From tropical islands to lively beach towns, Queensland is blessed with more than 1700 beaches across 7000 kilometres of coastline. The best beaches in Queensland range from the powdery white sands of Whitehaven Beach in the north, to the surf breaks and unspoiled beaches of the Gold Coast in the south, with the beaches of Stradbroke Island, Moreton Island and the Sunshine Coast in between. I grew up in Queensland, and return multiple times a year, and have curated this list of the best beaches in Queensland based on years of beach hopping up and down the Queensland coastline.
Read More: The 12 Best Beaches in Australia
North Queensland
Queensland’s tropical north is full of stunning beaches, from the spectacular Whitsundays islands to the coast of Cairns and the islands of the Great Barrier Reef.
15 of the Best Things to Do in North Queensland
Whitehaven Beach, Whitsundays
The crown jewel of the Whitsundays, Whitehaven Beach is easily the best beach in Queensland, and even regarded as the best beach in Australia! Unlike the beaches on the surrounding islands in the Whitsundays, Whitehaven Beach is made of silica. This gives it a blindingly bright white beach, yet it never gets hot underfoot.
Book a Day Cruise to Whitehaven Beach
How to get there & where to stay
Whitehaven Beach is on the uninhabited Whitsunday Island. You can’t stay here, but you can stay on Hamilton Island, Hayman Island, Daydream Island or Airlie Beach, and take a day cruise to Whitehaven Beach with Cruise Whitsundays.
Find hotels in the Whitsundays
Green Island, Cairns
Floating in the middle of the Great Barrier Reef, Green Island is easily one of the most beautiful beaches in Queensland. You can snorkel the Great Barrier Reef straight off the beach, in the warm, shallow waters surrounding the island. While you won’t see colourful coral in the sun bleached shallows, it is a stunning place to swim! I first visited Green Island with my best friend, on a girls trip to the Whitsundays & North Queensland.
How to get there & where to stay
Green Island is just off the coast of Cairns, in North Queensland. You can visit on a day trip from Cairns (arrive via boat) or stay on the island overnight at Green Island Resort.
Book a stay at Green Island Resort
Four Mile Beach, Port Douglas
Four Mile Beach is the quintessential tropical postcard backdrop. It’s the main draw to chic Port Douglas, a tiny tropical beach town in far north Queensland with luxury resorts and accommodation (and a popular wedding destination). It’s an easy day trip from Cairns, and it’s also close to the Daintree Rainforest.
How to get there & where to stay
Four Mile Beach is in the beautiful coastal town of Port Douglas, which is a 1 hour drive from Cairns airport. Port Douglas is one of the most popular places to stay in North Queensland, outside Cairns, especially for those looking for a luxurious tropical stay.
Brisbane & Surrounds
Brisbane isn’t a famous beach town like Sydney or the Gold Coast, but with nearby islands like Stradbroke Island & Moreton Island, a beautiful beach is only a ferry away!
Cylinder Beach
North Stradbroke Island is a popular getaway for Brisbanites, accessible by ferry. Stradbroke Island has several beautiful beaches, but my pick of the bunch is Cylinder Beach, which is patrolled by the Point Lookout Surf Club. It’s popular for swimming & surfing, and an all around beautiful beach. Stradbroke is the world’s first Slow Island, which means the locals decided to join the global Slow Movement, to preserve a slower pace of life and to resist the forces of the modern world which demands we live faster and faster every year.
How to get there & where to stay
Cylinder Beach is on North Stradbroke Island in southeast Queensland. You can take the ferry from Brisbane to North Stradbroke Island, and catch a bus or bring your car on the ferry.
Find accommodation on North Stradbroke Island
Gold Coast
The Gold Coast is Queensland’s number one beach destination, an entire city lined with dozens of gorgeous beaches.
Burleigh Beach
Burleigh Beach is one of the best beaches on the Gold Coast, and one of the most beloved. Burleigh Beach is deep, long and has soft sand, and beautiful rolling surf. It’s a popular surf spot, with a great viewpoint from Burleigh Hill for watching the surfers tackle the waves. Just behind the beach is Burleigh Heads National Park, which has a short but steep hike with gorgeous views of the coastline and towards Tallebudgera Creek. Burleigh isn’t the sleepy beach suburb it used to be, but it’s a lively village with an increasing number of great little restaurants, bars and cafes a stone’s throw from the beach.
