Cossies Beach has been named Australia's best beach by Tourism Australia's Aquatic and Coastal Ambassador and 'beach expert' Brad Farmer for the 2017 list detailing the country's most stunning beaches.
But where is this perfect piece of paradise I hear you ask? Cossies Beach is located on the Cocos Keeling Islands in the Indian Ocean and is considered Australia's most remote beach. In fact, prior to Mr Farmer's visit, the beach did not even have a name and was simply referred to as Direction Island, or DI by locals. Accessible via a 4 ½ hour flight from Perth and technically considered an international flight, Cossies Beach is closer to Jakarta than Perth, making the logistics of your escape to paradise extremely challenging, but perhaps that's why it's so coveted.
While we don't know what you have to do to become a 'beach expert' we'd certainly love the job! Although the team of Mr Farmer and his colleague Professor Andy Short spent the past five months compiling Australia's Best Beaches 2017, applying a raft of independent and scientific criteria before crowning Cossies "as near perfect as a beach can be."
Australia has 11,761 beaches along nearly 60,000km of coastline and with over 90% of us living on Australia's coastline, our beaches are an important part of our way of life.
The Top 20 Australian Beaches 2017:
1. Cossies Beach, Cocos Keeling Island INDIAN OCEAN
2. Nudy Beach, Fitzroy Island QLD
3. Moonee Beach, Coffs Coast NSW
4. Turquoise Bay, Coral Coast WA
5. Burleigh Heads, Gold Coast QLD
6. Maslin Beach, Adelaide SA
7. Dolly Beach, Christmas Island INDIAN OCEAN
8. Shelly Beach, Nambucca Coast NSW
9. Boat Harbour Beach, North West Coast TAS
10. Apollo Bay, Great Ocean Road VIC
11. Horseshoe Bay Beach, Capricorn Coast QLD
12. Garie Beach, Sydney NSW
13. Merewether Beach, Newcastle NSW
14. Long Beach, Great Keppel Island QLD
15. Hawks Nest, Myall Coast NSW
16. Camp Cove, Sydney NSW
17. Broken Head Beach, Byron Bay NSW
18. Narrawallee Beach, Shoalhaven NSW
19. Dynamite Bay, Coral Coast WA
20. Ellis Beach, Far North Queensland QLD
Does this list inspire you to travel and visit some more remote locations? Start planning and browse our handpicked collection of coastal cool accommodation here.
For me, my favourite beach is Shoal Bay in pristine Port Stephens NSW. It's quiet, easily accessible and the gentle waves beckon you in for a dip, also making it safe and great for families. Perhaps part of my love for Shoal Bay comes down to nostalgia, happy memories of annual family holidays spent at the beach, can't you tell from our smiling faces circa 1980! In the background you can just make out the old Shoal Bay Country Club, now transformed and available to book here.
Did your favourite make the cut? Which is your favourite beach in Australia and why?
Photo: Rik Soderlund
