Just one beach in Asia Pacific, Australia’s Whitehaven beach, featured in TripAdvisor ‘s global Travellers Choice awards for top beaches.
Thailand’s top beaches didn’t make the list which was headed by Baia do Sancho in Brazil’s Fernando de Noronha, an archipelago with UNESCO world heritage status.
Sancho came ahead of Grace Bay in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos, and Flamenco Beach, in Culebra, Puerto Rico.
One surprise on the list was Rhossili Bay in Wales, famously featured in the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games when a youth choir sang "Bread of Heaven" live on the beach while it was broadcast at the Olympic Stadium.
The Bay has also featured in a number of television programmes – most notably Doctor Who.
The World Top Ten
1. Baia do Sancho, Fernando de Noronha, Brazil
2. Grace Bay, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos
3. Flamenco Beach, Culebra, Puerto Rico
4. Rabbit Beach, Lampedusa, Italy
5. Whitehaven Beach, Whitsundays, Australia
6. Playa de ses Illetes, Formentera, Spain
7. Anse Lazio, Praslin Island, Seychelles
8. Lanikai Beach, Kailua, Oahu, Hawaii
9. Rhossili Bay, Swansea, Wales
10. Playa Norte, Isla Mujeres, Mexico
Top Ten Beaches in Australia
1. Whitehaven Beach, Whitsunday Island,
2. Turquoise Bay, Exmouth
3. Cable Beach, Broome
4. Shelly Beach, Sydney
5. Burleigh Heads, Gold Coast
6. Four Mile Beach, Port Douglas
7. Manly Beach, Sydney
8. Cottesloe Beach, Perth
9. Noosa Main Beach, Sunshine Coast
10. Coolangatta Beach, Gold Coast
