PLAN A BEACH BREAK

We’re spoilt with spots to spread a towel on the sand, with some of the country’s best beaches in our backyard.

This week travel planning and booking site TripAdvisor announced its awards for the best.

1. Manly Beach, Sydney

Coming in first is nothing new to Manly Beach – it was the first beach in Australia to allow daylight swimming in 1903 and hosted the world’s earliest surfing championship back in 1964.

2. Surfers Paradise Beach, Gold Coast

Surfers Paradise Beach is one of Australia’s most iconic and visited tourist attractions. Reviewers recommend taking a stroll down the esplanade for the magnificent city skylines.

3. Whitehaven Beach, Whitsunday Island

Whitehaven gives new meaning to soft, white, sandy beach, with 98 per cent pure white silica sands making it one of the purest in the world.

4. Main Beach, Noosa

As one of the very few beaches along Australia’s eastern coastline that faces north, the waters are warm and calm year-round.

5. Bondi Beach, Sydney

Just 8km or a short bus ride away from the city centre, visitors to Sydney’s famous eastern shoreline are fans of Bondi’s “lovely sweeping curve”, “mesmerising waves” and lively sun seekers. Travellers recommend going on a coastal walk from Bondi to Coogee.