Summer is in the air. The weather is warming, the sun is sticking around longer, and the beaches are beckoning. In anticipation of the season ahead, we’ve partnered with Surf Life Saving Australia to highlight the importance of surf safety.
Australia is fringed by some of the best beaches on earth; and while they are extremely enticing, many can be dangerous. Stay safe this summer, listen to surf lifesavers and always swim between the red and yellow flags.
To help inspire a safe and enjoyable sun-kissed summer at the beach, we’ve put together a state rundown of some our favourite patrolled beaches.
Queensland | Rainbow Bay
Fringed by pine and pandanus trees, and laden with soft white sand and sparkling blue-green water, Rainbow Bay is a picture-perfect Gold Coast setting. Just south of Coolangatta, straddling the New South Wales boarder, the north-facing beach is protected by the historic Point Danger and is home to sheltered conditions ideal for swimming. Surf lifesavers patrol the beach year-round from the iconic Rainbow Bay Surf Club.
Rainbow Bay is located just 4km south of Gold Coast Airport. Flights to Gold Coast: Virgin Australia operates flights to the Gold Coast daily from Sydney, Adelaide, Canberra, Melbourne, Auckland and Christchurch. Gold Coast South Holiday Packages: Our partner Blue Holidays offers a fantastic array of southern Gold Coast holiday packages, from $349.
New South Wales | Scotts Head
At the southern end of Nambucca Shire, enhanced by peaceful surrounds, an abundance of flora and fauna, and a close-knit local community, Scotts Head beach is a popular Mid-north Coast summer holiday destination. Favoured by families, Scotts hosts calm protected waters, gentle waves, and an array of marine life – specifically dolphins and migratory whales. The beach is patrolled daily during the summer holidays and on weekends and public holidays from October to Easter.
Scotts Head is located an hour south of Coffs Harbour Airport. Flights to Coffs Harbour: Virgin Australia operates flights to Coast Harbour daily from Sydney. Coffs Coast Holiday Packages: Our partner Blue Holidays offers a fantastic array of Coffs Coast holiday packages, from $398.
Victoria | Bells Beach
Located near Torquay, in the stunning Great Ocean Road region, Bells Beach is Australia’s most celebrated surfing beach – home to large winter and autumn swells that peel into a famous right-hand break. Throughout the summer months Bells also provides a great setting for swimmers; a natural amphitheatre shadowed by towering cliffs and patrolled by surf lifesavers.
Flights to Melbourne: Virgin Australia operates flights to Melbourne daily from all state capitals and major regional ports like Gold Coast and Newcastle. Great Ocean Road Holiday Packages: Our partner Blue Holidays offers a fantastic array of Great Ocean Road holiday packages, from $400.
Tasmania | Boat Harbour Beach
Located on the north-west coast of Tasmania, nuzzled between a dramatic hinterland and the Bass Strait, Boat Harbour Beach is as picturesque as it is historical – steeped in Indigenous and European heritage. Home to some of the cleanest air and clearest water on earth, the semi-circular sandy beach has long been a favourite holiday secret for Tasmanians in the know. The beach is home to the Boat Harbour Surf Life Saving Club, whose lifesaving members patrol throughout the summer months
Boat Harbour Beach is located just over two hours west-north-west of Launceston Airport. Flights to Launceston: Virgin Australia operates flights to Launceston from Melbourne and Sydney. Tasmania Holiday Packages: Our partner Blue Holidays offers a fantastic array of Tasmanian holiday packages, from $376.
South Australia | Glenelg
Known locally as The Bay, the Adelaide beachside suburb of Glenelg is celebrated for hosting one of South Australia’s premier swimming beaches. Located on the shore of Holdfast Bay in Gulf St Vincent, Glenelg beach is famous for its long-reaching jetty, café littered promenade, sandy costal stretch and clean and safe waters – perfect for swimming. Glenelg is patrolled midweek from December to April and on weekends from November through to April.
Glenelg is located just under 9km south-east of Adelaide Airport. Flights to Adelaide: Virgin Australia operates flights to Adelaide from Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Gold Coast and Perth. Adelaide Holiday Packages: Our partner Blue Holidays offers a fantastic array of Adelaide holiday packages, from $388.
