Squeaky Beach, surrounded by the rugged wilderness of Wilsons Promontory National Park, has been recognised by Tourism Australia as the nation’s best for 2024.
Located just three hours drive from Melbourne, ‘Squeaky’ is known for the “acoustic delight” of compressed quartz and silica sand underfoot, crashing waves and clear waters, and for being enclosed by impressive granite boulders.
It is the first time a Victorian beach has been crowned as Australia’s best beach.
The Farm in New South Wales and Australia’s southernmost beach, Cockle Creek in Tasmania, rounded out the top three.
The top ten includes beaches from all states and the Northern Territory, as well as Pulu Blan Madar Island on the Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Lagoon Beach on Lord Howe Island.
Conservationist and Tourism Australia’s beach expert Brad Farmer AM joked he had a tough and “sometimes controversial” job of compiling the top 10.
“The list of ‘best beaches’ attracts headlines both here in Australia and in key international tourism markets around the world,” he said.
“That’s why I take the chance to uncover some of those destinations that might not be well-known but are home to some of Australia’s, and in my opinion, the world’s, best beaches.”
The title has previously gone to Stokes Bay in SA’s Kangaroo Island, Misery Bay in WA and Cabarita Beach in NSW took the top spot back in 2021.
While Queensland may not have topped the list, it was the only state to have two beaches make it into the top ten – Cylinder Beach and Cow Bay.
