Who needs Bondi or Bells when you’ve got Caves Beach? Lake Macquarie’s beloved coastal gem has been named one of Australia’s top 10 beaches for 2025, securing ninth place in Tourism Australia’s prestigious Best Australian Beaches list.
The accolade sees Caves Beach surpass many more famous shorelines along the east coast, further cementing its reputation as one of New South Wales most scenic seaside destinations.
Located a bit over 30 minutes from Newcastle, Caves Beach is part of a spectacular coastline that includes other well-loved beaches such as Catherine Hill Bay and Blacksmiths.
This isn’t the first time Lake Macquarie’s beaches have received national recognition. Dudley Beach claimed 11th place in 2022, making Lake Macquarie the only local government area in Australia to have two different beaches featured in the rankings within recent years.
According to tourism figures, more than 112,000 visitors flocked to the shores of Caves Beach over December and January, surpassing Redhead Beach’s numbers for the first time on record. The overall popularity of Lake Macquarie’s patrolled beaches continues to grow, with nearly 400,000 people enjoying them over the summer period.
Beyond its breathtaking scenery, Caves Beach offers a range of activities, from coastal walks, learn-to-surf lessons and marine tours with CoastXP. Check out Australia’s top 10 beaches for 2025 by heading to bestaustralianbeaches.com.
