Hill Inlet Lookout – Photo courtesy: Whitehaven Beach
Dreaming of white sand, turquoise lagoons and almost no one else around? These 10 exclusive beaches deliver serious wow‑factor plus the kind of seclusion usually reserved for honeymoon brochures – and I’ve included how to get to each one from Australia, because the journey is half the story.
1. Whitehaven Beach, Whitsundays, Australia
Photo courtesy: Whitehaven Beach
Whitehaven’s blindingly white silica sand and swirling aqua patterns in Hill Inlet look almost unreal, which is why it regularly features on “world’s best beaches” lists and has even taken the global number‑one spot. Located within a protected national park in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef, it’s only accessible by boat, seaplane or helicopter, which keeps it uncrowded and pristine.
Why it feels so exclusive
- No road access and no permanent development on the sand.
- Limited daily visitor numbers via marine‑park‑approved operators.
How to get there from Australia
- Fly to Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast) or Hamilton Island from Sydney, Brisbane or Melbourne.
- Connect by day cruise, private charter yacht, seaplane or helicopter to Whitehaven Beach.
2. Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef, Australia
Photo courtesy: Lizardisland.com.au
Lizard Island feels like Australia’s answer to a castaway‑chic private island: 24 powdery white beaches, just one all‑inclusive luxury resort and the Great Barrier Reef literally at your doorstep. Set within a national park and marine park, access is tightly controlled, so you’re sharing the island with only a handful of other guests.
Why it feels so exclusive
- Only one resort with a small number of suites and villas.
- Guests can “claim” a beach for the day using small motorboats and a packed gourmet picnic, often without seeing another soul.
How to get there from Australia
- Fly to Cairns from any major Australian city.
- Connect on the resort’s own one‑hour charter flight from Cairns to Lizard Island, soaring over reef and coral cays on the way.
3. Bora Bora Lagoon, French Polynesia
Photo courtesy: Pexels
Bora Bora is the classic screensaver come to life: an emerald volcano rising out of a luminous lagoon dotted with overwater bungalows and white‑sand motus (islets). Many top resorts sit on their own private motu, which means the beachfront is reserved exclusively for in‑house guests.
Why it feels so exclusive
- Most beaches are attached to luxury, often villa‑only, resorts on private islets.
- Lagoon views are protected by building limits and strict environmental rules.
How to get there from Australia
- Fly from Sydney or Brisbane to Papeete (Tahiti), usually via Auckland.
- Take a 45‑minute domestic flight from Papeete to Bora Bora, then transfer by resort boat to your motu.
4. COMO Laucala Island, Fiji
Photo courtesy: Fiji.Travel.com
COMO Laucala Island is Fiji dialled up to ultra‑luxury: jungle‑framed white beaches, coral reefs, a private airstrip and just a handful of architect‑designed residences. There are no day visitors, no cruise calls and no crowds – just you, the ocean and a team who know your name.
Why it feels so exclusive
- Privately owned island with very limited villa inventory.
- All‑inclusive, high‑touch service, from private dining to tailored activities.
How to get there from Australia
- Fly from Sydney, Brisbane or Melbourne to Nadi, Fiji.
- Connect by private or resort‑arranged charter flight from Nadi to Laucala Island’s private runway.
5. Soneva Secret, Maldives
Photo courtesy: Soneva
Soneva’s ultra‑boutique islands in the Maldives are all about privacy: standalone villas with their own slice of sand, house reefs, private pools and a personal “barefoot butler” to quietly orchestrate your stay. Many villas have direct beach access, so you can step straight from bed to sand and rarely see anyone else unless you want to.
Why it feels so exclusive
- Low villa counts and generous spacing between residences.
- Strictly no mass‑market day trippers; access is reserved for overnight guests.
How to get there from Australia
- Fly from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or Perth to Malé, usually via Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Dubai or Doha.
- Continue by seaplane, or a domestic flight plus speedboat, to your chosen Soneva island.
6. Fregate Island, Seychelles
Fregate Island, now in the process of reopening after renovation, has long been famous for near‑empty crescents of white sand backed by granite boulders and dense tropical forest. With very few villas, active conservation work and private‑guest‑only beaches, it’s wild, green and deeply secluded.
Why it feels so exclusive
- Strict cap on guest numbers and no external visitors on the main beaches.
