After a long stint behind the wheel, sometimes all you need is a bit of vitamin sea. These are our top five favourite beaches along the East Coast, but there are so many, I’m sure you will add plenty more!
S U R F E R ’ S P A R A D I S E
A high rise skyline outlines this 3000 meter stretch of white sandy beach which is renowned for its surfing. There are several spots along the beach that are lifeguarded if you feel safer in the knowledge that someone can pull you out if you get caught out in a nasty rip current. We loved this beach because we are not great surfers, but we love the opportunity to give it ago. Body boarding was especially good here.
After hitting the waves, Surfers Paradise a great place for shopping, with many cool and trendy surfers shop where you can get the latest Billabong bikini or if you are searching for another surfboard to buy. There are loads of little places to eat that suit everyones budget including high end looking restaurants to independent cafes. There is also a supermarket which sells reasonably priced watermelon. (Honestly Australia has some of the best watermelon i have ever had)
Nightlife in Surfers Paradise is a big deal and attracts travellers from far and wide; with many clubs and bars it is prefect to book a pub crawl through your hostel and get merry. If you are still hanging from the night before and looking for something a little less hardcore, then there are several markets running through several evenings in the week.
If you want to feel like a tourist then head to the the Q1 Building, which has a SkyPoint observation deck with panoramic views of the city
B Y R O N B A Y
As soon as you drive into Byron Bay, the laid back hippie vibe strikes you instantly. For us, Byron Bay has made it onto our top 5 because it is so much more than just a beach. The small town has so much charm as it is packed with loads of independent cafes and shops; including a second hand book shop where you can swap your old books!
A short drive out of the centre there is a lighthouse, this gives you panoramic views of the beaches and cliffs below. It is also the most easterly point in Australia, so this is a good place to take a token selfie, but we warned it is very windy up there.
Byron Bay beach itself is jammed packed full of young and trendy surfers hitting up the waves. This is a great place to get surfing lessons for beginners or just relax and work on that tan on the beach.
N O O S A
Noosa is a really pretty place and was recommended to us by one of our friends. Its a few miles north of Brisbane but is definitely worth the drive. It can get pretty busy, so it can be difficult to park which comes at a hefty price. Push that aside though, and you have some very pretty beaches with a cool and urban street with local independent shops; Again, this comes with a pretty hefty price tag so if you are a budget traveller like us you might be heading to the nearest Aldi.
Other than the beach, Noosa has some amazing coastal walks which vary in length. They hug the cliff edge and give you views that cant be rivalled. If you like surfing then there are loads of different spots to hit. We saw locals carrying there boards along the coastal path then down steep tracks to pretty much private little coves.
A G N E S W A T E R S
Agnes waters might not be on everyones list and you are probably wondering why it has made it onto ours, but what we love about this place is the fact that is still hasn’t been destroyed by tourism. It is located in central Queensland and is quite a detour as you come off the Bruce Highway, but on a spur of the moment we decided to head towards it. We were so glad that we did as it has one of the nicest beaches I have seen. The beauty of this place is that its practically empty, and you can pretty much spend the day and have the beach to yourself.
If you like to surf (or attempt like us) this is one of the last beaches heading north where it has some good waves. There is also a surf school where you can hire boards or take lessons. The actual town is quite sleepy with not much going on but is a great place to relax and unwind.
