Driving from Sydney to Brisbane? Make a stop at Seal Rocks. To get there you leave the main highway and wind through forested, twisting roads. Suddenly, the view opens up: a wide sandy beach framed by dramatic rocks and the Pacific.
I left my shoes in the car and walked barefoot from the parking lot onto the beach. The rocks create small tidal pools, and you could even lie down and sunbathe. It was winter, so the beach was almost empty except for a few surfers. I watched them until sunset. The light, the rising mist from the sea, and the contrast with the rocks made the whole scene incredibly beautiful.