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”.
After looking at 12,500 beaches, Parker has created a 130-point benchmark which he judges beaches against.
Brad Farmer, Tourism Australia’s beach ambassador, who compiles the annual list. Photograph: Bestaustralianbeaches
“Hand on heart, I can say Bate Bay is the most qualified beach, it ticked pretty much every box,” Parker said.
Parker said he took into account a range of factors when judging what makes Australia’s best beach, such as aesthetic, natural integrity, facilities, access and parking.
“Just like The Castle, the most important part is the vibe. It sounds cliche, but having a friendly and inviting atmosphere is one of the most important factors when analysing”, Parker said.
The mayor of Sutherland shire, Jack Boyd, said the study recognised “what locals have long known”, and he hoped it would attract more tourism for the shire.
“This huge honour highlights our coastline’s natural beauty, easy access to local public transport, surf culture, vibrant lifestyle and strong community connection,” Boyd said.
The New South Wales tourism minister, Steve Kamper, hoped the award would boost visits and international and national awareness.
“Well, there you have it, sorry Australia, when it comes to the best beach in town, NSW is by far the winner. Whether it’s the south coast, north coast, central coast or a good old Sydney beach, there is no better place in Australia to enjoy a dip than NSW,” Kamper said.
Located on Gweagal Country of the Dharawal nation, many of the beaches across the shire’s coastline carry Indigenous names such as Gunnamatta, Wanda, Elouera and Cronulla.
Bate Bay spans 4.8km and is directly under the flight path for passengers flying into Sydney.
Greenhills beach forms 3.3km of Bate Bay. It was one of the backdrops for the Australian coming of age drama Puberty Blues.
The bay also holds significant ties to colonisation as the first recorded interaction between Indigenous Australians and European colonisers took place there in 1770.
Through the annual list Parker hoped to highlight the importance of beaches in Australia and urged a national framework for coastal protection.
“The beach is one of Australia’s biggest revenue sources and one of the highest generators of pleasure, but there is no minister protecting for the very resource Australians consider to be most valuable,” he said.
Parker also wanted the list to highlight wellness benefits of the beach and urged Australians to take more ownership over their patch of sand. “We need to ensure we don’t ruin it for the next generation,” he said.
