The Best Beaches for Your Australian Honeymoon

Bondi Beach, Sydney

Bondi Beach is probably the most popular and well-known beach across Australia, which is what makes it the perfect stop on your honeymoon trip. While you might have to fight the crowds, what this iconic beach offers is well and truly worth it. The waves draw the surfers in, while the incredible atmosphere is for everyone.

Plan at least a day (or preferably more) exploring the nearby area. You can take on the 6km Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk hand in hand and enjoy panoramic coastal views as you walk - rewarding yourself with a refreshing dip in the ocean at either end. Add Bondi Icebergs on your list of places to stop, where you can take a cold dip in the ocean pool, while enjoying a cocktail from inside.

There’s so many pubs, restaurants, cafes and more, all offering up the ideal holiday vibe that will suck you in and leave you wanting more. While Summer is always a great time to visit, Bondi can be enjoyed all year round. There’s nothing better than grabbing a drink at the local pub and watching the waves, no matter the weather.

Insider tip: parking is a nightmare! It’s better to make your way to this popular haunt on public transport. 

Balmoral Beach, Sydney

Less popular than the ever-busy Bondi Beach, if you’re looking to get away from the crowds while still enjoying the unparalleled beauty of an Australian Beach, then Balmoral is your spot. Where Bondi is a renowned surf beach, if you’re looking to escape the waves, harbour beaches are just as stunning. Balmoral perhaps the most of all.

Here you will find nice and calm waters ready for swimming in, with plenty of snack bars around and an esplanade you can meander along and take in the views. The peaceful vibe will take you away from it all, so you can truly relax and soak up some sun.

Insider tip: if you’re hoping to drive, then aim for early morning. You’ll have more chances of finding a park where you can leave the car for the day while you explore the area. 

Whitehaven Beach, Queensland

Located in the stunning Whitsundays region, no honeymoon is complete without diving into crystal clear waters and checking out the gorgeous Whitehaven Beach. Voted Australia’s most beautiful beach on a number of different occasions, you can snorkel off the shores and feast your eyes on the world heritage site, The Great Barrier Reef.

Dip your toes into warm, turquoise waters and sink into the super soft white silica sand that stretches for nearly 7km. Take advantage of exceptional weather all year long, however be careful during stinger seasons, which runs from October to May. Most tours will provide you with a suit to keep you protected.

Lay back on the sand and soak up the rays, or even take a short 1km return walk from Tongue Bay to enjoy a great view of the beach stretching out before your eyes. There’s also plenty more to do in the Whitsundays on honeymoon.

Insider tip: You can book a day tour from Hamilton Island to enjoy this slice of paradise. If time is your friend, venture around to some of the other 74 islands that make up the Whitsundays to enjoy their unblemished beauty. 

Turquoise Bay, Western Australia

As the name suggests, spend your days on the shores of this open stretch of turquoise waters where you can swim, relax, snorkel and much more. Well-known as one of Western Australia’s best beaches, the crowds do flock to this ideal location. It was named the #1 beach in the South Pacific and #3 in the world in Trip Advisor’s 2022 Travellers’ Choice Awards. Hard to beat!

Located in Exmouth’s Cape Range National Park, head in by car (there’s no public transport around) and look out for wildlife along the drive. You can also jump on a tour to have someone else do all the hard work for you. 

The white sandy shores drop off and open onto some stunning coral and marine life that you can explore on your own. Spend your day spotting turtles, small sharks and colourful coral gardens. There’s little shade along this beach, so it's best to avoid the summer months and come in cooler weather. 

Insider tip: be wary of strong currents. Start up one end of the beach and if you notice yourself drifting, get out and walk back up. It helps to come with snorkel and flippers.

Wineglass Bay, Tasmania

You will find Wineglass Bay in the depths of Freycinet National Park, 2 hours and 30 minutes from Launceston. You will need a park pass for entry into the national park, but it will pay itself back in spades. The main drawcard of this popular tourist destination is the sweeping coastal views offering the ideal backdrop to your dip.

The crystal clear waters will draw you in, with plenty of activities on offer, including bushwalking, swimming, snorkelling, kayaking, fishing and more. Don’t forget to pack a picnic and head to the aptly named Honeymoon Bay to relax with a picnic and watch as the sun sets, offering up a magnificent light display. 

While Summer is a great time to visit, it pays to choose a cooler season to really enjoy all the different walks on offer around the national park. The mild weather in Spring is ideal for this. There’s plenty of wildlife to spot, from echidnas to wallabies and possibly even seals and Tasmanian Devils.

