Tallebudgera Creek and Echo Beach, Gold Coast: Sign up for a soulful sunrise yoga class or gain a deeper appreciation of the surrounds and cultural significance of the headland on a walking tour. Photos: Supplied.
In essence, a holiday focused on outdoor adventures and relaxation in a sunny climate in Australia means heading to Queensland. That’s the state where tropical rainforests, diverse landscapes and the Great Barrier Reef offer activities such as diving, sunbathing, experiencing wildlife encounters and exploring the outback.
It’s also where beautiful spots are found on the water’s edge. Queensland is loved for its iconic beaches, and even though famous stretches of sand like idyllic Whitehaven and Surfers Paradise can take the spotlight, there are plenty of gems that fly under the radar for those looking to stretch out somewhere that’s less recognised.
In fact, let’s discover eight lesser-known beaches you need to visit on your next sojourn in the Sunshine State. Forget the navy-striped cabanas lined toe-to-toe on the sand – these beaches offer a bit more space to soak up the sun, sea and solitude, with a few unique adventures thrown in along the way.
Providing details, Tourism and Events Queensland also advises swimmers to be cautious when entering the water and to swim between the red-and-yellow flags.
Switch the bustling northern Gold Coast beaches for the piercing blue, calm waters of Tallebudgera Creek. Tucked between Burleigh Heads and Palm Beach and protected by a natural breakwater, Tallebudgera is a haven for relaxing family dips, paddleboards and kayaks.
It’s even more special arriving via Burleigh Head National Park’s Oceanview Track to find a quiet spot to lay out a beach towel at Echo Beach, on the creek’s north side.
At South Gorge Beach, Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island, off Brisbane), the stunning Gorge Walk along the headland hugs the rocky coastline and is a must-do while here. Sea turtles, manta rays and dolphins are frequently spotted in the waters below.
Well known to Queensland locals and just a 1.5-hour trip up the highway from famed Noosa Main Beach is Rainbow Beach, on the Sunshine Coast’s northern tip. This stunning spot is named after its strikingly colourful ancient sand dunes.
While the patrolled beach in front of the township proves a popular spot for families, visitors will need a 4WD to explore most secluded patches of this 23-kilometre-long beach, discovering otherworldly sandscapes along the Great Beach Drive.
Escape the mainland for the world’s second-largest sand island, Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island). Minjerribah is just a 25-minute passenger ferry ride away from Brisbane’s southern suburbs – and South Gorge Beach is a spectacular treasure: a small sandy pocket guarded by the island’s towering cliff faces on both sides.
For a perfect blend of adventure and tranquillity … in sleepy southern Bundaberg … where the Elliott River meets the ocean, make your way down to Elliott Heads Beach. With white sands and clear waters ideal for swimming, kayaking and kite surfing, it’s also a peaceful retreat for nature lovers and a nesting site for sea turtles, like famous neighbour Mon Repos.
You’d be forgiven for thinking Blue Pearl Bay, on Hayman Island in The Whitsundays, was photoshopped. It is spectacular!
The remote bay is an enchanting setting where rugged cliffs tumble down to meet pristine pockets of white sand and sparkling blue water. This Whitsundays jewel is home to a fringing coral reef and an abundance of marine life, including the majestic Maori Wrasse, which makes it perfect for snorkelling.
Elliott Heads Beach, Bundaberg: Walk along the sand at low tide to Dr Mays Island for a serene soak in tidal rock pools. Drive 15 minutes south from Bundaberg CBD to get there.
Etty Bay, Cairns and Great Barrier Reef, is the postcard definition of paradise, though that’s not even the main drawcard!
Powder-soft sands. Sparkling bathtub warm waters. Wrapped in ancient Wet Tropics rainforest. This secret beach is one of the best spots to see endangered southern cassowaries – dinosaur-like flightless birds found only in Queensland. Keep your eyes peeled for a magical sighting between dips: cassowaries often forage in the scrub right beside the sand.
Just 60 km northeast of Mackay lies the South Cumberland Islands National Park, a secluded island chain known only to locals – although not for much longer. Here, rugged headlands draped in hoop pine lead to secluded coves and untouched sandy stretches. Surrounded by fringing reefs and home to green and flatback turtle rookeries, this is a hidden slice of Queensland where seclusion meets natural beauty.
If you are visiting Townsville and are keen on snorkelling, make a beeline for Geoffrey Bay on Magnetic Island, which boasts its own snorkel trail where tourists can explore a coral reef teeming with tropical fish and even spot 30-year-old giant clams.
Simply rent snorkel gear from local Pleasure Divers and jump in to follow the marked trail. Strong swimmers can venture further out to see a shipwreck and a World War II propeller at rest on the sea floor. While on land, there’s every chance you might catch a glimpse of the bay’s playful rock wallabies that dart and hop across the boulders that fringe the bay!
