Australia’s best beach has been named for 2022, and it’s called something unfortunate

Some of Australia’s most iconic beaches have just been upstaged by a little-known former whaling spot in Western Australia to be named Tourism Australia’s best beach.

The name of the beach? Misery Beach.

Doesn’t sound like somewhere I’d want to go swimming, to be honest.

The beach, which is near Albany on the southern and of WA, was named Australia’s best beach for 2022 by Tourism Australia on Sunday.

Misery Beach is a five-hour drive from Perth and is home to a former whaling station. When the site was operational, the beach was constantly covered in blood and debris.

The announcement was made by Tourism Minister Dan Tehan on Sunday morning, and the list was compiled by Tourism Australia’s beach ambassador Brad Farmer.

Farmer has stated that he has visited most of Australia’s beaches over the last 35 years, and put Misery Beach in the top spot, above more famous spots in NSW, Victoria and Queensland.

“With more than 11,000 beaches to choose from, narrowing down the top 20 beaches must be one of the toughest jobs in Australia,” Tehan said.

“As Australia continues its successful reopening, we’re going to see a surge in tourists that will support jobs and businesses.

“My message to the world is to start planning your next holiday to Australia and to include as many of our top 20 beaches on your itinerary as you can fit in.”

This however may prove to be difficult, as the EU and U.S. have put Australia on travel lists that recommends residents don’t fly down here, due to the Omicron surge.

NSW scored the most beaches in the top 20 with six, including Horseshoe Bay nabbing the number two spot.

Queensland got ahold of four spots including The Spit on the Gold Coast, which came in at No. 3.

Australia’s Best Beaches

1. Misery Beach, WA

2. Horseshoe Bay, NSW

3. The Spit, Queensland

4. Flaherty’s Beach, SA

5. Loch Ard Gorge, Victoria

6. The Neck, Tasmania

7. Blue Pearl Bay, Queensland

8. Depot Beach, NSW

9. Murray Beach, NSW

10. Dundee Beach, NT

11. Dudley Beach, NSW

12. Thompsons Beach, Victoria

13. Coogee Beach, WA

14. Mots Beach, Victoria

15. Alexandria Bay, Queensland

16. Emu Bay, SA

17. Lake Wabby, Queensland

18. Congwong Beach, NSW

19. Jelly Bean Pool, NSW

20. Ethel Beach, Christmas Island

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