Huge underdog named best beach in Australia
Despite its ominous name, Western Australia’s Misery Beach has been dubbed the country’s best.
Brad Farmer, Tourism Australia’s beach ambassador, curated a top list of the best beaches Australia had to offer in 2022, whittling a list of 11,000 candidates down to just 20.
Going up against international favourites like Bondi, Byron and Noosa, Misery Beach came out on top.
“It’s a stunning beach,” Farmer told the ABC.
“It just ticks all the boxes of what the typical beachgoer is looking for - uncrowded, crystal-white sand, turquoise waters and a very dramatic granite backdrop.”
Located 20 kilometres south of Albany on Western Australia’s south coast, Mystery Beach is about five hours southeast of Perth.
Unlike its more well-known competitors, Misery Beach has a bloody history that makes its name quite appropriate.
Until 1978, the sand and surrounding water would be stained red with the blood of slaughtered sperm whales, due to its proximity to a major whaling station.
With blood, fat and teeth in the water, Misery Beach was a poor choice for swimming, though it was a good spot for spearfishing and camping.
Since the whaling station shut down 44 years ago, the beach has become the safe haven for marine life it is today, with seals, dolphins and whales appearing in its waters.
With its unique history, Farmer said it was a compelling enough reason to bestow the accolade on the beach.
That, and because he finds many of Australia’s beaches to be “fatigued and overexposed” to beachgoers, who are looking more for “quirky and out-of-the-box” spots to enjoy.
As a result, the big-name beaches are nowhere to be seen on Farmer’s list.
Tourism Australia’s top 20 beaches in 2022
Misery Beach, Western Australia — Minang Country.
Horseshoe Bay, New South Wales — Dainggatti Country.
The Spit, Queensland — Bundjalung Country.
Flaherty's Beach, South Australia — Narangga Country.
Loch Ard Gorge, Victoria — Giraiwurung Country.
The Neck, Tasmania — Nuenonne Country on Lunnawannalonna.
Blue Pearl Bay, Queensland — Giya Country.
Depot Beach, New South Wales — Yuin Country.
Murrays Beach, Jervis Bay Territory — Yuin/Tharawal Country.
Dundee Beach, Northern Territory — Larrakia/Wadyiginy Country.
Dudley Beach, New South Wales — Awabakal Country.
Thompsons Beach, Victoria — Waveroo/Yorta Yorta Country.
Coogee Beach, Western Australia — Wajuk Country.
Mots Beach, Victoria — Kurnai Country.
Alexandria Bay, Queensland — Gubbi Gubbi Country.
Emu Bay, South Australia.
Lake Wabby, Queensland — Butchulla Country.
Congwong Beach, New South Wales — Eora/Tharawal Country.
Jellybean Pool, New South Wales — Dharug Country.
Ethel Beach, Christmas Island.
Image: @australias_southwest (Instagram)