Nugget & The Beaches

If I asked you to picture the perfect beach, most of you might paint a scenery of a strip of white soft sand dotted with lush palm trees, crystal clear blue waters with gently rolling waves, all framed by a beautiful landscape. These bucket list beaches offer something a little bit different.

PINK SAND BEACH, HARBOUR ISLAND

No soft white strip of sand here, but Pink Sand Beach of Harbour Island, Bahamas, is the place to go to for natural beauty of pink sands and calm blue waters which extends for 3 miles. The waters are ideal for swimming and relaxing as the harsh waves are blocked by the surrounding coral reefs. The sand itself consists of broken corals, shells, rocks and calcium carbonate but it's pink colour comes from shell colour of microscopic shelled animals. Although it isn't the only pink beach in the world, it is definitely one of the most beautiful, perfect location for a vacation. Click here for info on more pink beaches.

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SHELL BEACH, AUSTRALIA

One of the things I always did growing up was collecting shells on the beach, but who didn't do that? I can't imagine what I'd do if I was taken to this beach. Shell Beach stretches for almost 70km and goes 10m deep and is made up of millions of tiny shells. The shells are from the cockle species of shells and have been in an abundance for many years. Nearby building were even constructed using these shells and they still stand today. Shell Beach was actually named one of the top beaches for shell-seekers by National Geographic.

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GLASS BEACH, CALIFORNIA

Once a dump site, now a beautiful popular tourist destination. Glass Beach was once a site where glass, appliances and vehicles were discarded. Following various clean up programs in in the 1960s, metals were removed and biodegradable materials disappeared. However, the glass and pottery were broken down by constant battering of waves, until they transformed into smooth and beautiful pieces. However, as these gems are not a natural phenomena, they won't be here forever so you should plan a visit soon.

Photo credit: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/520728775655551166/

SEA OF STARS, MALDIVES

I've always been fascinated by bioluminescent creatures, the glows are so beautiful and surreal. The Vaadhoo Island of Maldives is famous for it's Sea of Stars beach. The glowing blue waters results from a natural chemical reaction with oxygen called bioluminescence generated by phytoplankton algae as a defence mechanism when touched or moved. These glowing creatures makes the beach a beautiful tourist destination and an amazing spot for nighttime walks on the beach.

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PFEIFFER BEACH, CALIFORNIA

You know when you make a marble cake you add the colours to the batter and swirl a skewer around to get a design? It looks like someone did that to this beach with purple and yellow hues. Evidently, Pfeiffer Beach is famous for the sand which takes these various shades. The aurora of amethyst sand is a result of a mixture of manganese garnet deposits of the surrounding rocks and stretches for approximately 4.5km near the central coast.

Photo credit: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/290271138473623554/

PLAYA DEL AMOR, MEXICO

Playa del Amor, or more famously known as the "Hidden Beach of Mexico" is situated within one of the Marieta Islands, Mexico. This beautiful beach is accessible through a water tunnel which connects it to the Pacific Ocean. The six feet of space between the water and the overhead rocks allows for visitors to enter through swimming, boat rides or kayaking. This beach surfaced as a result of underwater volcanic activity many years ago.

Photo credit: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/480618591471127249/

PAPAKOLEA BEACH, HAWAII

I thought this beach was covered in moss with the first peek at the pictures but of course I was wrong. Papakolea Beach is one of the four green sand beaches in the world. Its colour is a result of erosion of a partially collapsed cinder cone volcano following it's last eruption. The olivine, a mineral component of Hawaiian volcanoes, forms into crystals after the cooling of magma. The constant erosion of the cinder cone ensures green sands, only until the cinder cone has been entirely eroded by the sea.

Photo credit: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/277886239484953647/

I suppose this article changed your perspective on beaches a bit? There's so many more types around the world which you can find additional info on if you click here. I'd love to visit Pick Sands Beach, seems like it'll make the perfect vacation spot but Sea of Stars just looks so pretty at night! COMMENT BELOW and share your top picks or share some other amazing beaches that weren't mentioned here.