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It’s the stunning beach location which has been voted the best in the world by online booking platform, TripAdvisor.
But while Whitehaven Beach in Queensland’s Whitsundays region has come out on top around the world, a recent poll put to news.com.au readers revealed otherwise.
This week, the world’s top 25 beaches have been named in Tripadvisor’s annual Traveller’s Choice awards, which are based on reviews and opinions from the travelling public in 2020.
Coming in at number one was Whitehaven Beach, which was commended for having such a proximity to Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef, as well as stunning white sand and crystal clear waters.
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The silver medal went to Santa Maria Beach on the island of Cayo Santa Maria in Cuba, and bronze to Baia do Sancho in Brazil.
According to the survey, Australia’s Whitehaven Beach received a perfect average of five stars from over 2300 reviews.
But from 3000 news.com.au votes, our favourite beach is actually Hyams on the NSW south coast followed by Wineglass Bay in Tasmania and Airlie Beach north of Mackay.
Hyams Beach is no stranger to popularity, given its white sand and stunning blue waters not dissimilar to what can be found at Whitehaven.
Each year, visitors flock to Hyams and its famously squeaky sand, looking for a patch on which to laze while taking in this slice of paradise.
But with the growing popularity for the beach also comes anger, with locals and fellow tourists alike butting heads (literally) when trying to find a spot on the sand or a place to park their car.
Sun-seeking visitors have inadvertently created gridlock in recent summers, heading towards the usually sleepy village on the sole road in, only to find the parking at capacity and the turning circle tight.
In comparison, Wineglass Bay in Tasmania’s Freycinet National Park has also seen tourism numbers balloon in recent years.
When international borders were still open to overseas travel (remember those days) Chinese tourists especially would flock to our smallest state all bound for the natural beauty of Wineglass Bay.
In 2017, overseas tourist spend in Tasmania jumped 31 per cent. But it’s not only international visitors that are drawn to Australia’s smallest state and most southern city – especially while overseas travel remains off limits.
In 2018, Tasmania was named among the nation’s most desired places to visit for young and old, according a Roy Morgan Holiday Tracking Survey. The survey found 1.75 million people had Hobart on their wish list, making it the county’s fastest growing capital as a desired domestic travel destination.
Think you know of a better place to visit in Australia? Comment below and let us know about your favourite hidden gem.
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