For kids, safe beaches are generally patrolled by lifeguards (look for red & yellow flags), have gentle slopes, small waves, and clear, shallow water, like Australia's Streets Beach (man-made) or Whitehaven Beach (shallows). Always swim between the flags and check local surf life saving apps (like Beachsafe) for patrol times and conditions.
The best beaches for kids offer calm, shallow waters, soft sand, playgrounds, and amenities like restrooms and food, with top examples including Hillarys Boat Harbour (WA) for its pool-like calm and slides, Tallebudgera Creek (QLD) for sheltered swimming, Amelia Island (FL) for white sand, and Coronado Beach (CA) for wide, accessible shores, focusing on protected bays or harbour areas for safety.
For the best kid-friendly beaches near Brisbane, consider Suttons Beach and Scarborough Beach in Redcliffe for calm waters and playgrounds, Streets Beach at South Bank for a central man-made lagoon, or Woorim Beach on Bribie Island for gentle ocean waves and sand play, while Tallebudgera Creek offers exceptionally calm, clear water for toddlers.
The best family beaches offer calm, shallow waters, soft sand for building, and nearby amenities like playgrounds, with top picks including Australia's Balmoral Beach (Sydney) for its enclosed playground, the US's Outer Banks or Anna Maria Island for diverse options, and the Caribbean's Vieques (Puerto Rico) for its wild, beautiful coastline, all providing safe, fun environments for kids of all ages.
A beach safety check involves assessing conditions (weather, wind, tides, waves) using resources like the Beachsafe app or official advisories, looking for and obeying safety signs, and always swimming between red and yellow flags at patrolled beaches, ideally with a buddy, and avoiding alcohol, drugs, or swimming at night. Key actions include checking local conditions before going, reading signs, swimming in flagged areas, staying hydrated, and never hesitating to ask lifeguards for advice.
In 2023, the Surfrider Foundation consistently tested the water from a stream leading to Kalapaki Beach and revealed that 100% of the examined samples exceeded allowable levels of bacterial contamination for Hawaii's recreational areas.
The 80/20 rule in swimming has two main applications: polarized training, where 80% of time is low-intensity (Zone 2) and 20% is high-intensity for fitness gains, and technique focus, where 80% of improvement comes from mastering key technical elements like body position and streamlining (the 20% of effort). For open water, it can mean 80% mental focus on managing discomfort, cold, and fear, versus 20% physical effort.
The safest place to swim is at patrolled beaches, between the red and yellow flags. There are no lifesaving services at unpatrolled beaches and there is no way of knowing if the water is safe.
Aruba. Possibly the best island for family vacation fun in the sunshine is Aruba, boasting one of the best climates in the Caribbean. Plan a visit to Aruba's family-friendly De Palm Island.
That said, many experts recommend waiting until your baby is a bit older — around 2 to 3 months — before planning longer beach days. This gives your baby more time to adjust to temperature changes and makes it easier to manage sun protection and comfort.
There's no single "cleanest" beach, but top contenders for exceptional water clarity and purity include Parakeet Bay (WA), Hyams Beach (Jervis Bay, NSW), Eli Creek (K'gari/Fraser Island, QLD), and Whitehaven Beach (Whitsundays, QLD), all known for dazzling turquoise waters and pristine silica sands, though remote areas like Bay of Fires (TAS) and Stokes Bay (Kangaroo Island, SA) also rank high for natural beauty and cleanliness.
While "top" beaches are subjective, consistently highly-rated beaches include Grace Bay (Turks & Caicos) for stunning turquoise waters, Whitehaven Beach (Australia) with its pure silica sand, Anse Source d'Argent (Seychelles) known for unique granite boulders, Baia do Sancho (Brazil) for dramatic scenery, and Navagio (Shipwreck) Beach (Greece) with its iconic wreck.
Yes, Safety Beach is excellent for kids due to its calm, shallow, and protected waters, lack of rough surf, and family-friendly atmosphere, making it ideal for safe swimming, paddling, and relaxing with plenty of nearby cafes and amenities on the Mornington Peninsula.
Agonda Beach- Agonda Beach is a small village in South Goa. It is one of the safest and cleanest beaches in India. There are colorful beach shacks, vegetarian restaurants and boutique resorts. People also come here to enjoy swimming.
Popular destinations for family holidays
Snacks, Meals & Hydration
Sunshine makes kids hungry—fast. Pack easy-to-handle snacks like granola bars, fruit pouches, and sandwiches in an insulated cooler. Refillable water bottles keep everyone hydrated all day long. Make sure you have an insulated cooler to keep things fresh and cool during those long beach days!
According to the Global Peace Index and Legatum Prosperity Index, Iceland, Portugal, Denmark, Switzerland, New Zealand, and Canada consistently rank among the safest countries in terms of safety, offering peace of mind for raising children.
Barts The safest island in the Caribbean is St. Barts. But Anguilla, the Cayman Islands, and the Virgin Islands are also comparatively safe Caribbean destinations. Notably, though the Bahamas are a popular destination, they're also one of the most unsafe islands in the Caribbean.
ICELAND. It's no surprise that Iceland is at the top of this list. In this country “Icelanders feel safe letting their children roam free,” so you can rest assured that Iceland is one of the safest travel destinations, as well as a great destination for your kids.
Sharks are found all around Australia, but hotspots for diversity and activity include the Coral Sea (Queensland) for biodiversity, Western Australia's South West (Geraldton to Victoria) for great whites, and the NSW/QLD coastlines (like Byron Bay/Ballina) for higher shark attack numbers, often linked to bull sharks and river mouths. Major populations of great whites are concentrated in WA's waters, while the warm Coral Sea teems with many species.
Look for safety signs and do not swim in rivers, estuaries, mangrove shores or deep pools. Always seek local advice in your area about crocodiles before boating, fishing and camping.
Choose a safe spot
Beginner Swimmer: 1,000m in 30 minutes (3:00/100m pace) Average Swimmer: 1,500m in 30 minutes (2:00/100m pace) Strong Swimmer: 2,000m in 30 minutes (1:30/100m pace) Elite Swimmer: 2,500m in 30 minutes (1:12/100m pace)
S14 swimmers have an intellectual impairment, which typically leads to the athletes having difficulties with regards to pattern recognition, sequencing, and memory, or having a slower reaction time, which impact on sport performance in general.
Your fitness level and goals determine how long your swimming session lasts. Beginners are advised to begin with shorter sessions of 20 to 30 minutes and gradually lengthen them as their level of fitness rises. A regular workout for intermediate and experienced swimmers could last 45 minutes to an hour.