Discover the Best Beaches in NSW
These beaches in NSW aren’t all close to Sydney, but they can make for a fun summer day trip, especially considering there aren’t many places available to travel to these days. Book a night at a coastal bungalow on the way, or explore a few beaches in one day and watch your worries wash away in the ocean!
1. Hyams Beach, Jervis Bay
What would a list of the best beaches in NSW be without Hyams Beach? This paradisiacal beach will transport you overseas to Hawaii or the Maldives, with its dazzling white sand and tropical blue waters.
While the beach is known to swell with tourists in the Christmas season, locals know that surrounding beaches in the area are just as beautiful, and far quieter! If you’re visiting in the high season, try Callala Beach, Chinamans Beach or Murrays Beach as well, which are all in Jervis Bay.
2. Wategos Beach, Byron Bay
Wategos Beach is easily one of the best beaches in NSW and certainly one of the most beautiful in the Byron Bay area. It produces surf great for beginners. Like the area, it has a relaxed vibe which is great for chilling out and watching the waves on holiday.
3. Bennett’s Beach, Hawks Nest
Bennett’s Beach is one of the most popular and most easily-accessible beaches in the area. Located in Hawks Nest on NSW’s mid-north coast, this beach has great surf but is also suitable for swimming.
If you keep your eyes open, it’s common to see dolphins playing in the surf here. There’s also plenty of room, so you won’t run into too many tourists, even in the height of the summer holidays.
4. Palm Beach, Sydney
Palm Beach is one of the best beaches in NSW that is closer to Sydney. Perfect for a day trip with the surfboard in tow, Palm Beach is located about 50 minutes from Sydney’s city centre, and you might recognise it as the location for the popular Australian soapie, Home and Away.
But if the beautiful sparkling waters of the beach and golden sand aren’t enough for you, you can also explore the town of Palm Beach. Stroll down its café-lined streets or the more energetic can walk up to Barrenjoey Lighthouse and enjoy the panoramic views!
5. Cabarita Beach, Tweed Coast
Named Australia’s Best Beach for 2020, Cabarita Beach is a tranquil white sand beach, conveniently located in far north NSW, just north of Byron Bay. A popular surfing spot, yet large enough to let you read a book without a ball landing in your lap, Cabarita Beach stretches out in between Hastings Point and Casuarina. Although far up the coast, this is definitely one of the best beaches in NSW. It’s well worth the car trip!
6. Pebbly Beach
Another gem on the South Coast, Pebbly Beach is a wildlife haven. It is also a popular camping area, located inside Murramarang National Park, yet still contains amenities and plenty of bushwalks if you get sick of the sun. With kangaroos on land, eagles in the air and dolphins surfing the waves, this is one of the best beaches in NSW for the animal lovers!
Please note there is a small entry fee to enter the National Park. We recommend checking the NSW National Parks website for alerts and details before setting out to ensure the park is not full.
7. Bronte Beach
This is easily one of the best beaches in NSW that is also family-friendly! Bronte is a Sydney beach, smaller than Bondi Beach, but still just as accessible and just as beautiful. Its gentle waves are also perfect for the kids. It features a sea swimming pool and sizeable park area. It’s the perfect place for relaxing, tossing a ball around or having a summer picnic. Or, explore one of the many cafes located just by the beach.
There are plenty more beaches waiting to be explored in Sydney, on the NSW coast and beyond! What do you think are the best beaches in NSW? Start planning your summer hitlist or, to discover more things to do in NSW, browse our other local insights blogs.
