12 Secret Beaches to Seek Out This Summer (and the Dreamiest Beachside Stays Nearby)

WOOLI BEACH, NSW

A sleepy fishing village at the end of a narrow peninsula, Wooli feels delightfully lost in time. On one side lies the glassy Wooli Wooli River; on the other, a 6km curve of pale sand meeting the Solitary Islands Marine Park. Wallabies graze near pastel shacks with names like Endless Summer and The Slow, some held by families for generations.

Swim in the calm lagoon near the breakwater, paddle a kayak through the creek, or surf the gentle break that rolls north toward Wilsons Headland. Even in summer, it’s not unusual to have the beach almost to yourself.

Stay:

• The Slow — a chic indigo-and-white shack for four, right on the sand. 
  
• Kokomo Beach House — a lovingly restored 1940s shack near the water tower (dogs welcome).
• Solitary Islands Resort — riverside camping and cabins, plus “the longest resort waterslide in Australia.” 

Local’s Tip: “Bring floaties for the lagoon and a boogie board for the sandblow at high tide. Barefoot bowls and Chinese at the club are a must.”

— Emily-Jane Ettritch, Kokomo Beach House

NED’S BEACH, NSW

Stay:

• The Cabin – Lord Howe Island’s first fully off-grid retreat.
• Capella Lodge — the island’s luxe icon, with jaw-dropping views of Mounts Gower and Lidgbird. 
  
• Arajilla Retreat or Pinetrees Lodge — boutique stays blending nature, food and barefoot luxury.
• Island House – a pair of architecturally designed houses best booked exclusively with private chef and more.

BRIDGEWATER BAY, VIC

Photography Kate Shanassy

Hidden behind Blairgowrie’s dunes, Bridgewater Bay is one of the Mornington Peninsula’s most dramatic “back beaches.” At low tide, the sandstone cliffs reveal deep turquoise rock pools and a natural jumping ledge that locals whisper about — test your courage (carefully), or just float in the crystal water below.

By high tide, the beach disappears entirely beneath the Southern Ocean — its secret safely kept.

Stay:

• Camillo House — an art-filled retreat for six with complimentary Negronis on arrival. 
• Silvermoon Shack — a reimagined family beach house by The Design Files’ Lucy Feagins, complete with cubby, swing set and sandpit. 
• The Bathhouse Blairgowrie – as sweet as this shack is, it’s all about the lush gardens and vintage outdoor tub.

Local’s Tip: “Grab coffee and ice-cream at St Paul’s General Store in Sorrento — it’s a daily ritual. And explore those tiny suburban carparks along the coast; they often hide a secret beach.”

— Kate Shanasy, Photographer

WESTERN RIVER COVE, SA

Hidden along Kangaroo Island’s remote northern coast, Western River Cove feels like a secret the island keeps close. Red-dirt roads wind through folds of green hills, kangaroos graze by the roadside, and then — suddenly — the sea opens up like a blue revelation.

Down by the cove, a tea-stained river trickles to meet the ocean beneath cliffs that glow honey-gold at sunset. You might have the whole 200 metres of sand to yourself, save for the local kangaroos and seabirds. This secluded beach sits within the Southern Spencer Gulf Marine Park, its clear waters home to blue groper and banded seaperch.

Stay:

• Western River Campground — unpowered sites right by the beach. $23 per night for two (bookings essential).
  
• Wander on Kangaroo Island — a clutch of off-grid luxury pods with outdoor tubs overlooking Snellings Beach, 30 minutes away.
  
• Ecopia Retreat — rammed-earth villas immersed in native bushland, 45 minutes south.
• Southern Ocean Lodge — the island’s reborn icon of sustainable luxury, one hour south. 

BLOWHOLE BEACH, SA

You’ll earn this one. Unless you’re in a 4WD, Blowhole Beach in Deep Creek National Park is reached via a 2km downhill hike — steep on the way back, but blissfully quiet on arrival.

Walled by cliffs and golden hills, the cove shimmers in emerald tones, wallabies graze in the dunes, and the only soundtrack is wind and waves. It’s a ruggedly beautiful slice of the Fleurieu Peninsula where bush meets sea, and wildlife still outnumbers people.

Stay:

• Tangerine Dream — a nostalgic ’70s-style shack with outdoor bath, Leif amenities and a record player.
• Deep Creek Campgrounds — five sites across the park (four accessible by 2WD). From $26.60 per night.

