Look, I get it. Everyone’s booking their summer holidays to Byron Bay, the Gold Coast, or wherever Instagram’s telling them the cool kids are hanging out this year. But here’s the thing about Australia’s coastline – we’ve got 25,760 kilometres of it. That’s a lot of beach real estate, and most Australians are fighting over the same 50 kilometres of it every January.
I’ve done my fair share of coastal town hopping over the years, and some of the best experiences I’ve had weren’t in the places with the Bondi Beach price tags and the influencer crowds. They were in towns where you can still find a park without circling for 45 minutes, where the local cafe knows your coffee order by day three, and where “peak hour” means six cars at the roundabout instead of three.
So if you’re after a proper summer escape without the chaos (or the eye-watering accommodation costs), here are some genuinely underrated Australian coastal spots worth considering.
Tathra, New South Wales
Tucked away on the Sapphire Coast, Tathra’s one of those towns that somehow dodged the coastal development frenzy. You’ve got a proper surf beach, a wharf that’s been standing since 1862 (great for fish and chips at sunset, by the way), and enough rock pools to keep the kids occupied without resorting to iPads.
The town’s small enough that you’ll walk most places, but big enough that you’re not stuck with one overpriced restaurant for your entire stay. Plus, it’s part of the Sapphire Coast, so you can day trip to Merimbula or Pambula if you get restless, though honestly, you probably won’t.
Port Fairy, Victoria
I’ll cop some heat for calling Port Fairy “underrated” because locals absolutely know about it. But compared to the Great Ocean Road tourist traps further east? It’s practically a ghost town. And that’s exactly the appeal.
This place has actual character – historic bluestone buildings, a working fishing fleet, and beaches that don’t require a mortgage to access. The town’s got enough going on with its folk festival heritage and decent food scene, but it’s not trying to be the next Lorne. Sometimes that’s exactly what you want.
Lady Bay’s the pick for families, while those after something more dramatic should check out the blowhole at high tide. Just don’t expect miracles – it’s a blowhole, not a theme park.
Coffin Bay, South Australia
If you’re serious about oysters, you already know about Coffin Bay. If you’re not, well, this might convert you. The town’s built around oyster farming, and yes, they’re as good as everyone says. Get them fresh from the farms, crack them open right there, and suddenly you understand why people pay stupid money for them in city restaurants.
Beyond the oysters, you’ve got national park coastline that’s genuinely untouched. The beaches here are the kind where you might be the only person on them, even in summer. The water’s freezing (it’s South Australia, what did you expect?), but the swimming’s excellent if you can handle it.
Fair warning: accommodation’s limited, so book early. This isn’t the kind of place where you rock up last minute and find somewhere decent to stay.
Agnes Water & Town of 1770, Queensland
Yeah, I’m counting these as one because they’re basically joined at the hip. This is Queensland’s northernmost surf beach, which already makes it interesting. But what makes it properly underrated is that it’s far enough from Brisbane (about four and a half hours) that the weekend crowds haven’t discovered it yet.
Town of 1770 is where Captain Cook first landed in Queensland, if you’re into that sort of history. These days it’s more about the boat trips to the reef and the absolutely cracking sunsets. Agnes Water’s got the surf beach, decent cafes, and that classic Queensland coastal vibe without the Gold Coast nonsense.
The drive up from the highway’s a bit of a trek, which probably helps keep the crowds down. Their loss, honestly.
Robe, South Australia
Robe’s got a bit more tourism than some others on this list, but it’s still flying under the radar compared to what it deserves. The town’s got proper swimming beaches, surf breaks, rock pools, and enough history to keep the culture vultures happy.
Long Beach lives up to its name – it’s genuinely long, and you can drive on parts of it, which the kids seem to find unreasonably exciting. The town itself has decent pubs, good coffee, and fresh crayfish if you time it right.
January gets busy (it’s school holidays, everywhere gets busy), but shoulder season here is absolutely prime. The weather’s still good, the water’s swimmable, and you’ll actually find parking.
Berrara, New South Wales
Now we’re getting properly off the beaten track. Berrara’s on the South Coast between Nowra and Ulladulla, and most people drive straight past it on their way to somewhere else. Which, again, is exactly why it works.
The beach here is protected by headlands, so it’s calmer than some of the more exposed South Coast spots. There’s a lagoon for when the ocean’s too rough, and enough bushwalking tracks to justify calling it an “active holiday” while you’re really just eating fish and chips and reading books.
Accommodation’s mostly holiday houses and the caravan park, so it’s not fancy. But if you’re after a proper old-school Australian beach holiday without the resort experience, this is it.
Stanwell Park, New South Wales
Sitting just north of Wollongong on the northern edge of the Illawarra, Stanwell Park gets overshadowed by its southern neighbours, which is mad when you think about it. The beach sits in this perfect little valley with the Sea Cliff Bridge providing possibly the most scenic drive on the entire NSW coast.
The surf’s decent, the rock pool’s great for families, and there’s enough hang gliding activity from Bald Hill to keep things interesting without being obnoxious about it. You’re also close enough to Sydney (about an hour south) that it works for a quick escape, but far enough that it doesn’t feel like an extension of the suburbs.
The pub does good counter meals, the beach cafe’s solid for breakfast, and that’s about all you need really. Sometimes simple works best.
