So here they are, the next five in our effort to chronicle the ten hottest beaches in Australia. Picking them was no mean feat as there is a literal smorgasboard of choice spread around the entire continents coastline, but we have arrived at ten beaches we feel are a sure fire hit on any holiday. The first five were the Gold Coast, Wineglass Bay, Cottesloe Beach, Manly Beach and Ninety Mile Beach in Victoria. Here are the next five, in no particular order, and in no way supposed to get you on the blower booking your next trip to the seaside (yeah right!)

Whitehaven Beach
The 74 islands of the Whitsunday group lie off the Queensland coast about 1100 kilometres north of Brisbane. Unsurpassed in beauty, their figurehead is the dazzling Whitehaven Beach, a six kilometre stretch of pure white silica sand that is so bright it pains the eyes to look at in the bright sun. Many people come here via a day trip from the mainland at Airlie Beach, but the most pleasant option is to include the beach on a sailing tour of the Islands. This tour will let you enjoy the tropical vegetation of the islands, the peaceful serenity of the blue waters and the other gold beaches on the numerous islands.

Cable Beach
On the other side of the continent, in the north west town of Broome, lies twenty two kilometres of the most amazing beachfront in the world. Bordered by the turqouise waters of the Indian Ocean, the flat sandy expanse of Cable Beach is the perfect seaside playground. It is swimming safe and has a gentle swell, and the weather always seems to play along here too with consistent sunshine and soaring temperatures helping make the cool waters even more inviting. The view of the sun setting over the ocean is one to be treasured, and a popular activity are the camel tours up the length of the beach.

Byron Bay
A stronghold of hippie culture in the 1970's, Byron Bay has retained the ideals of that bohemian heyday and is now an internationally renowned tourist resort famed for its laid back atmosphere and artistic influences. But it was the beach that attracted people in the first place, and its the beach that really keeps the tourists coming back. The azure waters of the South Pacific lap up against the white sands of the wineglass shaped shaped bay, providing a safe haven for swimmers, surfers and snorkellors. Offshore lie Julian Rocks, a Marine Reserve that is home to some of the greatest scuba diving sights on the planet. And lording over it all is the infamous lighthouse, high on the headland that marks the most easterly point of Australia. Epic.

Bells Beach
Located near to Torquay on the Victorian southern coast, Bells Beach is without a doubt the surfing capital of Australia. Its consistent and excellent swell has meant that for the last forty years the Easter surfing competition there has been the main fixture on the Aussie surfing calendar. Now known as the Rip Curl Pro, it attracts surfers from all over the globe and thousands of spectators. Its not just surfers that come here, the beach is also popular amongst swimmers and sunbaskers, and the delights of the Great Ocean Road stretch westwards from it.

Bondi Beach
Youve seen it on TV programs, youve seen it on magazine covers. One of two jewels in Sydneys crown of beaches, Bondi is one of the most famous beaches in the world and is only just seven kilometres from the centre of the city. Its gentle wineglass shape is instantly recognisable, and it attracts tourists the whole year round. There is more to Bondi than just the beach though- the suburb is a cultural melting pot where you can enjoy culinary diversity and a fun atmosphere in numerous restaurants, cafes and bars. No visit to Sydney is complete without an outing to this Australian icon.

Gavin Wyatt