Cabarita Beach tops expanded list of Australia's best beach of 2019

Cabarita Beach - located between Byron Bay and the Gold Coast - has been named Australia top beach of 2019, heading the list of the nation’s 20 Best Beaches compiled by Tourism Australia ambassador Brad Farmer.

This year's list also includes a reinterpretation of what defines a beach, with Wagga Beach, miles from the coast, coming in at ninth on the list.

Speaking at the national launch of the list from the shoreline of the Murrumbidgee River, Farmer - also the founder of Ocean Care Day and the Surfriders Foundation - stated "from today the number of beaches just increased."

Explaining the expansion, he advised “it’s time we extend the meaning of a beach given there are so many aquatic environments across Australia’s interior.

"These water spaces which often rely on rain and flow are significant as they socially connect rural and remote communities in often dusty and dry, drought conditions.”

While his decision to recognise a river beach and a lake also, has been called controversial, Farmer stands by his call, commenting hat  to make the list a location needed “authentic and compelling attributes” along with being a place that someone would recommend to a friend", noting "beaches are the number one attraction for international visitors to Australia and the pride of every Australian."

The winner of the coveted title of Best Australian Beach for 2020 is the laid-back surf town of Cabarita on the NSW Tweed Coast. The runner up is Currumbin Beach and in third spot is the tiny secret spot of Minnamurra, 90 minutes south of Sydney.

Tourism Australia’s Managing Director Phillipa Harrison said this year's list once again demonstrated the breadth and depth of Australia's aquatic and coastal assets.

Harrison advised "as usual, Brad has come up with a cracking list. Beaches are part of our country’s DNA and the beach lifestyle such a fundamental part of the way we enjoy life down under. Whether it's a morning surf, nippers with the kids, a cold beer in the local RSL, a game of beach cricket or a family beach barbie, these are the things which make the Australian way of life unique and such a big part of the reason why millions of international visitors find Australia such an appealing destination to visit."

With Australians, now more than ever, wanting to take a greater ownership role and have their say protecting the intrinsic value of their beaches, Farmer said he would be drafting a ‘National Coastal Act’ based on the Californian model, which he hoped could be introduced into Federal Parliament as a Private Members Bill in 2020. 

Australia's 20 Best Beaches of 2019:

1. Cabarita, NSW
2. Currumbin, Queensland
3. Minnamurra, NSW
4. Maria Island, Tasmania
5. Cape Tribulation, Queensland
6. Brighton Beach, Victoria
7. Bettys Beach, Western Australia
8. South Port Beach, South Australia
9. Wagga Wagga Beach, NSW
10. Lake McKenzie, Queensland
11. The Basin, Rottnest Island, Western Australia
12. Fingal Bay, NSW
13. Smiths Beach, Western Australia
14. Neds Beach, Lord Howe Island, NSW
15. Quobba Station Red Bluff, South Australia
16. Cossies Beach, Cocos (Keeling) Islands
17. Lake Tyers Beach, Victoria
18. Diamond Head, NSW
19. Pondalowie Bay, South Australia
20. Killiecrankie Beach, Flinders Island, Tasmania

Images: Cabarita Beach (top, courtesy of Images From Up There) and Wagga Wagga Beach (below, courtesy of Visit Wagga).