Here in the UK the school summer holidays are coming to an end; for some, they ended a while ago. With the busy autumn term ahead, the memories of fun family beach days will fade as the evenings draw in and the temperatures drop. But we’re not ready to say goodbye to summer just yet. Oh no! We want to embrace every last sun-kissed wave, every last sunset over a calm sea, every last sandcastle, shell hunt and ocean swim that made our summer holidays simply the best ever!
This A-Z, over 9 days, showcases the very best, most incredible, add-to-bucket list beaches around the world – according to my travel blogging friends. Today we end our series with letters Y and Z, showcasing several beaches in Australia and Mexico. Kick off your flip flops, pop on your sunglasses, relax on your lounger, and drink in these heavenly contributions …
Y – Yallingup Beach, Australia
Yallingup Beach is located in the South West region of Western Australia, 266 kilometres south of Perth. It is renowned for its beautiful beaches and beach village, laid-back vibe. The town is situated on a ridge, surrounded by the beauty of the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park and offers spectacular views over the beach out to the Indian Ocean.
There are actually three beaches in close proximity to the town: Yallingup Beach, Smiths Beach and Injidup. They are all fantastic surfing beaches and have produced some of the world’s greatest surfers, like Taj Burrows. You’ll need to consider different board shapes for wakesurfing if you are considering going into these waters, but they are definitely great to consider. However Yallingup Beach is also ideal for snorkelling and swimming in the clear pristine waters. In addition to the wonderful beaches there is and arts precinct, with galleries aplenty and the food and wine scene is incredible with a variety of restaurants, wineries and cafes in the region.
Submitted by, and thanks to, 50 Shades of Age
Y – Yaroomba Beach, Australia
Yaroomba is a pristine Australian beach, north of the Maroochy River and south of Point Arkwright on the Sunshine Coast of Queensland. The Coast itself stretches 65km from Caloundra to Noosa in the north and is brimming with beautiful beaches.
Yaroomba Beach has several surf breaks and good rock fishing at Point Arkwright. The Point car park provides beach access as do nearby boardwalks and sign-posted tracks. Snorkelers can often be seen in the shallows and beach picnics are a must. I enjoy looking for pretty shells and coloured pebbles polished smooth by the busy wave on sand action. As well as offering stunning views, Point Arkwright is a humpback whale viewpoint – a local kayaker recently filming a baby whale playfully diving beneath his kayak just off the beach. Environmentalists are currently waging a campaign against a 900 million dollar proposed property development at Yaroomba Beach.
Submitted by, and thanks to, Budget Travel Talk
Z – Zicatela Beach, Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca, Mexico
Located on Mexico’s southern Pacific coast in the state of Oaxaca, the city of Puerto Escondido is well known for its beautiful bays and eight beaches, each with its own unique personality. The best of these Puerto Escondido beaches for surfing, hanging out at a beach bar or taking long morning walks is Zicatela Beach. This long, wide stretch of golden sand is famous for being home to the Mexican Pipeline, an epic wave break that draws pro surfers to world-class international surfing competitions in the summer months and the challenge of mastering its powerful waves year round. For non-surfers there’s also plenty to do such as taking a yoga class at one of the many yoga schools, partying the night away at one of the beachfront bars or watching a technicolor sunset from one of the open air restaurants along the palm-tree lined boardwalk flanking Calle de Morro, the main strip.
Submitted by, and thanks to, A Taste for Travel
Z – Zenith Beach, New South Wales, Australia
Zenith Beach is an idyllic beach located in Shoal Bay, New South Wales, Australia. This beach paradise is part of the popular Port Stephens region, located just 2.5 hours drive north of Sydney. Port Stephens is known for white sands and blue waters and Zenith Beach offers up much of both.
Zenith Beach can be enjoyed from above or below. Beachgoers can easily find a spot in the sand with access from nearby parking lots. Those with a more adventurous side can enjoy views of the beach from high above via the Tomaree Head Summit Walk. The 161-meter climb to Tomaree Head can be reached from the trailhead just south of Shoal Bay. Give yourselves 20 minutes at a quick pace, and then relax with a cool beverage enjoying the views of this paradise on the Pacific Ocean.
Submitted by, and thanks to, Yoder Toter Blog
Z – Zipolite Beach, Mexico
Zipolite beach on the Pacific Coast of Mexico is a very special beach. A beach that takes an hour to walk from one end to the other. It’s famous for being a prime destination for hippies in the 60’s, and some still remain, wandering endlessly up and down.
But now in Zipolite, you’ll also find a new crowd of slow budget travellers. The entire world mixed together, relaxing in the scorching sun, eating seafood and sleeping in wooden canañas on the sand. Everybody who goes to Zipolite finds they stay much longer than they planned, engulfed in the relaxed lifestyle and the amazing weather. It is a legend in the backpacking community and it’s the perfect beach year-round.
Submitted by, and thanks to, Castaway with Crystal
Thank you to all our fabulous contributors. We hope you’ve enjoyed our trip around the world to some amazing beaches. Today is our final instalment in the series, but you can read the previous posts here: A-C, D-F, G-I, J-L, M-O, P-R, S-U, and V-X.
Hi Tracey,
I was particularly interested to see the beaches beginning with the final letters of the alphabet. It is interesting that they are a mix of Mexico and Australia. A fitting and beautiful way to end up.