Coral Bay, Western Australia
Right, so Coral Bay’s a long way from anywhere – about 1,200 kilometres north of Perth – which is probably why it’s not overrun despite having some of the best snorkelling on the Australian mainland. The Ningaloo Reef comes right up to the beach here, so you’re literally wading in and swimming with tropical fish within minutes.
The town itself is tiny. We’re talking one main street, a handful of accommodation options, and not much else. But when the beach and reef are this good, you don’t need much else. Whale sharks cruise through between March and July, manta rays are around year-round, and the water’s that ridiculous turquoise colour that doesn’t look real in photos.
Summer (November to March) gets hot – properly hot – but the water’s warm and the reef life’s incredible. Just factor in the drive or the flight from Perth, because this isn’t a quick weekend trip unless you’re already in WA’s north.
Greenwell Point, New South Wales
Another South Coast gem that most people miss because they’re hammering down the Princes Highway towards Jervis Bay. Greenwell Point sits on the southern shore of the Shoalhaven River, about 15 minutes from Nowra, and it’s built its reputation on two things: oysters and fishing.
The oyster co-ops here sell them fresh daily, and they’re sensibly priced because you’re buying them literally metres from where they’re farmed. The river fishing’s excellent, the beaches are quiet (Orient Point Beach is the pick), and you’ve got Jervis Bay’s famous white sand beaches just up the road if you need a change of scenery.
It’s not flashy, there’s no real nightlife to speak of, and accommodation’s limited to holiday rentals and the caravan park. But if you want a low-key fishing and beach holiday without the Jervis Bay crowds and prices, this is your spot.
Carrickalinga, South Australia
About an hour south of Adelaide on the Fleurieu Peninsula, Carrickalinga’s one of those beaches that South Australians quietly keep to themselves while everyone else heads to Victor Harbor or Goolwa. Smart move on their part, honestly.
The beach is a proper crescent of white sand backed by cliffs, with reliable waves for surfing and enough protected areas for swimming. The township’s small but functional – a general store, fish and chips, a couple of cafes – and the surrounding area’s got wineries if you need an excuse to drink during the day (it’s holidays, you don’t need an excuse).
Normanville’s the next town over if you need more services, but the whole point of Carrickalinga is that you don’t need more services. You need a beach, some decent takeaway, and a good book. Everything else is just noise.
Gerroa, New South Wales
Last one, and it’s back to the NSW South Coast because honestly, this stretch has more underrated towns than it knows what to do with. Gerroa sits between Kiama and Nowra, and it’s got a seven-kilometre beach that somehow stays relatively quiet even in peak season.
The surf’s consistent, there’s a good surf club, and Crooked River runs behind the beach providing calm water options when the ocean’s too rough. The town’s got enough accommodation to make a week-long stay work, but it’s managed to avoid the overdevelopment that’s ruined other coastal spots.
You’re also close enough to Kiama and Berry that day trips are easy if you get restless, though the whole appeal of Gerroa is that you probably won’t. Sometimes a long beach and minimal fuss is exactly what a summer holiday should be.
Why Bother With Underrated?
Here’s the thing about popular coastal destinations – they’re popular for a reason. Byron’s got great beaches, the Gold Coast’s got infrastructure, and Noosa’s genuinely beautiful. But they’ve also got traffic, inflated prices, and that slightly desperate holiday vibe where everyone’s trying too hard to have the perfect beach experience.
The underrated spots don’t try as hard. They’re just coastal towns being coastal towns, which is kind of the whole point of a beach holiday anyway. You wake up, go to the beach, eat something fried from the local takeaway, maybe have a swim, read your book, repeat. No pressure to tick off Instagram locations or queue for the trendy brunch spot.
Plus, and this isn’t nothing, your money goes further. A week’s accommodation in Tathra or Berrara costs what you’d pay for three nights in Byron. That’s extra budget for oysters, fish and chips, and whatever else constitutes holiday excess these days.
The Practical Bit
If you’re actually planning to visit any of these places, a few pointers:
Book accommodation early, especially for school holidays. “Underrated” doesn’t mean “empty.” It just means they haven’t been turned into coastal theme parks yet.
Most of these towns are small, so one or two good restaurants, a bakery, and a pub. That’s your dining scene. If you need variety, you’re in the wrong place.
Mobile reception’s patchy in some spots. Consider that a feature, not a bug.
The beaches are often less patrolled than major tourist spots. Swim between the flags when they’re up, and use some common sense when they’re not.
Check the local events calendar – small coastal towns often have markets, festivals, or other stuff happening that’s worth timing your visit around.
For the more remote spots like Coral Bay, plan your trip properly. Fuel up, stock up on supplies, and don’t assume services will be available 24/7.
Final Thoughts
Australia’s got enough coastline that we really don’t need to all cram into the same dozen beaches every summer. These underrated spots exist because not everyone’s discovered them yet, which is both the appeal and the slightly selfish reason you shouldn’t tell too many people about them.
But if you’re reading this, you’re probably looking for exactly this kind of alternative. So pick one, book early, lower your expectations for five-star dining and nightlife, and just enjoy a proper Australian coastal holiday without the crowds.
The beaches work the same wherever you are. The main difference is how many people you’re sharing them with.