- Ongoing conservation programs protect endemic wildlife and keep development minimal.
How to get there from Australia
- Fly from Australia to Mahé, Seychelles (typically via the Middle East or via an Asian city plus a Gulf hub).
- Take a helicopter or private boat transfer from Mahé to Fregate Island.
7. North Island, Seychelles
Photo courtesy: Pexels
North Island is an A‑list favourite, and it’s easy to see why: broad arcs of soft sand, neon‑blue water and dramatic granite headlands, with just a tiny number of ultra‑luxury villas tucked discreetly into the greenery. It’s a serious splurge, but the beach genuinely feels like it belongs to you.
Why it feels so exclusive
- Entire island is one private resort with only a handful of villas.
- Bespoke, no‑set‑schedule approach to dining and activities – you can have the beach set up just for your sunset dinner.
How to get there from Australia
- Fly to Mahé as above.
- Continue by helicopter transfer direct to North Island’s helipad, with sweeping views over the Seychelles archipelago.
8. Kisawa Sanctuary, Benguerra Island, Mozambique
Photo courtesy: Kisawa Sanctuary
Kisawa Sanctuary sits on Benguerra Island in Mozambique’s Bazaruto Archipelago, where long, dune‑backed beaches meet a protected marine reserve. Each sprawling residence comes with significant private beachfront, and the wider archipelago remains blissfully undeveloped compared with other Indian Ocean hotspots.
Why it feels so exclusive
- Large standalone residences spaced along wild coastline.
- Access by private boat or helicopter, with hosted immigration and lounge services at Vilanculos.
How to get there from Australia
- Fly from Australia to Johannesburg or Maputo, usually via Doha, Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Singapore.
- Connect to Vilanculos (VNX), then transfer by private boat (around 35 minutes) or a 5–10‑minute helicopter hop to Benguerra Island and Kisawa.
9. Shebara, Red Sea, Saudi Arabia
Photo courtesy: Shebara Resort
Part of Saudi Arabia’s new Red Sea development, Shebara sits off the coast with bright white sand, clear water and thriving coral. With tightly controlled capacity and remote access, this is a beach where you’re more likely to share the water with turtles and reef fish than with other guests.
Why it feels so exclusive
- Purpose‑built as a low‑impact, limited‑capacity luxury hideaway.
- Surrounded by relatively untouched reefs in a region only just opening to tourism.
How to get there from Australia
- Fly from Australia to Jeddah or Riyadh via hubs such as Singapore, Dubai, Doha or Abu Dhabi.
- Connect on a domestic flight to the Red Sea gateway airport, then continue by boat or seaplane to the island resort.
10. 17 Mile Beach, Low Bay, Barbuda
Photo courtesy: Silviabosco
Stretching for almost 27 kilometres, 17 Mile Beach is a blush‑pink sandbar between a lagoon and the open Caribbean Sea, with no resorts or road access. You arrive by boat, step ashore – and that’s often it, just you, the birds and the sound of the surf.
Why it feels so exclusive
- No permanent development; access is only by sea and subject to conditions.
- Its remote location means only a trickle of visitors make it this far.
How to get there from Australia
- Fly from Australia to Antigua (typically via the U.S. or Europe – for example, Sydney–Los Angeles–Miami–Antigua).
- Take a local boat or organised excursion from Antigua or Barbuda across the lagoon to Low Bay’s 17 Mile Beach.
Conclusion: when the journey is part of the luxury
These ten beaches all share the same core ingredients: jaw‑dropping natural beauty, strict controls on access and a genuine sense of escape once you arrive. They’re not the kind of places you reach on a whim – from Australia, you’re usually looking at a long‑haul flight, a connection or two, and sometimes a helicopter, seaplane or private boat on top. But that’s precisely what keeps them special.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned chasing beaches around the world, it’s that exclusivity isn’t just about price tags and private butlers; it’s about space, silence and the feeling that you’ve slipped off the grid for a little while. Whether you’re staying close to home on Whitehaven or Lizard Island, or flying halfway across the world to the Maldives, Seychelles or the Caribbean, choosing one of these shores means embracing the journey as part of the experience – and being rewarded, at the end of it, with a slice of coastline you’ll be daydreaming about long after you’ve brushed the last grains of sand from your suitcase.
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