Best Things to Do at the Beach in Australia
The Best Things to Do at the Beach in Australia
Not every beach day needs to be the same. The beach is as good for doing nothing as it is for doing everything — the trick is knowing your options. Here's a guide to making the most of a day by the water, whatever pace you're after.
In the Water
Swimming
The obvious one, and still the best on the right day. In Australia, always swim between the flags at patrolled beaches. Rip currents are responsible for the majority of surf drownings in Australia — if you're caught in one, don't fight it. Swim parallel to the shore until you're out of the rip, then make your way back in.
The best swimming beaches tend to be sheltered bays rather than open surf breaks — places like Wategos in Byron Bay, Hyams Beach in Jervis Bay, or Turquoise Bay in Ningaloo offer calm, clear water that makes swimming a genuine pleasure.
Surfing
Australia has some of the world's best surf. From the point breaks of Noosa to the world-class beach breaks of the Gold Coast and the heavy reef breaks of Margaret River, there's something for every level.
If you're learning, stick to beach breaks with small, crumbling waves — Manly, Cooly, and Torquay's Thirteenth Beach all have regular surf schools. If you can already surf, the east coast in summer has reliable swells from the Coral Sea.
Snorkelling
Underrated on beaches that don't have the Barrier Reef as a neighbour. Jervis Bay, Ningaloo Reef, and the marine parks around Sydney Heads all offer accessible snorkelling with surprisingly diverse marine life. All you need is a mask, snorkel, and fins — no boat required.
Stand-up paddleboarding
SUP is perfect for calm, sheltered bays. It's a full-body workout, beginner-friendly, and gives you a completely different view of the coastline. Most beach towns in Australia have hire available; you don't need to own a board to try it.
Bodyboarding
Lower barrier to entry than surfing and just as much fun on the right day. A bodyboard and a pair of fins is all you need. Works well on dumping beach breaks where surfing would be difficult.
On the Sand
A proper beach setup
This is underestimated. A good beach setup — a sand-free blanket centred under an umbrella, proper shade, cold drinks in an esky, good company — is one of the most enjoyable ways to spend a day in Australia. The difference between a chaotic scramble and a comfortable base camp is mostly preparation.
The XO Beach Blanket is designed specifically for this — sand-free microfibre that slides onto an already-planted umbrella pole, so your base is set up in under a minute.
Beach cricket
A genuine Australian institution. Stumps in the sand, a soft ball, everyone takes a turn. Best played in the late afternoon when the heat has dropped and the light is golden.
Beach volleyball
Most popular beaches have informal nets set up. If not, a ball and some marked lines in the sand is enough. A genuinely good way to spend a couple of hours with a group.
Sandcastles and sand sculptures
Don't underestimate this. Fine Australian beach sand, particularly quartz-heavy sand like at Hyams Beach or Whitehaven, holds shape well when wet. It's a surprisingly absorbing activity for all ages.
Rock pooling
Low tide at rocky beaches reveals an entire ecosystem. Sea anemones, hermit crabs, small fish, starfish, and urchins are all regular finds in Australian rock pools. Good for children and for anyone who wants an excuse to walk slowly and look closely at things.
Active Pursuits
Beach walks and coastal hikes
The best coastal walks in Australia are world-class. The Bondi to Coogee walk in Sydney, the Great Ocean Walk in Victoria, the Cape to Cape track in WA, and the Bay of Fires walk in Tasmania are all outstanding. Even a simple headland walk at the end of a beach gives you a perspective you can't get from the sand.
Fishing
Beach fishing is one of Australia's great accessible outdoor activities. A simple rod, some fresh bait, and a spot on a beach at dawn or dusk — bream, whiting, tailor, and flathead are common catches along the east coast. Check local regulations for size and bag limits.
Kayaking
Sea kayaking around headlands and into sea caves is a genuinely exciting way to explore coastline. Most beach towns offer hire. For the more adventurous, multi-day sea kayaking expeditions along stretches of the NSW or Victorian coast are among the best coastal experiences in Australia.
Beach running
Running on packed wet sand at low tide is one of the better running surfaces available — easier on the joints than road, with scenery that makes the kilometres disappear. Early morning or late afternoon to avoid peak UV.
Quieter Pleasures
Sunrise and sunset
Australian coastal sunrises and sunsets are reliably spectacular. East-facing beaches catch a full sunrise over the ocean; west-facing beaches (Cottesloe, Cable Beach) deliver some of the world's best sunsets. Worth setting the alarm for at least once.
Reading
The beach remains one of the best places to read. Bring something you've been meaning to get to for months. A sand-free blanket, shade, and a good book is a complete afternoon.
Beach picnics
The beach is better with good food. A proper picnic setup — proper blanket, charcuterie, cold drinks, good fruit — elevates a beach day from casual to memorable. See our guide to the best picnic spots in Australia for inspiration.
Wildlife watching
Australian beaches have extraordinary wildlife if you slow down enough to notice it. Dolphins surfing in the breaks off Byron Bay and the Gold Coast. Little penguins returning to their burrows at dusk at St Kilda Pier. Sea turtles nesting on Bundaberg and Mon Repos beaches. Humpback whales on their annual migration past the east coast from June to November.
With Kids
A beach day with children works best with the right kit and low expectations about where you'll actually end up. Kids tend to find their own agenda — usually a rock pool, a sandcastle site, or the shallows — and the best beach days happen when you follow them there.
A few things that help: a tent-style shade shelter for younger children, a bucket and spade for sand play, water shoes for rock pools, and a blanket large enough that everyone has space to retreat to between swims.
Making the Most of It
The best beach days in Australia tend to share a few things in common: good shade, a comfortable base, and not trying to do too much. Pick two or three things from the list above rather than ten. Stay longer. Leave later than you planned.
The Xanto XO Beach Blanket is built to anchor your day — sand-free, umbrella-compatible, and designed to make setup and pack-down as easy as the day itself.
Read more
What actually works at the beach in Australian conditions — from swimwear and cover-ups to sun protection and footwear. A practical guide to dressing for the Australian summer.
How to take better photos at the beach — light, timing, composition, and gear tips for anyone who wants to come home with images that actually do the day justice.