST BEACHES IN AUSTRALIA
1. Stokes Bay, Kangaroo Island – South Australia
2. Boomerang Beach, Mid North Coast – NSW
3. Rainbow Beach, Cooloola Coast – Queensland
4. Apollo Bay, Great Ocean Road – Victoria
5. Adventure Bay, Bruny Island – Tasmania
6. Hamelin Bay, South-West, Western Australia
7. Little Bondi Beach, East Arnhem Land – Northern Territory
8. British Admiralty Beach, King Island, Bass Strait – Tasmania
9. Flying Fish Cove – Christmas Island
10. Balmoral Beach, Sydney Harbour, NSW