This Is One of the Most Beautiful Beaches in the World—and the Powdery White Sand Is 98 Percent Silica

Key Points

• Whitehaven Beach in Australia's Whitsunday Islands is famous for its dazzling white sand, made of 98 percent silica, and crystal-clear turquoise waters.

• Accessible only by boat, seaplane, or helicopter, the remote beach offers a pristine setting for swimming, snorkeling, and relaxing in protected national park land.

• Visitors can hike to Hill Inlet Lookout for panoramic views and spot marine life like dolphins and sea turtles along the coast.

If you're in search of the best white-sand beaches around the world, you may want to book a flight to Australia—specifically, to the Whitsunday Islands . Located in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef, just off the central coast of Queensland, these islands are known for sailing, diving, snorkeling, and some of the most stunning beaches in the Southern Hemisphere . One of the most well-known beaches is Whitehaven Beach, a jaw-dropping stretch of coast on Whitsunday Island, the largest island in the archipelago.

Accessible only by boat, helicopter, or seaplane—you can book a private boat charter , a day boat tour , or scenic tour from the air—Whitehaven Beach is the type of place that takes a bit of effort to reach. Once you get a glimpse of its nearly blinding white sand, one of its main draws, you'll be grateful you booked the trip. A little over four miles long, the beach is composed of 98 percent silica sand. Translation: it's incredibly white, soft, and powdery, and it doesn't retain any heat. So even when the temperatures reach their peak during the Australian summer (December through March), you can still comfortably sunbathe or walk barefoot along the sand.

The sand itself is gorgeous, but then you also have the contrast with the clear, turquoise waters and the lush tropical landscape. Given its remote nature, Whitehaven Beach is the definition of pristine. It's also within the Whitsunday Islands National Park and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park , keeping its natural beauty even more protected. Once you've arrived at Whitehaven Beach, your only job is to enjoy its warm waters and famous silica sand. Go swimming, snorkeling, or walk down the beach—just be sure you don't take anything you find home with you.

Professional and amateur photographers alike will find themselves taking endless pictures of this postcard-worthy beach, but the best views are reportedly the ones you get at the Hill Inlet Lookout. The lookout point is on the northern end of the island; if you're hiking to it, sneakers are recommended.

"This was my second visit to Whitehaven Beach, and the unspoilt beauty still astounds me today," said one traveler in a review. "The silica sand casts an almost white luminous glow against the blue backdrop of the water, making this a stunning setting for photos and to simply relax ... Keep a lookout for the dolphins, turtles, and other marine life that surround the tropical waters along this coastline—an absolute piece of Australian paradise."

Read the original article on Travel & Leisure