The most famous ones: Bondi and Manly Beach are in Sydney. But there are many other beaches in New South Wales that don’t see the hordes of tourists and will blow you away.

We have travelled along the coast of New South Wales in our van in 2020 and these are our absolute favourites.

8 Best Beaches in New South Wales

1) Mystery Bay, South Coast

Mystery Bay Beach is the one for you if you are after a beach with rugged surroundings and are looking for some serenity.

A turnoff from the main highway leads through a few streets past a few houses and a campsite right on the beach.

Further down the views of sandy beach with waves crashing into rocks appear. Come here at sunset or sunrise for truly magical moments. One of the best beaches in New South Wales, mostly enjoyed by locals only. Located near Narooma on the South Coast.

2) Number One Beach, Seal Rocks

As the name suggests, this beach is well worth the drive inland through the National Park surrounding it. Seal Rocks is a small coastal settlement famous for its best beaches for surfers and the Sugarloaf Point Lighthouse, which sits on top of the hill.

The hike up takes less than 15 minutes and offers epic views. We were lucky to see a pod of dolphins.

Seal Rocks was named after the Australian Fur Seals colony that was once here, but there are no seals here today.

But we don’t miss the seals as otherwise, it would not be one of the best beaches in New South Wales.

3) Killick Beach, Crescent Head

Crescent Heads was recommended to visit by a few friends and it had a really different feel to other beaches we’ve been to. There is a caravan/holiday park right on the beach.

There are two types of beaches here. Pebble Beach seems to get the big waves on the ocean side and it appears to be the spot for fishing. The other side has a long stretch of sand, the Killick Beach and it runs into a bay so it’s sheltered.

The tidal Killick Creek opens into the Pacific Ocean and provides sheltered swimming for kids or those learning to surf. In front of the surf club is a beach break. This is Crescent Head’s most popular family beach as it provides easy access to the beach, accommodation, and the downtown area.

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4) Pebbly Beach, Murramarang National Park

Kangaroos on a beach? Sounds like an advert for the best beaches in New South Wales or even Australia. But when it comes to Pebbly Beach in the heart of Murramarang National Park, it is exactly what you get.

The National Park (don’t forget to pay the entry fee as you drive in) has been badly damaged during the 2020 bushfires. But this area is due to be reopened soon.

There is a camping ground right on Pebbly Beach where you can watch the Eastern Grey Kangaroos come out at dusk. They are very friendly and used to humans, but please don’t feed them.

If you stay for a night you can enjoy some excellent bushwalking tracks nearby.

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5) Hyams Beach, Jervis Bay

Hyams Beach is, without a doubt, one of the best beaches in New South Wales. Many people think this is the best one! While many blogs and articles claim that Hyams Beach holds a Guinness World Record for the whitest sand beach in the world, this is not true.

Yes, the beach is truly stunning with its fine white sand. But no such category and no beach holds this Guinness World Record.

Located in Shoalhaven, it’s roughly 180 km south of Sydney. We loved the beach and if you get here early, you might avoid the crowds of Instagrammers working on their next beach shot.

For a coffee with a view, you can stop at Hyams Beach Cafe overlooking the beach.

Our Tip: Visit Jarvis National Park just down the road and check out Green Patch and Cave Beach. They are just as nice.

6) Kendalls Beach, Kiama

To put it simply, Kiama has stolen our hearts. The Coastal Walk is simply stunning and a must-do if you visit. The next day, you can enjoy a day at Kendalls Beach. It’s small, quiet, with shallow waters and gentle waves.

New South Wales seems to have many of these beaches dotted along the coast. The locals will always argue that they have the best beaches in New South Wales and nothing seems to make them happier when visitors agree.

If you come to Kiama, you can stay very close to Kendalls Beach. There is even a Holiday/Caravan park with self-contained units overlooking the beach. What a win.

The beach itself is a short walk from Kiama downtown. You will pass it on the Kiama Coast walk if you are doing the southern section from Kiama to Gerringong.

7) Seven Mile Beach, Lennox Heads

As you get closer to the top end of New South Wales the mission to find the best beaches in New South Wales becomes a lot tougher. There are simply amazing beaches everywhere.

But the Seven Mile Beach that runs along Lennox Heads was our favourite. A white sand beach with clear waters and a decent surf break ticked a lot of boxes.

The Surf Club had live music on with locals and tourists enjoying coffee and beach views.

The town itself is literally overlooking the beach! So grab your gelato or coffee and sit on the beach.

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8) Wategos Beach, Byron Bay

Byron Bay is an institution among backpackers and travellers. Known for live music, excellent surf and a bohemian lifestyle, it’s a must-visit when travelling in Australia. There are five beaches near Byron Bay and while Main Beach is right in town, we consider the Wategos Bay Beach the one that deserves a spot on our 8 best beaches in New South Wales list.

It’s about a half-hour walk from Byron Bay downtown. Or you can stop here on the way to the famous Byron Bay Lighthouse (Australia’s most eastern point). But make sure you return and spend a morning or afternoon here. Great for swimming or riding longboards.

We stayed at Ingenia Holiday Park in Byron Bay. They offer a range of accommodation options, from powered/unpowered campsites to cabins and villas.

The holiday park has all the excellent facilities you’d expect, and it’s only a 10 min walk to the stunning Tallows Beach.

These are the 8 Best Beaches in New South Wales based on our travels. Do you have a favourite beach in New South Wales that we didn’t mention? Let us know in the comments below.

Travel Tips for Australia

We have many travel guides and tips for Australia—what a diverse country!

Australia is ideal for exploring with two wheels! If you plan to explore Oz, check out our best tips for doing the Big Lap of Australia 

Our complete guide to Great Keppel Island is all you need for the perfect island stay.

If you head back to the coast, we recommend that you visit Yeppoon and the Capricorn Coast. Check out the 15 Best Things To Do in Yeppoon, and don’t forget about the food. We’ve got you covered with the best places to eat in Yeppoon.

Our comprehensive itineraries for travelling in Australia include this Brisbane to Cairns Road Trip – the Best 14-day itinerary, our detailed Guide to Camping in Karijini National Park and the Ultimate Guide to Carnarvon Gorge.

We’re all about the food, too! Don’t miss these 12 best cheap eats in Cairns.

We highly recommend you visit the gorgeous Whitsunday Islands in Queensland; this is a special place!

If you’re after a unique experience, these five reasons why you need to Reefsleep on the Great Barrier Reef will do it.

If you’re visiting Australia on vacation, try these 12 classic Australian foods while you’re here and see if you can visit these iconic 30 Best BIG Things in Australia.

Do you plan to visit the Pacific islands? You’ll need our ULTIMATE guide to visit every country in the Pacific.

Furthermore, if you plan to travel longer after visiting Australia, these 21 cheapest countries to visit will make your hard-earned dollars stretch a bit further.

You’ll need to stay connected while travelling in Australia. We recommend eSIM. It’s easy, reliable and affordable. View options for eSIM in Australia.

If your travels in Australia are part of a much larger global adventure, then a Global eSIM may be the answer. It connects you in 124 countries, offering data-only eSIM and data/call/text eSIM. The Global eSIM has been a game-changer; we couldn’t imagine travelling without it now.

Want to travel around Australia with like-minded travellers? View the best deals on group adventures in Australia.

Check out our best-ever travel tips compiled from more than twenty years of experience.