Victoria is the underdog of Aussie states when it comes to top-notch beaches, but in a surprising twist, we’ve come out on top with one of our sandy stretches being named the best in the country.
Yes, you read correctly. Sorry New South Wales, too bad Queensland. Victoria’s Bells Beach has been crowned the best Australian surfing beach in the world by travel experts Lonely Planet.
Bells Beach, located about 90 minutes from Melbourne, is known internationally as a prime surfing beach with keen wave-chasers travelling from far and wide to ride its famous swells.
Researchers from Lonely Planet compiled a ranking of the best 100 beaches from around the world, for the book 100 of the World’s Most Incredible Beaches. It was Bells Beach’s “red-clay cliffs” and “natural amphitheatre” that helped nab its spot on the best beaches list, alongside its reputation for being an iconic surfing spot.
Other Australian beaches to make the cut were Byron Bay’s The Pass, Cable Beach in Broome and Wineglass Bay in Tassie. Surprisingly, there were no shout-outs for any shorelines in Queensland or South Australia.
Across the globe, other beaches earning a mention were White Sandy Beach in the Maldives, Pink Beach in Indonesia, Awaroa Beach in New Zealand and Le Morne Beach in Mauritius.
So our very own Bells Beach is in wonderful company. We may not be anywhere near being a pro surfer, but the next time we’re around the Great Ocean Road we reckon we’ll have to stop by to appreciate this top-tier beach spot.