Australia is known for its stunning coastline – it’s the one thing tourists boast about whenever they visit the land Down Under.
But, there’s just one beach that seems to be ahead of the rest, according to travellers.
Stokes Bay Beach has been ranked as the best ‘hidden gem’ location in Australia.
A new study conducted by tour operator and software provider Bókun (part of the TripAdvisor family) uncovered the real ‘hidden gem’ locations worldwide, as recommended by tourists – and the Kangaroo Island beach located in the north coast of South Australia, topped the list.
The secluded paradise often features on social media with TikTok awash with clips showing off its crystal clear waters and protected rock pools.
“Stokes Bay in South Australia is the place to visit on your next holiday to Kangaroo Island!!! What an amazing hidden gem of our state!!” TikToker ‘South Aussie with Cosi’ said in a post.
It appears Australia has really impressed tourists, with ten of its attractions earning a place on the global list. This includes Panorama Garden Estate, SA, in second place, followed by Wendy Whiteley’s Secret Garden, NSW, Himeji Garden, SA, in fourth and The Drip Gorge, NSW, in fifth.
Bókun examined more than 1,000 local destinations using TripAdvisor reviews containing the phrase ‘hidden gem’. The analysis then revealed the best places to travel worldwide, according to tourists.
Stokes Bay topped the list with ‘hidden gem’ mentioned 29 times out of 278 reviews, while Panorama Garden Estate in Victoria – the country’s largest secret garden and wildlife sanctuary – had 27 mentions out of 356 reviews.
The only other beach in the top 10 list was Little Beach in Western Australia with 2.85 per cent of its 632 reviews mentioning ‘hidden gem’.
Australia ranked eighth overall with 10 locals making the global list.
England ranked first as the number one destination to uncover a hidden gem, with a whopping 217 destinations on the list, closely followed by the US with 203 locations.
It’s no surprise Stokes Bay came out on top in Australia with the popular beach also taking out Tourism Australia’s annual Best Australian Beaches list earlier this year.
It had beaten nearly 12,000 Aussie beaches to be crowned the best in the nation for 2023.
The Top 10 list, which features at least one in every state, was curated by expert Brad Farmer AM, who travelled to beaches across the country.
The title has formerly gone to Western Australia’s Misery Beach in 2022, with Cabarita Beach in NSW taking the top spot back in 2021.
Coming in second was Boomerang Beach in NSW followed by Rainbow Beach in Queensland and Victoria’s Apollo Bay in fourth spot.
Federal Tourism Minister Don Farrell said every beach that made the Tourism Australia list was “not just among the best in Australia, but the best in the world”.
“Australia boasts the world’s best coastline and many international travellers, who are returning to our shores in growing numbers, want to explore the idyllic beaches we have to offer,” he said.
Mawson MP Leon Bignell MP said Stokes has always been one of his favourite beaches.
“After making the New York Times top ten places in the world to visit this year, Kangaroo Island is again topping the charts,” he said in a Facebook post last year.
“Stokes Bay has always been one of my favourite beaches and a great place to take visitors to surprise them with the entrance.
“When they start walking along the sandy passageway through the massive rocks they have no idea how stunning the view is going to be on the other side.
“A safe rockpool for the little kids, waves for the more adventurous and on a calm day it’s as flat as a tack. It’s where Dusty the Kangaroo Island Kelpie was born and had his first surf lesson with the local kids.”
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