Wineglass Bay has cracked the top 50 of the world’s best beaches, putting Tasmania’s East Coast firmly on the global tourism map.
The iconic stretch of sand inside Freycinet National Park was named 21st on TimeOut’sThe World’s 50 Best Beaches list for 2026, one of only three Australian beaches to make the cut.
Western Australia’s Wharton Beach came in at third, while Turquoise Bay, also in WA, landed at 15th.
Glamorgan Spring Bay mayor Cheryl Arnol said while the recognition was great, she reckoned Wineglass Bay deserved an even higher spot.
“I’m probably a wee bit biased, but I think it should’ve been in the top 10,” she told Pulse..
Arnol said the listing confirmed what locals and the tourism industry had known for years.
“Our area has been recognised throughout the tourism industry for a number of years now as one of the best places to visit, you know, in Australia or in the world,” she said.
“So to have this recognition again, it just confirms everything that we’ve thought about our wonderful area on the east coast.”
Arnol said the bay’s beauty speaks for itself.
“It’s just magnificent,” she said.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to fly over it, and it’s just incredible.”
Deputy mayor Michael Symons said the recognition was a proud moment for the east coast.
“The Wineglass Bay Beach is a spectacular beach,” Symons said.
“It’s tucked out of the way so it doesn’t have thousands of tourists on it, and if you make the effort to get there, it’s well worth it.”
He said the bay’s distinctive shape was a big part of its appeal.
“Its shape is quite unique really, the way it’s surrounded by the hills all round on the three sides,” he said.
Symons said the walk down from the Wineglass Bay lookout takes a fair effort, which helps keep the beach somewhat isolated.
But he was quick to point out there are plenty of other gems around the east coast.
“We’ve got a lot of lovely beaches on the east coast that are probably the equal of Wineglass Bay and somewhat easier to get to at times,” he said.
“If people come down here and have a look around, they can find their own hidden gems that are equally as impressive.”
The ranking is built on nominations from more than 1,000 travel professionals, which are then vetted by the team at World’s 50 Best Beaches alongside a group of dedicated “beach ambassadors” who each nominate three beaches of their own.
Every beach is scored across eight criteria: uniqueness, wildlife, untouched nature, soundtrack of nature, easy water entry, calm water, lack of crowds and the odds of perfect conditions.
Wineglass Bay ticked plenty of those boxes.
The listing described the bay’s “near-perfect curve” of white sand as the feature that sets it apart, noting it sits “tucked between granite peaks in Freycinet National Park”.
“This natural shape helps protect the bay from stronger ocean conditions, so the water stays calm and clear, especially compared to more exposed stretches of coastline nearby,” the website said.
It also pointed to the effort needed to reach the beach as a factor in keeping it “feeling untouched and quiet”.
The beach has previously names in the world’s top 100 best beaches in a 2024 Lonely Planet book.
