But not only did Sydney’s iconic Bondi beach not make it onto the list, it didn’t even make it onto the list of the top ten Australian beaches.
A travel website revealed the winners of its ‘Travellers’ Choice’ award for beaches, based on reviews and ratings for beaches on the site in the past 12 months.
Whitehaven Beach on the Whitsunday Island was named the best beach in Australia and the South Pacific, with international travellers ranking it the fifth best in the world.
“We are very excited that the Whitehaven Beach (pictured) has taken out the top award and has been recognised as one of the best beaches in the world,” Whitsundays Marketing and Development Ltd chief executive Danial Rochford said.
Turquoise Bay in Western Australia and Cable Beach, near Broome, were the other two Australian beaches in the world’s top 25, coming in at number 20 and 22 respectively.
Baia do Sancho beach in the Fernando de Noronha region of Brazil was rated as the best beach in the world – with the South American country the only other, apart from Australia, to have three beaches on TripAdvisor’s top 25 list.
“For those dreading the start of winter, there’s really no better cure than an escape to one of these award-winning beaches,” the site’s chief marketing officer Barbara Messing said.
According to TripAdvisor users however, Bondi was not worthy of a mention in Australia’s top ten, despite overwhelmingly positive reviews on the website. Over 75 per cent of users rated the beach excellent or very good.
But beaches including Burleigh Heads Beach, Manly Beach and Cottesloe Beach all rated above the iconic strip of Sydney sand.
TOP 25 BEACHES IN THE WORLD: 1. Baia do Sancho, Fernando de Noronha, Brazil 2. Grace Bay, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos 3. Flamenco Beach, Culebra, Puerto Rico 4. Rabbit Beach, Lampedusa, Italy 5. Whitehaven Beach, Whitsunday Island, Australia 6. Playa de ses Illetes, Formentera, Spain 7. Anse Lazio, Praslin Island, Seychelles 8. Lanikai Beach, Kailua, Hawaii 9. Rhossili Bay, Swansea, Wales 10. Playa Norte, Isla Mujeres, Mexico 11. Playa Paraiso Beach, Cayo Largo, Cuba 12. Praia dos Carneiros, Tamandare, Brazil 13. Lopes Mendes Beach, Ilha Grande, Brazil 14. The Baths, Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands 15. Playa de las Catedrales, Ribadeo, Spain 16. Ka’anapali Beach, Lahaina, United States 17. Elafonissi Beach, Elafonissi, Greece 18. Cala Mariolu, Baunei, Italy 19. White Beach, Boracay, Philippines 20. Turquoise Bay, Exmouth, Australia 21. Anse Source d’Argent, La Digue Island, Seychelles 22. Cable Beach, Broome, Australia 23. Playa Manuel Antonio, Manuel Antonio National Park, Costa Rica 24. Camp’s Bay Beach, Camps Bay, South Africa 25. Radhanagar Beach, Havelock Island, India
TOP 10 BEACHES IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC: 1. Whitehaven Beach, Whitsunday Island, Australia 2. Turquoise Bay, Exmouth, Australia 3. Cable Beach, Broome, Australia 4. Maunganui Beach, Maunganui, New Zealand 5. Shelly Beach, Sydney, Australia 6. Burleigh Heads Beach, Burleigh Heads, Australia 7. Four Mile Beach, Port Douglas, Australia 8. Manly Beach, Sydney, Australia 9. Matira Beach, Bora Bora, French Polynesia 10. Piha Beach, Piha, New Zealand
TOP 10 BEACHES IN AUSTRALIA: 1. Whitehaven Beach, Whitsunday Island, QLD 2. Turquoise Bay, Exmouth, WA 3. Cable Beach, Broome, WA 4. Shelly Beach, Sydney, NSW 5. Burleigh Heads Beach, Burleigh Heads, QLD 6. Four Mile Beach, Port Douglas, QLD 7. Manly Beach, Sydney, NSW 8. Cottesloe Beach, Cottesloe, WA 9. Noosa Main Beach, Noosa, QLD 10. Coolangatta Beach, Coolangatta, QLD