A recent ranking of the world’s best beaches seems to have put a dent in the Aussie national pride, after a prized beach in Wales took its place in the top 10 alongside a stunning stretch of coastline Down Under. (Featured image by tonal decay)
Whitehaven Beach, in Queensland, Australia, scooped third place in the TripAdvisor poll, while Rhossili Bay, in Swansea, lagged behind in tenth.
But the fact that both were included in the same list, and only seven places part, appears to have left the Australian media flabbergasted.
In an article entitled “YOU’RE JOKING: This British beach is NOT better than ours”, which ran in an Aussie newspaper, the inclusion of just one Australian beach in the TripAdvisor poll was described as an “insult”.
“We simply could not believe it when we discovered a beach in South Wales on the list,” wrote Anthony Sharwood on The Australian website.
“No, not a beach in New South Wales… We’re talking about a beach in South Wales, UK. As in, she sells sea shells by the Welsh sea shore.”
To prove its point, The Australian asked 71-year-old Julian Short, a Rhossili local, which of the two beaches he would rather spend a holiday in.
Mr Short promptly replied: “I would probably go to your beaches. Let be honest, how on earth would anyone not prefer Bondi Beach with those gorgeous girls?”
However, the three-mile Rhossili Bay is not without its charms, and as the largest stretch of white sand on the Gower Peninsula, the area is a Mecca for surfers and paragliders. The Bay’s looming cliffs also make it a popular destination for walkers and ramblers.
Councillor David Phillips, Leader of the City and County of Swansea, said that Rhossili Bay is finally getting the recognition it deserves.
“We are delighted, but not surprised, that Rhossili Bay has been acknowledged by the world’s leading consumer travel website. We hope that many more visitors continue to enjoy its outstanding natural beauty,” he said.