Vivonne Bay, South Australia

This 6km, U-shaped beach is one of the best spots to park yourself for the day and enjoy island life. Located on the South Coast of Kangaroo Island, the golden sand is perfect for picnics, sunbathing, fishing and surfing. 

It’s a fairly quiet beach, so you will feel like you have a slice of paradise all to yourself as you enjoy it. Hidden behind rocky cliffs and at the end of a dirt road, it really is a little unknown gem just waiting to be explored away from the crowds. Ideal to visit any time of the year.

There’s a small jetty area you can walk along as you look into the depths of the crystal clear waters. Plenty of boats pass through during the day, hauling back their latest catches from a fishing expedition. The bay is well-known for its cray fishing industry. At the end of the harbour you will discover the Vivonne Bay Conservation Park, which is home to Australia’s third largest sea lion colony. 

Apollo Bay, Victoria

If you have plans to take a drive down The Great Ocean Road, then be sure to stop off at Apollo Bay in your travels. The bay was named by Captain Loutit in 1845 when he sheltered his ship, Apollo, in this bay from a storm.

Located at the foothills of the Otways, you can enjoy a little bit of everything with a stunning rainforest on your doorstep, offering waterfalls, crystal clear streams and more. It is the only Victorian Beach to make the top ten of Tourism Australia’s annual Best Australian Beaches list for 2023.

Take a stroll down the 3km long eastern facing beach. If you’re looking for calmer waters, stay on the south end, where the harbour protects the shores. Down the north end, you will find more of a swell, suited to surfers and those who are a little more adventurous.

Rainbow Beach, Queensland

Queensland is a stunning honeymoon destination with plenty to explore. If you have a little time, venture to this coastal rural town in the Gympie Region to uncover unparalleled natural beauty. Rainbow Beach acts as the entry point to the 41,000 hectare Cooloola National Park and the southern gateway to world heritage listed Fraser Island. There’s plenty around to explore! While it can be a popular spot for tourists, if you travel out of peak season (Summer), you can enjoy milder weather and less crowds.

According to Kaby Dreaming, Yiningie (spirit of the gods) often took the form of a rainbow. Yiningie was killed in a fight and crashed into the cliffs, as his spirit coloured the sands. You can settle onto the golden sands and enjoy a day of sunbaking, or pop on your hiking shoes and head through the rainforest and seaside beach cliffs to explore. There’s plenty of hidden lakes and mangrove forests to uncover in your travels, with unique flora and fauna to spot. 

Insider tip: if you can, hire a 4WD for some off-road adventures. You can take yourselves across to Fraser Island on the barge and much more.

Seventy Five Mile Beach, Fraser Island

From Rainbow Beach, you can drive your way over to the barge and head over to visit Fraser Island and the stunning Seventy Five Mile Beach. Given the length of this beach, there’s plenty of spots to stop and explore along the way, or even fishing to enjoy.

It’s the ideal beach to drive along and soak up some incredible coastal views, however it’s not exactly a swimming beach. While you can dip your toes in the waters, the waves are rough and there’s a high shark population in the surrounding area (no thanks!). If you’re looking to cool off, head to the nearby Champagne Pools, where you will find bubbling pools of water created by waves crashing over volcanic rocks for thousands of years. 

Head over from August to October to experience Tailor Run as fishing enthusiasts come from around the world to fish. Of course, if you prefer to avoid the crowds, then come outside of this period. 

Misery Beach, Western Australia

While the name doesn’t exactly sell this gorgeous spot, if you can look past it you will uncover plenty of natural beauty. This small, secluded beach doesn’t tend to attract the tourists, making it the perfect place to escape to on your honeymoon. 

You will find squeaky white sand and clear waters, with plenty of history to soak up as well. This 200-metre protected cove was named thanks to its historic whaling industry. The whaling station was less than a kilometre down the road, and often blood would wash onto the shore and stain the water and sands red, while attracting the sharks. Thankfully, the station closed in 1978 and the beach is now a popular tourist spot. 

You can spend your visit relaxing back on the shores, swimming and snorkelling . Be on the lookout for some dolphins and seals who like to pay a visit to these protected shores. You can even jump on a kayak and have a stand-up paddle boarding with these calm waters.

Plan the perfect honeymoon

There are so many stunning places around Australia, waiting to be uncovered and explored. If you’re wondering where to head next, check out our guide on where to honeymoon in Australia. If you need a little more convincing about why Australia should be top of your to-travel list, here’s 7 reasons to honeymoon downunder.

Ready to plan your trip? Check out our Australia Honeymoon Packages, many of which include some of the most popular walks/hikes and great places to explore during your trip. 

Talk to our Travel Specialists, who can help you plan the perfect Aussie Honeymoon.