‘The most important part is the vibe’: Bate Bay named Australia’s best beach

Tourism Australia beach ambassador Brad Parker says the coastline south of Sydney airport ‘ticked pretty much every box’

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The Sutherland shire’s Bate Bay has been named best Australian beach for 2026. The annual list selects the top 10 beaches across the country, aiming to showcase Australia’s beauty domestically and abroad.

Tourism Australia’s beach ambassador, Brad Parker, who compiled the list, described the coastline south of Sydney’s airport as “Sydney’s longest, least crowded and most beautiful stretch of sand”.