CASTLE ROCK BAY, WA

At first glance, Castle Rock Bay feels laid-back — surfers snacking in their vans, the salty scent of sunscreen and sea spray — but beneath its easy charm lies deep history. Once a 19th-century whaling station, this Wadandi Country beach has transformed into a sanctuary for migrating humpbacks.

Sheltered within Meelup Regional Park near Dunsborough, the bay is small, calm and fringed with wildflowers in spring. Trails weave through dunes alive with orchids and lilies, and the turquoise water stays glassy and gentle.

Stay:

• Meelup Studio — a stylish barn-style guesthouse for two, surrounded by bushland just minutes from the bay.

LITTLE BOAT HARBOUR BEACH, WA

Some beaches take your breath; this one stops you in your tracks. South of Bremer Bay, Little Boat Harbour’s electric-blue water glows like liquid glass, framed by red dirt and white sand. It’s tiny — only 100 metres long — and blissfully empty.

Part of Fitzgerald River National Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, this quiet cove was immortalised as “Robbers Head” in Blueback, the film adaptation of Tim Winton’s beloved novel. Dive the nearby trail, spot sea grasses waving in the shallows, and savour the silence.

Stay:

• Bremer Bay Beaches Tourist Park — shaded camping and chalets near Point Henry Road.
• Native Dog Cabin — a sleek, architect-designed hideaway for six with ocean views near Blossoms Beach. 

COSSIES BEACH

Once declared “heavenly” by Charles Darwin, Cossies Beach remains one of the world’s most idyllic stretches of sand. Set on uninhabited Direction Island in the Indian Ocean, it’s accessible only by local ferry — and worth every minute of the journey.

The water is bath-warm and impossibly clear, with coral gardens, nudibranchs and reef fish just offshore. Stake out a shaded cabana, snorkel the drift channel, and switch off — there’s no mobile reception here, only paradise.

Stay:

• Cocos Castaways — beachfront villas and studios with breezy decks on West Island.
• Oceania House — a restored 1880s mansion on Home Island rich in island history. 

Local’s Tip: “The sea glass here is incredible — there’s a spot called The Bottle Dump where you can snorkel and sometimes find antique bottles.”

— Emma Washer, The Big Barge Arts Centre

SOUTH GORGE BEACH, QLD

A petite crescent of sand tucked between Main and North Gorge, South Gorge Beach is Straddie’s secret treasure. Backed by cliffs and protected from summer northerlies, it’s the perfect cove for a lazy swim and a long read.

Start your day with the Gorge Walk, coffee in hand, spotting turtles, dolphins and (in winter) migrating whales, before descending for a dip. It’s everything island time should be.

Stay:

• Stradbroke Island House — photographer Kara Rosenlund’s dreamy retreat of timber, linen and ocean light.
• Cylinder Beach Campground — nearby powered and unpowered sites steps from the sand.

POINT CARTWRIGHT, QLD

Locals call it “Carties” — a laid-back pocket of the Sunshine Coast with sandstone cliffs, paragliders soaring overhead and the scent of salt and casuarinas in the air. Between the rock pools and littoral rainforest, you’ll find one of the coast’s most tranquil dog-friendly beaches.

It’s small, scenic and a reminder that slowing down can be as simple as watching the waves roll into shore.

Stay:

• Soulitude — a minimalist retreat for two in nearby Buddina, with surfboards and bikes included. 
• For families, local holiday homes abound — book early for summer stays.

SISTERS BEACH, TAS

Set within Rocky Cape National Park, Sisters Beach feels suspended in another era. The creek meets the sea in a swirl of tannin-stained water, birdsong fills the air, and old shacks sit quietly among the banksias. It’s a place for slow mornings, beach walks, and nothing more demanding than another cup of coffee.

Stay:

• Lil’ Blue Shack — a lovingly restored classic shack one house back from the sand.

TROUSERS POINT, TAS

On an island off an island, Trousers Point rewards those who venture far. The beach curves beneath the granite peaks of Strzelecki National Park, its white sand and peacock-blue water so luminous it almost glows.

Even in peak season, you’ll find space and solitude — the kind of silence that only islands can deliver.

Stay:

• Trousers Point Campground — simple sites just steps from the beach (Parks Pass required).
  
• Crayshack — a three-bedroom beach house on Killiecrankie Beach. 
• Black Shack and Sawyers Bay Shacks — rustic-luxe escapes with direct beach access. 

Local’s Tip: “Plan ahead so you don’t waste time running into town — there are 90 beaches on the island, so if you find one busy, just head to the next.”

— Jo Youl, On Island Time