Fingal Bay - home to the iconic Fingal Spit - has come in as number 12 in Tourism Australia's top 20 beaches of 2020, as ranked by the tourism board's official beach ambassador, Brad Farmer AM.

"To be chosen from the more than 10,000 beaches in Australia is very exciting as beaches are a key driver of both domestic and international visitors," Eileen Gilliland, chief executive officer of Destination Port Stephens, said.

"I believe that Port Stephens is one of the most beautiful natural places to be and our beaches, Marine Park, National Park and awe-inspiring sand dunes and scenery are key drivers of tourism visitation.

"People want to escape the everyday to relax, reconnect and rejuvenate and Port Stephens can offer this in spades."

When asked by the Examiner whether she thought being included in the ranking would make Fingal Bay a more desirable place to visit, Ms Gilliland said it further built the Port's profile as a "premier seaside holiday destination" and would help it "stand out".

Some of Australia's most well known beaches including Bondi, Whitehaven and even Surfers Paradise did not make the top 20 list, which is an annual ranking undertaken by Mr Farmer, a veteran Australian coastal advocate and author has been reviewing beaches worldwide for more than 35 years.

This year, the annual list focused on beaches within fairly easy reach of major airports.

Mr Farmer sought quirky and lesser known beach environments which featured estuaries, headlands and abundant nature, places to experience Australia's flora and fauna and to engage in activities like fishing and bush walks in addition to taking a splash.

While best beaches are still assessed on traditional academic-based criteria of environment, water quality, cleanliness, visual amenity, carrying capacity, social history, facilities and a vast range of other factors, a new assessment needed to come into play in 2020.

Mr Farmer took into account international suitability, beach safety, engagement with 'authentic Aussie locals', and more loosely, a beach 'one would recommend to a friend' and sometimes just the 'wow' factor.

This year's list marks the first time an inland beach has made the cut, with historic Wagga Beach on the Murrumbidgee River recognised amongst the best, taking out the number spot.

"It's time we extend the meaning of a beach given there are so many aquatic environments across Australia's interior," Mr Farmer said. "These water spaces which often rely on rain and flow are significant as they socially connect rural and remote communities in often dusty and dry, drought conditions."

The winner of the coveted title of Best Australian Beach for 2020 is the laid-back surf town of Cabarita on the NSW Tweed Coast. The runner up is Currumbin Beach on the Gold Coast and in third is the tiny secret spot of Minnamurra, 90 minutes south of Sydney.