Beach sights in Pacific
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Westshore Beach
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Catseye Beach
The sheer size of this resort means there are plenty of entertainment possibilities, which makes Hamilton an interesting day trip from Shute Harbour as you can use some the resort facilities. The resort has tennis courts, squash courts, a gym, a golf driving range and a mini-golf course.
From Catseye Beach, in front of the resort, you can hire windsurfers, catamarans, jet skis and other equipment, and go parasailing or water-skiing. Among the other options are helicopter joy rides, game fishing and even paintball skirmish.
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Five Mile Swimming Hole
Just off the Bruce Hwy, about 7km south of Cardwell, the Five Mile Swimming Hole is another good swimming spot with picnic facilities that are wheelchair accessible.
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Horseshoe Bay
Driving east around the sandy sweep of Queens Bay you come across a series of secluded coves and bays, including the picturesque Horseshoe Bay. There's an impressive coastal walking track linking Horseshoe and Rose Bays.
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Bathers Beach
You could theoretically swim here, but most people save the soaking for beaches further from the port.
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Cable Beach
Western Australia's most famous landmark has turquoise waters and beautiful white sand curving away to the sunset. Clothing is optional north of the rocks, while south, walking trails lead through the red dunes of Minyirr Park, a spiritual place for the Rubibi people. The visitor centre has a map, or go with an Indigenous guide. Cable Beach is synonymous with camels, and an evening ride along the sand is a highlight for many visitors.
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Coogee Beach
Coogee is 6km further south of South Beach.
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South Beach
Sheltered, swimmable, only 1.5km from the city centre and on the free CAT bus route.
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Gillespies Beach
From the highway, turn down Cook Flat Rd for its full 21km (unsealed for the final 12km) to the remote black-sand Gillespies Beach, site of an old mining settlement. Various interesting walks can be had from here, from a five-minute zip to the old miners' cemetery, to the 3½ hour return walk to Galway Beach where seals are wont to haul out. Don't disturb their lazing about.
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Orewa Beach
Orewa's 3km-long stretch of sand is its main drawcard. Being in the gulf, it's sheltered from the surf but it's still patrolled by lifeguards in the peak season.
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Great Exhibition Bay
On the east coast, Great Exhibition Bay has dazzling snow-white silica dunes. There’s no public road access, but some tours pay a koha (donation) to cross Maori farmland or approach the sand by kayak from Parengarenga Harbour.
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Long Beach
About 1.5km behind Russell (an easy walk or cycle) is this placid, child-friendly beach. Turn left (facing the sea) to visit Donkey Bay, a small cove that is an unofficial nudist beach.
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Balmoral Beach
The beachy enclave of Balmoral faces off with Manly across Middle Harbour, and has some good restaurants and a beaut swimming beach. Split in two by an unfeasibly picturesque rocky outcrop, Balmoral attracts picnicking North Shore families. Swimmers migrate to the shark-netted southern end.
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Camp Cove
Immediately north of Watsons Bay, this small swimming beach is popular with both families and topless sunbathers. When Governor Phillip realised Botany Bay didn't cut it, he sailed north into Sydney Harbour, dropped anchor and sunk his boots into Camp Cove's gorgeous golden sand on 21 January 1788.
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Chinamans Beach
Gorgeous, peaceful and serene, despite its proximity to busy Balmoral. Good for a photogenic swim.
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Clontarf Beach
A low-lapping elbow of sand facing the Spit Bridge that’s popular with families, with grassy picnic areas.
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Cobblers Beach
A nude and secluded beach on the other side of Middle Head from its partner in crime, Obelisk.
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Forty Baskets Beach
On the Manly Scenic Walkway, just before heading into the Begowlah Heights section of Sydney Harbour National Park. The picnic area is cut off at high tide.
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Garie Beach
An excellent surf beach with road access. Like all of these surf beaches, swimming can be treacherous.
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Lady Bay
Also known as Lady Jane, this diminutive gay nudist beach sits at the bottom of a cliff, on top of which (somewhat ironically) is a Royal Australian Navy facility. To get here, follow the cliff-top walking track from (somewhat aptly) Camp Cove. All together now: 'In the navy...'
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Obelisk
An isolated gay and nudist beach surrounded by bushland in the Middle Head section of Sydney Harbour National Park. It loses the sun quickly in the afternoon (chilly for the nudists).
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Parsley Bay
A hidden gem, this little bay has a calm swimming beach, a lawn dotted with sandstone sculptures for picnics and play, and a cute suspension bridge. Keep an eye out for water dragons (native reptiles) as you walk down through the bush.
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Reef Beach
Despite what you might have heard, this little cove on Manly Scenic Walkway is neither nude nor full of dudes; the Manly Council put pay to that in 1993. Now it's often deserted.
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Washaway Beach
Rugged and beautiful, Washaway is a secluded little spot within Sydney Harbour National Park, near Grotto Point on the Manly Scenic Walkway.
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Belongil Beach
To the west of Main Beach, clothing is optional at quieter Belongil Beach.
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