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A postcard from Down Under is likely to include a picturesque photo of Bondi Beach or the blinding white sands of the Whitsundays.

But things are a little different in 2023,and there’s a new patch of sand that Australia’s beach ambassador (yes,it’s a thing) has given the title of the country’s best beach.

Conservationist and advocate for the protection of coastlines Brad Farmer has awarded Stokes Bay on Kangaroo Island the top spot,the first time a South Australian beach has ever won the award.

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And,if you’re thinking your eastern suburbs beaches were the best,try again because the harbourside beach at Balmoral on the lower north shore is the only Sydney listing,scraping in at number 10.

“If you look at it[Balmoral] visually,there’s a promenade of Moreton Bay figs,some cool rock bridges,the largest,safest shark enclosure in Sydney Harbour,and,because it’s right near the Heads,you get a good quality of water,” Farmer said.

The number two spot went to Boomerang Beach on the NSW Mid North Coast,while the last beach on the podium is Rainbow Beach on Queensland’s Cooloola Coast.

However,there isn’t some mathematical formula Farmer rigorously uses to score the thousands of Australian beaches. In the words ofThe Castle’s Dennis Denuto,it’s more about the vibe of it.

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“I go to the beach,get to have a swim,talk to the locals and I get a feel for them. I’m much more immersive,and I guess a bit emotionally invested in it,” Farmer said.

“Very much the[criterion] is,what kind of community are you going to experience when you get there?”

The title has formerly gone to Western Australia’s Misery Beach in 2022,while Cabarita Beach in NSW took home the crown in 2021.

Federal Minister for Trade and Tourism Don Farrell said the list helped showcase lesser-known locations to international travellers who are “returning to our shores in growing numbers”,and “want to explore the idyllic beaches we have to offer”.

It was a conscious decision to include a diverse range of beaches from across the country,said Farmer,including Flying Fish Cove on Christmas Island,which many people don’t know is part of Australia.

But trekking across the continent isn’t easy,and for many people it’s difficult to tick off everywhere on Farmer’s list. So,his advice for picking a good holiday destination is,“Do your research,and don’t just believe what they put on the brochure.”