By Amanda Bechara For Daily Mail Australia
03:11 19 Jun 2024, updated 03:43 19 Jun 2024
A stunning Aussie beach has been named the second best in the world – even though many locals have never heard of it.
Stokes Bay, on the north coast of Kangaroo Island in South Australia, is a hidden gem that can be found at the end of a maze of rocks.
Its crystalline water and sheltered rock pools form a quiet paradise welcoming adventurous travellers from both Australia and around the world.
Enjoy Travel, a global travel authority, awarded the beach second place out of 50 for its perfect water and sand, unique location and bountiful wildlife.
Piha Beach in New Zealand – a breathtaking tourist haven in Auckland known for its black sand and famed Lion Rock – took out the top spot.
Upon arrival at Stokes Bay, visitors wander through a maze-like rock passage before they emerge onto sun-drenched sands and water ‘as clear as glass’.
‘The short walk to the beach has to be experienced to be believed, and then the beach with its perfectly rolling waves and rock pool,’ a recent visitor said.
‘Simply divine.’
The rock formations of Stokes Bay provide shelter from the rougher surf surrounding Kangaroo Island and create a safe, shallow pool perfect for snorkelling and swimming.
This also makes it a great spot for families to visit with children.
The stunning bay was also voted Tourism Australia’s Best Beach for 2023.
In addition to being a dream destination for beachgoers, Stokes Bay is home to white-bellied sea eagles and hooded plovers, as well as dolphins.
More adventurous visitors can also spend hours exploring the rugged shoreline and the rocks.
The nearby Rockpool Café offers excellent kiosk-style food and fresh fish and is an ideal spot to grab a takeaway picnic.
Reviewers also described the beach and surrounding Kangaroo Island as a ‘perfect’ natural setting for photography enthusiasts.
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‘A magnificent beach, and a great place to take beautiful photos even if the water is too cold to swim in!’ one reviewer gushed.
Another who spotted a pod of dolphins only 50 meters offshore lauded Stokes Bay an ‘outstanding gem of a beach’.
‘Straight to my bucket list,’ another wrote.
Kangaroo Island is a 30-minute flight from Adelaide.
There is also a 45-minute ferry departing from Cape Jervis to Penneshaw where you can drive for 80 minutes on sealed roads to Stokes Bay, or take a taxi or shuttle service.