How to get there & where to stay
Burleigh is a suburb of the Gold Coast, with a range of accommodation options. Burleigh is just a 15 minute drive from Gold Coast Airport (OOL), which makes it an easy destination for interstate and international visitors looking for a beach holiday.
Find accommodation in Burleigh
Broadbeach
Surfers Paradise is the most famous beach on the Gold Coast, but I prefer Broadbeach, which is just next door. As the name suggests, the beach is enormous, which means it rarely feels too crowded, even in the height of summer. It’s easily one of the most beautiful beaches on the Gold Coast. A morning or sunset walk from one end to the other is one of my favourite things to do when I’m on the Gold Coast.
How to get there & where to stay:
Broadbeach is on the Gold Coast, so you can get there easily from anywhere on the Gold Coast using the Gold Coast tram. Fly to the Gold Coast, or fly to Brisbane International Airport and drive for 1 hour to the Gold Coast.
Main Beach
Main Beach in Surfers Paradise is the Gold Coast’s most famous beach and tourist hotspot, but it can’t be denied that it is a great patch of sand. As long as you’re happy to put up with the crowds, the beautiful beach at Surfers Paradise is a great place to start or end the day.
How to get there & where to stay:
Main Beach is in the heart of the Gold Coast, so it’s very accessible! Fly to the Gold Coast and stay in Surfers Paradise to be close to Main Beach.
Find hotels in Surfers Paradise
Sunshine Coast
The Sunshine Coast is one of the top beach holiday destinations in Queensland, and attracts thousands of interstate visitors every year. Noosa is the most popular spot, but there are lovely beach towns all along the Sunshine Coast.
The 10 Best Beaches on the Sunshine Coast
Mooloolaba Beach
Mooloolaba Beach is the best swimming beach on the Sunshine Coast. It’s an enormous, sandy beach, is frequently patrolled and is one of the safest swimming beaches along the coast. Mooloolaba is a popular coastal suburb of Maroochydore on the Sunshine Coast, with a high density of accommodation options.
How to get there & where to stay
Mooloolaba is just 15 minutes’ drive from Sunshine Coast Airport. Stay in Mooloolaba, which has a range of hotels & holiday apartments.
Noosa Main Beach
Backed by Noosa National Park, Noosa’s Main Beach on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast is one of the most popular beaches in Australia. It’s perennially busy, but it’s to be expected in such a lovely setting! Noosa Main Beach is a stone’s throw from bustling Hastings Street, and several of the restaurants here have beach views.
How to get there & where to stay
Noosa Main Beach is in the heart of Noosa, the most popular tourist destination on the Sunshine Coast. Noosa is a 30 minute drive from Sunshine Coast Airport, in Marcoola (near Coolum).
Kings Beach, Caloundra
Kings Beach in Caloundra is one of the best beaches in Queensland, because it’s a beautiful, patrolled beach with great swimming conditions, and has an oceanfront ocean water pool. It’s also just a stone’s throw from the King’s Beach Tavern, which has a large deck with ocean views – perfect for lunch, after a morning at the beach.
How to get there & where to stay
Caloundra is a popular holiday town on the Sunshine Coast, with beautiful beaches and a range of accommodation options. Caloundra is 30 minutes’ drive from Sunshine Coast Airport.
Safety at Queensland Beaches
Queensland is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in Australia, but no matter which beach you’re swimming at, safety is paramount.
Only swim at patrolled beaches, while the lifeguards are on duty, and swim between the flags. Swim during daylight hours, avoiding dawn and dusk (prime time for sharks), and listen to directions from the lifeguards. Don’t swim on a full stomach, and slip, slop, slap – nothing ruins a holiday like a sunburn!
Further Reading
- The Best Places to Visit in Queensland
- 12 Best Beaches in Australia
- 10 Best Beaches on the Sunshine Coast
- The Ultimate Gold Coast Travel Guide
Hello! I’m an Australian travel blogger, living in Melbourne, Australia. I grew up in Brisbane, studied in Paris, lived & worked in New York City and now live in Melbourne, Australia.
I love sharing specific and useful recommendations, itineraries and guides for the most beautiful things to see, do, experience & eat wherever I go.
My favourite travel destinations are Australia, New York City & surrounds, France, Greece & Japan, but I’m always excited to explore somewhere new!
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