From the crystal-clear covers of Western Australia to the palm-fringed stretches of Queensland, down from the festival vibes of Darwin’s Mindil Beach in the Northern Territory to the dramatic surf of Tasmania, Australia is one of the world’s greatest beach destinations.
Famed for its dazzling coastal escapes, stunning sands, surfing meccas, marine life and sublime snorkelling. It is also an incredible bird-watchers paradise and Lonely Planet’s latest release Best Beaches Australia celebrates 100 of the most beautiful and exceptional beaches around the country, including where to spot feathered friends in their natural habitats.
Birdwatching has truly taken off across the UK attracting birders of all ages, soaring from a niche interest to a mainstream hobby. This is reflected in the popularity of TV shows such as Springwatch, close to 600,000 talking part in the RSPB’s annual Big Garden Birdwatch and, according to Google, searches for birdwatching have almost doubled since last year. Travellers too are seeking to immerse themselves in nature and incorporate birdwatching experiences into their adventures.
For the ultimate bird-watching experience Australia offers a diverse and extensive range of opportunities to see an abundance of magnificent birdlife. Lonely Planet’s top recommendations for discovering the Australia’s avian treasures are:
Lady Elliot Island, Queensland – Once stripped almost bare by guano mining and grazing goats, Lady Elliot Island has undergone a dramatic ecological revival. Today the remote coral cay at the tip of the Great Barrier Reef is a thriving seabird haven, with over 150 species recorded including terns, noddies, shearwaters, frigatebirds, and the rare red-tailed tropicbird. Its Pisonia forests, coastal vegetation, beaches, and reef flats provide key nesting and foraging habitats. Walking trails are open to visitors and the best time to visit is September to March.
Landing Beach, Macquarie Island, Tasmania – Cold, wet, and wild, Landing Beach is a World Heritage-listed sanctuary where sheer natural beauty and abundant wildlife collide. The beach supports an estimated four million penguins, including king, royal, gentoo, and rockhopper species, alongside three and a half million nesting and roosting seabirds such as albatrosses, giant petrels, skuas, and prions. Its open terrain allows birds returning from feeding trips at sea to land close to visitors, providing extraordinary observation opportunities. Antarctic explorer Sir Douglas Mawson famously described it as “one of the wonder spots of the world.”
Long Beach, Robe, South Australia – Stretching 12km along Guichen Bay, Long Beach is Robe’s coastal jewel. Silken sands and turquoise surf sit alongside dunes and nearby wetlands that host resident and migratory shorebirds. Species such as hooded plovers, red-capped plovers, silver gulls, terns, and migratory waders forage along intertidal zones, while seasonal migrations bring additional visitors from Asia and beyond. Its open, largely undeveloped coastline allows birds to roost, nest, and feed with minimal human disturbance, making them easier to observe for bird watchers of all experience levels.
Lord Howe Island & Ned’s Beach, New South Wales – The Island’s isolation and protected status make it a premier destination for bird watchers. Large seabird colonies thrive here, including providence petrels, flesh-footed shearwaters, sooty terns, and masked boobies, many of which breed nowhere else in Australia. The island is also home to endemic species such as the Lord Howe woodhen, a rare land bird whose natural behaviours can be observed thanks to strict conservation measures and limited visitor numbers. Nearby Ned’s Beach combines easy access, calm shoreline, rocky platforms, and surrounding forest, attracting seabirds and land birds for close-range observation.
Ocean Beach, South Australia – Stretching 194km from the Murray River mouth to Cape Jaffa, Ocean Beach forms Australia’s longest dune system, a wild barrier between the Southern Ocean and Coorong National Park wetlands. Its sandy shores and dunes support around 230 bird species, including pelicans, swans, and the critically endangered eastern curlew. Shorebirds such as hooded plovers, red-capped plovers, oystercatchers, gulls, and terns feed along the waterline, while dunes provide safe nesting and roosting areas. Seasonal migrations bring an influx of waders along the East Asian–Australasian Flyway, further enhancing bird diversity in this largely untouched environment.
Roebuck Bay, Broome, Western Australia – Where the Kimberley’s red pindan soil meets the milky cyan waters of the Indian Ocean, Roebuck Bay is internationally renowned for its tidal mudflats and wetlands, listed under the Ramsar Convention. Tens of thousands of migratory shorebirds travel from as far as Siberia and Alaska to feed here, including great knots, bar-tailed godwits, red knots, sandpipers, and plovers. Resident species such as brolgas, far eastern curlews, and black-necked storks also abound. The dramatic tidal cycle creates ideal feeding and roosting conditions, allowing for close, clear sightings.
Best Beaches Australia celebrates not only the natural beauty of Australia’s coastline but also its status as a bird-watcher’s paradise. From remote islands to long, wild beaches and globally significant mudflats, this guidebook opens the door to unforgettable wildlife encounters, allowing visitors to experience birds in their natural settings like never before.
Inside Best Beaches Australia:
- 100 must-visit beaches across every state and territory, with practical details on how to reach them
- Gorgeous full-page photography showcasing Australia’s coastal beauty in vivid detail
- Expert insights from Lonely Planet’s team of trusted local writers
- Themed top 5 lists for wildlife watching, accessibility, snorkelling, family trips, camping, surfing, bushwalking, and remote getaways
- Trip planning and tips to help travellers craft their perfect coastal adventure
Lonely Planet’s Best Beaches Australia is available from shop.lonelyplanet.com or where all good books are sold. Price UK £27.99