Cable Beach, Western Australia and Manly Beach, Sydney, make TripAdvisor’s top 15 best beaches list

Australia is famous the world over for its coastal lifestyle, but only two of our beaches have made it into an influential annual list of best beaches based on traveler reviews.

And despite its tourist draw and name recognition, Bondi Beach’s sweeping coastline just missed the cut on TripAdvisor’s Best Beaches for 2023 list released Wednesday.

Instead, Cable Beach in Broome, Western Australia and Manly on Sydney’s northern beaches, were the Aussie swaths of sand to crack the top 15 list.

The travel website TripAdvisor analyzed tens of millions of reviews submitted by millions of travelers around the world over the past 12 months.

The online travel site analyzed the quality and quantity of beach experience ratings to compile the top 15.

Manly Beach in Sydney, New South Wales was ranked 13th, with one TripAdvisor user stating that “Bondi gets all the credit and attention, but Manly is just as good.”

Cable Beach was ranked the third best beach in the world.

Its 22 km stretch of white sand that overlooks the Indian Ocean is famous for its stunning sunsets and iconic camel rides along the coast.

Manly Beach in Sydney was ranked 13th, with one TripAdvisor user stating that “Bondi gets all the credit and attention, but Manly is just as good.”

Baia do Sancho on the volcanic island of Fernando de Noronha, 350km off the coast of Brazil, was crowned the world’s best beach, climbing six places from last year.

The beach is only accessible by a series of steep stairs and steps, and is famous for its turquoise water, white sand, and exotic variety of wildlife, including dolphins, rays, turtles, and crabs.

Eagle Beach in Aruba in the Caribbean, came in second and is praised for its clear water, white sand, and for being the widest beach in the area.

Reynisfjara Beach in Vik, Iceland, ranked fourth and is world famous for its black sands and towering rock formations, a striking backdrop used in Game of Thrones.

Baia do Sancho (pictured) on the volcanic island of Fernando de Noronha, 350km off the coast of Brazil, was crowned the world’s best beach, climbing six places from last year.

Eagle Beach in Aruba, Caribbean, came in second, praised for its clear water, white sand, and for being the widest beach in the area (pictured)

Reynisfjara Beach in Vik, Iceland (pictured) ranked fourth and is world famous for its black sands and towering rock formations.

Hawaii’s Kaanapali Beach (pictured) on the island of Maui ranks 10th

TripAdvisor describes it as ‘a beach like no other’ that should be admired from the coast as its water is icy cold and its waves can reach 40 meters.

Grace Bay Beach in the Turks and Caicos Islands ranked fifth, Praia da Falesia in Portugal’s Algarve region in sixth, and Radhanagar Beach on India’s Havelock Island in seventh.

Closing out the top 10 list was Spiaggia dei Conigli on the Italian island of Lampedusa in eighth place, Varadero Beach in Cuba in ninth and Kaanapali Beach in Hawaii on the island of Maui in tenth place.

The online travel site also ranked the top 10 beaches in the South Pacific, with seven Australian beaches making the list.

Cable Beach in Broome, Manly Beach in Sydney and Emily Bay on Norfolk Island took the top three spots, followed by Mooloolaba Beach on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.

Four Mile Beach in Port Douglas, Queensland ranked sixth, while another Queensland beach, Whitehaven Beach on Whitsunday Island, ranked seventh.

Turquoise Bay in Exmouth, Western Australia was the last Australian beach to claim a spot, ranking ninth on the list.

Seven Australian beaches made TripAdvisor’s Top 10 South Pacific Beaches list, with Cable Beach in Broome, Manly Beach in Sydney and Emily Bay on Norfolk Island (pictured) taking the top three spots.

TripAdvisor editorial director Sarah Firshein said this year’s list included some “pleasant surprises” and reflected the community’s desire for experiences.

“As a huge fan of the beach, I know the impossible-to-resist allure of sunshine and turquoise water, and there’s certainly a lot of that on this year’s list,” said Ms. Firshein.

“In addition to the beloved beaches in the Caribbean, South Pacific, and Hawaii, our community is truly looking to enhance their experiences, even exploring cooler destinations like Reynisfjara Beach in Iceland.

“So whether you’re looking to pack a windbreaker or a bathing suit, our list has something for a wide range of travelers, and might even convince the most passionate beach skeptics to spend some time on the sand.”