Yet most Australians have never seen it ... or swam in it ... or lazed on it.

It is Cossies beach — named after Governor-General Peter Cosgrove and located on the Cocos Islands, 2750km north-west of Perth.

According to Tourism Australia’s beach ambassador, Brad Farmer, it is an emotional and visual splendour.

“It’s as near to perfect as a beach can be,” he said.

“If you wrapped the Bahamas, Fiji, Seychelles and the Great Barrier Reef together, you would have Cossies Beach.”

Mr Farmer, who has been writing about beaches for more than 30 years, will release his top 101 Australian beaches at Bondi today.

The list features two WA beaches in the top 20 — Turquoise Bay in Exmouth (4th) and Dynamite Bay at Green Head (19th).

Mr Farmer has spent five months travelling thousands of kilometres to see and assess Australia’s beaches.

Two weeks ago he visited Cossies beach, which is on Direction Island in the Cocos.

“I named this little slice of paradise after Sir Peter Cosgrove, who like me ... was impressed by its absolute natural beauty,” Mr Farmer said.

Cossies beach is not an easy place to get to.

Virgin Australia travels to Cocos from Perth on Tuesdays and Saturdays from $530 one way.

It lands on West Island and from there visitors can catch a twice-weekly ferry to Direction Island. The 30-minute journey costs $5 return.

There is no accommodation on the island, but you can camp. The island has toilets, fresh water, barbecues and shelters.

출처 : http://www.perthnow.com.au/

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