See You by the Sea: Four Coastal Spots Worth Knowing About
Forget the crowded beaches and packed esplanades. We're looking for the places that make a trip to the coast worthwhile. The little beach you nearly missed, the seafood worth travelling for and the spots that deserve a place on your next weekend itinerary.
With warmer weather on the way, we've done a little digging to find four coastal favourites around Australia.
1. Sunshine Beach, Queensland
Skip the crowds on Hastings Street.
Just around the headland from Noosa, Sunshine Beach is a good alternative when Hastings Street starts feeling a little too busy.
The beach stretches for kilometres, backed by national park at its northern end. It's a great place for a long walk, a surf or simply finding a quieter stretch of sand.
Where we'd go:
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Sunshine Beach: Head down for an early morning swim or walk along the sand. Stick to the patrolled area when swimming.
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Duke Street: The little village behind the beach has plenty of good options for coffee, breakfast and a post-beach lunch.
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Humble on Duke: A small restaurant worth seeking out for its creative, produce-led set menu with Middle Eastern influences.
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Embassy XO: Make an evening of it with modern Asian food and an interesting wine list.
It's close enough to Noosa to visit for the day, but there's enough here to make a whole weekend of it.
2. Tallebudgera Creek, Queensland
The Gold Coast spot we'd get up early for.
A little way around the corner from Burleigh Heads, Tallebudgera Creek is one of the Gold Coast's best places for a swim.
Think clear water, a sandy shoreline and the green headland of Burleigh Head National Park in the background.
Where we'd go:
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Tallebudgera Creek: Arrive early for a swim before the busiest part of the day.
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Oceanview Track: Follow the coastal path through Burleigh Head National Park for views back across the water.
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James Street, Burleigh: Head here afterwards for coffee, breakfast or a browse through the local shops.
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Burleigh foreshore: Pick up some takeaway and find a spot overlooking the ocean.
Our tip? Make the most of the morning at Tallebudgera before heading into Burleigh for lunch.
3. Port Willunga, South Australia
Come for the beach. Stay for lunch.
Port Willunga might just have one of the best beachside lunch spots in South Australia.
Less than an hour from Adelaide, this stretch of coastline is known for its golden cliffs, old jetty remains and fishermen's caves carved into the rock.
The beach is beautiful, but it's what sits above it that makes this one worth putting on your list.
Where we'd go:
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Port Willunga Beach: Explore the shoreline and the historic caves when the tide allows.
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Star of Greece: Perched on the clifftop, this is the place to book for a long lunch with sweeping views over the water. Grab a window table if you can.
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The kiosk downstairs: For something more casual, the seasonal kiosk does takeaway fish and chips to enjoy on the sand. Hours can change with the weather, so check before you go.
A swim, a long lunch and an afternoon on the beach. Hard to argue with that.
4. Robe, South Australia
A little closer to The Hidden Sea's home.
We couldn't put together a coastal guide without making a stop in the Limestone Coast, where The Hidden Sea wines come from.
Robe is a small seaside town with a serious seafood reputation, wild coastal scenery and a few places you'll want to know about before visiting.
Where we'd go:
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Long Beach: Around 12 kilometres of sand, with sections where vehicles are permitted on the beach. Check local conditions before driving.
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Cape Dombey: Walk out to the obelisk, built in 1855 as a daytime landmark for ships and later painted its distinctive red and white.
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Caledonian Inn: A historic pub right by the beach and a local favourite for fresh seafood. Settle in with a bucket of prawns or some local crayfish.
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Sky Seafoods: The place to seek out the region's famous Southern Rock Lobster. Pick your own from the tanks, or take a tour of the lobster facility.
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Drift Café: Stop for coffee or brunch before heading out to explore the coast.
Robe has plenty to offer beyond the main beach, so give yourself time to explore.
A Little Taste of the Coast
A good day by the sea doesn't necessarily end when you leave the beach.
Back home, we've got just the wine for a spring afternoon.
Our 2025 Limestone Coast Rosé is crisp and refreshing, with raspberry and strawberries-and-cream flavours balanced by natural acidity.
For spring, we're offering six bottles for $110 with free shipping, so you can have a few ready for the warmer weekends ahead.
Love the Sea? So Do We.
The ocean is behind everything we do at The Hidden Sea.
For every bottle of our wine sold, we fund the removal of the weight of 10 plastic bottles from the ocean, in partnership with 4ocean.
Because the beaches we love deserve looking after.
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