Western Australia | Cable Beach
Stretching for 22km, with the purest of white sand – washed clean everyday by massive tides that ebb and flow into Broome – Cable Beach is one of the world’s most stunning beach landscapes. The Indian Ocean’s aqua blue waters lap against Broome’s bright red-orange cliffs, in a magnificent display of unspoilt natural wonder. Cable Beach fosters ideal conditions for swimming, with Broome Surf Life Saving Club patrolling designated areas marked by red and yellow flags.
Cable Beach is located just under 7km north-west of Broome Airport. Flights to Broome: Virgin Australia operates flights to Broome from Perth. Broome Holiday Packages: Our partner Blue Holidays offers a fantastic array of Broome holiday packages, from $747.
Northern Territory | Nightcliff
Protected by a ‘stinger net’ and patrolled by Darwin Surf Life Saving Club, Nightcliff beach is one of the Northern Territory’s safest swimming environments. A 300m sandy stretch, flanked by claystone rock platforms and the Beagle Gulf, Nightcliff Beach is a picturesque holiday destination, most famous for hosting the Nightcliff Markets.
Nightcliff is located just over 5km north-west of Darwin Airport. Flights to Darwin: Virgin Australia operates flights to Darwin from Brisbane, Perth, Melbourne and Sydney. Darwin Holiday Packages: Our partner Blue Holidays offers a fantastic array of Darwin holiday packages, from $629.
Make the most of your summer at the beach, remember to:
- Always swim between the red and yellow flags
- Read the safety signs
- Ask a lifeguard for safety advice
- Swim with a friend
- Stay calm and attract attention if you need help
For more information about Australia’s patrolled beaches visit Surf Life Saving Australia’s website www.sls.com.au.
For surf safety tips and beach conditions visit beachsafe.org.au.
We have today announced with our alliance partner Singapore Airlines, the first two milestones of our recently approved alliance: new international and domestic routes to Darwin and the launch of frequent flyer programme co-operation.
As part of a joint plan to increase services to northern Australia, Singapore Airlines’ regional full service airline, SilkAir will begin a four-times-weekly service between Singapore and Darwin from 26 March 2012, and Virgin Australia will complement these services with a daily service between Sydney and Darwin from 2 April 2012.
We have also confirmed that from 20 December this year, we will commence reciprocal frequent flyer recognition, enabling KrisFlyer members to earn and redeem frequent flyer points on Virgin Australia’s network and Velocity members will be able to earn and redeem frequent flyer points on Singapore Airlines operated flights. Reciprocal lounge access is also available for eligible customers.
Singapore Airlines Executive Vice President Commercial and SilkAir Chairman, Mr Mak Swee Wah, said: “We are delighted to be adding Darwin to our network and providing more travel options for our customers as a result of our alliance with Virgin Australia. Our partnership enables us to better service this important market, particularly with the introduction of a strong business class product and extensive international connections.
Silk Air A320 (M Radzi Desa-airliners.net)
“The launch of reciprocal frequent flyer programme ties will also be particularly exciting news for our loyal customers. Our partnership with Virgin Australia will be delivering tangible benefits to customers, with more choice for domestic and international travel combined with seamless service.”
Virgin Australia Group Executive of Alliances, Network & Yield Management, Ms Merren McArthur said: “The alliance with Singapore Airlines enables us to open up important new routes in Australia and Asia and we have moved quickly to identify and realise this opportunity with our new partner”.
“Darwin is the gateway to the Northern Territory’s popular tourist destinations and is an increasingly important commercial hub. Together with Singapore Airlines we will be able to offer visitors from Singapore, Asia and Europe the opportunity to visit the Northern Territory and then travel onto Sydney and the East Coast of Australia. Our services will also be attractive to business travelers who now have the option of a quality business class service from Sydney to Darwin and on to Singapore and beyond.”
“From next week, Virgin Australia customers will be able to enjoy the first benefits of the alliance, with the ability to earn and burn frequent flyer points and status credits on Singapore Airlines’ network of destinations and access over 14 lounges around the world. We look forward to bringing our customers further exciting benefits as the alliance develops,”, Ms McArthur said.
We can also announce that we will open a lounge at Darwin Airport for our eligible Virgin Australia guests as well as those of its alliance partners.
We expect to commence codesharing on each other’s services from early 2012.
Do you have travel to Singapore planned in 2012? Will this new news change how you book your flights?
