Life might not actually be a beach, but 27 years of it could be if you lived in Australia. With 31,000 miles (50,000 km) of coastline offering more than 10,000 beaches, you could visit a different beach every day for 27 years.
While most films and TV shows about the country seem focused on cities like Sydney or Melbourne, or set in the Outback, the truth is that 85 percent of the Australian population lives on or near a coastline.
With so many beaches to choose from, it would be incredibly challenging to rate them in any sensible order, but some do boast certain special attributes. For example, Whitehaven Beach in Queensland is often described as one of the most beautiful, thanks to its startling white sand made of 98 percent silica and its breathtaking snorkeling opportunities. Turquoise Bay in Western Australia is renowned for its gentle waves, shallow waters, and amazing fish-viewing opportunities – it boasts about 500 species. So, that's two down. Only about 9,998 to go, so better grab bucket and spade and get started.
A visit to Australia:
- Middle Island in Western Australia has a lake called Lake Hillier that is described as the color of pink bubble gum.
- From 1838 to 1902, it was illegal to swim at public beaches in New South Wales.
- More than 4,000 species of fish and 1,700 species of coral exist in Australia, where 80 percent of all flora and fauna are found nowhere else.