life’s a beach!

Spread your towel out at these seven idyllic beaches for the perfect sun-filled spring picnic

WORDS JOANNA HALL

Photo: Shutterstock/Andy Z.

BEST BEACH FOR SNORKELLING
Hanauma Bay
7455 Kalaniana’ole Highway, Southeast O’ahu, O’ahu, Hawaii

On an island famous for its surf breaks, Hanauma Bay is often overlooked by visitors to O’ahu – and the locals couldn’t be happier about it. This curved bay is actually a collapsed crater of a volcano and its reef not only protects the area from ocean swell, but is also home to a wide array of marine life. For beginners to snorkelling and diving, this is a perfect place to learn; even experienced divers return here time and again. It also has a large sandy beach perfect for relaxing, sunbathing and picnicking, with the safety of patrolling lifeguards and the ease of shady picnic facilities. In addition there are changing rooms with showers, snorkel gear rental, a small convenience store, and locker rental. This is an official Marine Life Conservation District so entry is US$5 (AU$8.75) for those aged 13 and over; it’s open 6am to 7pm in summer, open on Saturdays until 10pm, andclosed Tuesdays.

Photos: Ben Hall

BEST BEACH FOR SURFING
Waikiki Beach
Kuhio Beach Park, 2455 Kalakaua Ave, Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii

Perhaps the world’s most famous beach, Waikiki has long shaken off its reputation as a tired and slightly tatty destination for loud American “mainlanders”. The beach is now vibrant and attractive, epitomising the Hawaiian dream. And for anyone who’s ever dreamed of surfing, this is the place to learn: Waikiki’s waves are among the cleanest and most consistent in the world. Most beginners manage to stand up on their first day out and with the water temperature rarely dropping below 25°C, you could spend all day catching waves. There are surfboard rentals, fresh water showers, water fountains, lifeguards, and change rooms in Kuhio Park, on the main section of Waikiki. Just across the road are convenience stores and all of Waikiki’s shopping delights, should you run short of supplies.

BEST BEACH FOR FAMILIES
Shelly Beach
Bower St, Manly, Sydney, New South Wales

Photo: Tourism New South Wales

Locals from Sydney’s northern beaches, stretching from Manly up to Palm Beach, have known and loved this little piece of paradise for decades. While most visitors cram themselves onto world famous Manly Beach (or the even more packed-out Bondi), an easy 10-minute walk from Manly itself is Shelly Beach. This protected bay with its beautiful white sand beach is perfectly safe for the kids to go swimming in and has all the facilities you could ask for: changing rooms with showers, water fountains, plentiful parking (although it’s pricey), free gas barbecues and heaps of shade. If you decide not to picnic, there’s an inexpensive café on the beach which does takeaway food, beer and wine, and a fully licensed restaurant called Le Kiosk (tel: +61 (2) 9977 4122).

PACK THE PERFECT PICNIC BASKET

• Utensils, plates and cups
• Corkscrew or bottle opener
• Cooler bags with ice or ice packs
• Sunscreen and a hat
• Insect repellent
• Picnic rug and cushions
• Serviettes and wet wipes
• Umbrella or tent for the kids
• Mobile phone and map
• Rubbish bags
• Food and lots of water!

BEST BEACH FOR SOPHISTICATION
Broadbeach
Broadbeach Blvd, Broadbeach, Gold Coast, Queensland

Photo: Ben Hall

Just 3km south of Surfers Paradise, this beach village on the Gold Coast is arguably more cosmopolitan and sophisticated than its northern neighbour. The beach itself has two swimming areas patrolled by lifeguards and is quieter than Surfers, attracting more couples and groups of friends rather than raucous teens. But the other trait which sets it apart are the more than 100 restaurants and cafés, spiced up by the vibrant nightlife which crackles into action once the sun goes down – guaranteeing you options within arm’s length when you tire of the great outdoors or the kids start nagging for ice cream. The main beach areas have changing rooms with shower facilities, and a boutique shopping mall is right across the road, with takeaway and convenience stores.

BEST BEACH FOR ROMANCE
Whitehaven Beach
Whitsunday Island, off Airlie Beach, Queensland

Photo: Tourism Queensland/Shane Batham

A regular “best beach” winner in sophisticated travel magazines, this 7km stretch of pure silica white sand is one of Queensland’s most famous tourism icons. With crystal-clear water on one side and lush tropical rainforest on the other, Whitehaven has been spared from development to ensure it retains its “get-away-from-it-all” feel. You can’t actually stay on Whitehaven, but it’s possible to take a boat on a day-trip and stop at the beach for a few hours. The other options are to hire a “bareboat” (a sail-yourself yacht) or to sample the luxury of a champagne helicopter tour which drops you at Whitehaven for a couple of hours with a bottle of bubbly and a picnic hamper.

BEST BEACH FOR A SUNSET
Cottesloe Beach
Marine Pde, Cottesloe, Perth, Western Australia

Photo: Tourism Western Australia

No trip to WA is complete without catching an awesome west-coast sunset – and Cottesloe is the perfect place to watch the sun sink into the ocean. On its own, it’s a truly beautiful beach – a colonial-era surf club stands guard over a wide expanse of white sand and azure water, lifesavers practise their drills, beautiful bodies sun themselves, and children build sandcastles. Parking is free and there’s a train station 600m from the beach. You’ll find shaded lawns, a jogging track, toilets and changing rooms with showers, and a kiosk selling drinks and snack food. A playground, several beachfront restaurants and cafés – plus two great pubs – round off that perfect day.

PICNIC TIPS:

1. Remember the rules of good food safety eating outdoors, and avoid foods which will melt easily or go bad quickly.
2. Take plenty of fresh water with you in case there isn’t a source close by, or it isn’t safe to drink.
3. Don’t feed or touch the local wildlife.
4. If you are planning to fire up a portable barbecue, check that there are no fire restrictions in place in the local area.
5. Dispose of rubbish properly – take it with you or use the bins provided.
6. Be thoughtful and remember that you’re sharing public space with other picnickers!
7. Don’t swim on a full stomach or after drinking alcohol.

BEST BEACH FOR A BARBECUE
East Point Reserve
East Point Reserve, Fannie Bay, Darwin, Northern Territory

Photo: Tourism Northern
Territory

How many places in the world can you fire up a barbie, spot some wallabies, possums and bandicoots and then watch a fantastic sunset all in one afternoon? The answer: very few, except for East Point Reserve in Darwin. At 200 hectares, it’s the largest park in or near the city, with extensive walking and cycling paths and the bonus of safe year-round swimming in salty Lake Alexander. The reserve is also home to Darwin’s East Point Military Museum, which features artillery, armoured vehicles and photographs, plus startling footage of the Japanese bombing of Darwin in World War II. With picnic and free barbecue facilities set among a landscaped environment, East Point Reserve is an idyllic place to enjoy a great day out.

Joanna Hall says:
I was with a group of friends on Shelly Beach a couple of years ago having a barbecue, when none other than the Olympic gold medalist, Ian Thorpe, arrived on the beach with some pals. We waited all day to see if he would go into the water to do his stuff. But sadly he stayed on dry land the entire afternoon sitting under a tree. He didn’t even get into a pair of swimmers!