Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
Beach expert Brad Farmer with Mayor Ry Collins
Beach expert and conservationist Brad Farmer has spent more than four decades assessing Australia's coastline, but on his latest visit to the Whitsundays, he wasn't focused solely on the region's most famous stretch of sand, Whitehaven.
Instead, the Tourism Australia Beach Ambassador set out to explore lesser-known beaches across the mainland and islands, asking local figures such as Tourism Whitsunday Chairperson Katelyn Aslett and Mayor Ry Collins, in search for destinations that also capture the great Australian beach experience.
“70% of international tourist arrivals in Australia are seeking a beach, aquatic or coastal experience and that leads them to places like Bondi, Gold Coast, South East Queensland and Whitehaven,” Brad said.
“But they have become almost overexposed or overloved.
“I would personally like to see a greater diversity of product offerings."
During his visit, Brad explored several beaches across the Whitsundays, including Gloucester Beach, Hideaway Bay, Dingo Beach and Honeymoon Beach on Haslewood Island. While Whitehaven remains the region's best-known destination, he said these number of lesser-known locations deserved greater attention from visitors.
“Airlie Beach in Whitsundays is synonymous with Whitehaven,” Brad said.
“But like everywhere, if you point people in the right direction, they're going to find out-of-the-box places around the area.”
Farmers criteria for rating a beach is an extensive 130 points but they can really be boiled down to three. Affordable, accessible and authentically Australian.
He stressed the importance of balancing tourism growth with environmental protection, warning that the natural beauty attracting visitors today cannot be taken for granted, as he mentions with our Asian counterparts.
“In places like Bali and Thailand, the over-commercialisation of a site is not a desirable thing,” Brad said.
“People are increasingly looking for green as our gold.
"Environmental protection and tourism guardianship, stewardship must go hand in hand.”
Publishers Indemnity. Any individual or entity that places advertising, supplies copy material, or submits editorial content to Core Life Publishing agrees and undertakes to ensure that all such material:- Does not infringe upon any copyright, trademark, or other intellectual property rights;- Is free from any content that could be considered defamatory, libelous, or slanderous;- Does not infringe upon any rights related to privacy or breach of confidence;- Contains no obscene, indecent, or otherwise unlawful material;- Complies fully with the Trade Practices Act and all other applicable laws, regulations, or statutes.Furthermore, by submitting or placing such material, these individuals or entities agree to indemnify and hold harmless the publisher, Core Publishing and Events Pty Ltd, and/or its agents from and against any and all investigations, claims, demands, liabilities, damages, costs, or judgments arising out of or in connection with the material provided. All material is believed to be accurate at the time of printing and remains the copyright of Core Publishing and Events Pty Ltd.
© 2026 Mackay and Whitsunday Life Pty Ltd.
.jpg)
