Two Aussie beaches top list of world’s best for 2025
Lonely Planet has named its best beaches in the world for 2025 – with Australia nabbing the two top spots.
The travel publisher put a Queensland favourite in the Whitsundays on top of its list, while a lesser-known destination in Victoria snuck into second.
The rest of the top 10 was rounded out by beaches from further afield, including the US, Greece and even Norway.
Here’s the full list, as it appears in Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2025:
1. Whitehaven Beach, Queensland, Australia
The swirling pattern of aquamarine water and snow-white sandbars at the northern end of Whitehaven Beach is otherworldly – and the average water temperature is 26 degrees year-round, so there’s no excuse for not getting wet.
2. Squeaky Beach, Victoria, Australia
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A standout in Wilsons Promontory, this protected slice of wilderness is fringed by Victoria’s largest marine national park. The quartz sand compresses under your feet, creating a high-pitched squeak, and if you get tired of that you can splash in hidden rock pools or dive into the crystalline ocean.
Victoria’s Squeaky Beach took out second spot on the coveted list. Photo: Lonely Planet
3. Anse Source d’Argent, La Digue, Seychelles
This place lives up to the hype. Its dazzling white sands are lapped by shallow turquoise waters and backed by beautiful granite boulders spilling onto the beach like a work of art. It’s heaven on Earth.
4. Sunset Beach, Trang, Thailand
The prettiest beach among the jaunty rock formations, emerald waters and jungle-shrouded hills in the Trang Islands of Thailand’s far southern Andaman Coast. It’s a worthwhile short hike or longtail boat ride to watch the namesake sunset.
5. Sarakiniko Beach, Milos, Greece
There’s no sand at Sarakiniko. Instead, you find a surreal volcanic landscape that folds into the deep, blue-green Aegean, and stone arches, alabaster cliffs, disused mining tunnels and dimly lit caves that create a mesmerising contrast with the endless sea.
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6. Haukland Beach, Lofoten Islands, Norway
Watching the northern lights reflecting off snow-white sands feels like pure magic. Haukland is one of the most unbelievably beautiful beaches among Norway’s thousands, and in summer the midnight sun bathes the whole place in an eerie glow.
7. Playa Balandra, Baja California Sur, Mexico
The stunning Playa Balandra is an enclosed cove with shallow turquoise water perfect for kids. Rent kayaks or stand-up paddleboards, explore tidepools, hike to neighbouring coves and gaze at the surreal rock formations of Espíritu Santo across the sparkling water.
8. Pfeiffer Beach, California, US
In late December, the setting sun illuminates Pfeiffer’s Keyhole Arch and a sliver of coast with a golden light – an unparalleled work of nature along the Big Sur shoreline. And after rainstorms, the beach can turn purple from manganese garnet in the crumbling bluffs.
9. Hanalei Bay, Hawaii , US
The last place on Earth or a doorstep to the heavens? The difference hardly matters when admiring Kaua‘i’s Hanalei Bay, a 3.2-kilometre crescent of golden sand carved from the northern edge of the northernmost island in the Hawaiian archipelago.
10. Platja Illetes, Formentera, Spain
From the clear Caribbean-blue waters to the carefree Mediterranean-island vibe, there’s nowhere quite like barefoot, salty-aired Formentera, where Platja Illetes evokes all that’s magical about this beach paradise.
This is an edited extract from Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2025, $32.99. lonelyplanet.com
