8 of the Best Beach Towels to Buy in Australia in 2024

I’ve been researching the best beach towels to buy in Australia. 

It was time for us to re-stock on beach towels because we live near the beach and spend most of our time there with the kids.

I wanted super absorbent towels and also lightweight ones that dry fast... We often travel and walk to the beach. 

Our current cotton towels take too much room in the bag. They're heavy and take too long to dry... it doesn't make our trips to the beach very fun. I can't believe we've been travelling with these bulky towels for so long!

That's why I've researched towels that perform well, are very cute and are a great size. I'm delighted with the ones I found. And I'm happy to recommend them.

Whether you want a plush cotton towel or a lightweight one for travelling, you'll find good options below.

Check out these towels you can buy in Australia that will brighten up your summer:

1. Best sand free: Tesalate
2. Best for travel: Dock & Bay
3. Best budget: Haleey 
4. Best luxury Turkish: Sammimis
5. Best affordable Turkish: Barooga
6. Most ingenious: Sumoii
7. Best round: The Beach People
8. Best kid hooded: Sammimis

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1. Best Sand Free: Tesalate

The Tesalate beach towel is a famous sand free, absorbent and super versatile towel. It therefore grabs the spot for our best overall beach towel. 

While microfibre towels are generally less absorbent than cotton towels, this one excels. It can absorb 1 litre of water instantly.

Moreover, the Tesalate is compact and lightweight. And it comes in stunning designs. This makes it a fantastic towel to travel with. You can use it everywhere, like at the beach and pool.

It also makes for a perfect gift. 

Tesalate offers free standard shipping and returns if you don't love it.

It's a bit expensive but an excellent investment.

The Tesalate is designed in Australia. And it's made with AbsorbLite™ fabric, a blend of polyester and polyamide.

You can buy a single size or an extra-large for two.

What we like:

• Sand doesn’t stick
• Absorbent towel
• Dries quickly

What we don't like:

• Not as warm and fluffy as regular plush towels
• Some may not like the chamois-like feel
• Expensive

Read our complete review of the Tesalate Beach Towel here. 

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2. Best for Travel: Microfiber Towels by Dock & Bay 

Looking for a beach towel that’s super compact, lightweight and quick drying? Then check out Microfiber Towels by Dock & Bay.

It’s also easy to wipe the sand off these towels – fabulous if you need to put them back into the suitcase after the beach.

They’re perfect if you need to pack light... a perfect travel towel.

You can fold these towels up and insert them into a little bag that comes with it.

Keep in mind that microfiber towels are not plush like typical cotton towels. The surface is smooth like a thick bed sheet. But they do a good job at drying you off. 

These revolutionary towels were created by friends Andy and Ben, who needed a compact and quick drying towel for travelling.

The towels come in generous sizes. They’re large enough to wrap around you and very compact when folded up.

The towels come in colourful stripes like Cabana Bondi Blue and Summer Rainbow Skies.

They’re made of 80% polyester and 20% polyamide and hold twice their weight in water.

What we like:

• Compact and lightweight
• Dries quickly
• Sand doesn’t stick

What we don't like:

• Not as warm and fluffy as regular plush towels

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3. Best Budget: Haleey Sand Free Beach Towel 

If you’re looking for a beach towel that won’t break the bank, check out Haleey Sand Free Beach Towel. The quality won’t disappoint.

The towels come in vibrant colours and designs, like Blue Boho, Bohemian Floral and Purple Paisley Flamingo. 

The towels are thin and roll up super small so they take hardly any space in the beach bag. And they’re a good size—160 x 79 cm. 

They also dry fast which is useful if you’re going back to the beach the same day. 

At below $25, these are amazing value for money. 

What we like:

• Great value
• Sand free
• Super compact, lightweight and dries quickly

What we don't like:

• Not as warm and fluffy as regular plush towels
• Some may find the fabric too thin

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4. Best Luxury Turkish: Sammimis

Sammimis Turkish towels are lightweight and fold small. They’re brilliant for travelling light or walking to the beach because they take so little space.

And the sand doesn’t stick to them much because of the flat-woven fabric.

The fabulous thing about quality Turkish towels: They’re absorbent and dry fast. And they become softer after many washes.

It’s our go-to towel over summer. Perfect for long days at the beach.

Turkish towels are so versatile... you can wear these towels as a sarong and even use them as a tablecloths or bath towels.

Sammimis towels are 100% Australian owned and hand-loomed in Turkey. The towels are also coloured with safe natural vegetable dyes. 

These towels are excellent quality. They’re made with 100% Turkish cotton. Turkish cotton has long fibres that give towels exceptional durability, softness and absorbency. 

They offer a large towel collection in varied weights. The size is generous – 180 x 90 cm. The designs are simple and the colours attractive.

What we like:

• Great quality and super soft
• Compact, lightweight and absorbent 
• Dries quickly

What we don't like:

• Not as warm and fluffy as regular plush towels

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5. Best Affordable Turkish: Barooga

Looking for a pretty and affordable Turkish beach towel?

Then check out Barooga Turkish cotton towels. 

This towel is nice and thick, perfect for the beach or pool. 

It measures 100 x 180 cm, so it's generous in size. 

And the towel dries quickly.

Barooga Turkish cotton towels are made in Turkey with OEKO-TEX certified natural dyed yarn. So it has been tested for chemicals that can potentially harm humans or the ecosystem. 

Barooga is one of my favourite beach towels. I've put it many times in the wash and it still looks new. 

It's a beautiful beach towel. 

What we like:

• Beautiful beach towel
• Lightweight and dries quickly
• Affordable

What we don't like:

• Not plush

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6. Most Ingenious: Sumoii 

Sumoii beach towel is perfect for those travelling, camping or walking and cycling to the beach.

This beach towel is super easy to carry. It’s lightweight and packs up very small. It doesn’t take much more space than a folded t-shirt yet unfolds to a generous size – 190 cm x 90 cm.

It dries super quick and the sand doesn’t stick. Shake the sand off, hang the towel with the elastic tie and it will be dry again in no time.

What also makes Sumoii stands out is the four sand anchor pockets which keep the towel from blowing away in the wind.

Also, don’t want to leave your phone, money and keys in plain sight while you’re out in the water? Well, Sumoii beach towel has an integrated zipper-pocket to keep your possessions safe!

Sumoii is thin, very soft and comes in cute classic stripes. It’ 100% Australian-owned and made with zero plastics. 

Sumoii is super ingenious and not your average microfibre towel.

They offer free shipping worldwide, same day dispatch and 30 day return.

What we like:

• Compact, lightweight and dries quickly
• Sand doesn’t stick
• Has useful sand anchor pockets and integrated zipper pocket 

What we don't like:

• Not as warm and fluffy as regular plush towels
• A tiny bit awkward to wrap around your waist due to the sand pockets

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7. Best Round: The Beach People

The round towels by The Beach People look stylish and are thick, heavy and super soft. It's also high quality.

These towels are perfect for lounging on the beach or throwing on the lawn – great as picnic rugs.

Round towels have a larger area than rectangle towels, which is handy for sharing a sitting spot.

Plus, it’s easy to spot them on the beach because they stand out among all the rectangle towels.

The Round Towels by The Beach People are top quality, too. They’re made to last and stay soft.

And the designs are stunning... The towels have a tassel fringe around the edge and beautiful motifs. 

These round towels by The Beach People are the first circular towels ever made. They were invented in NSW by sisters Emma and Victoria, who started the business in their back shed.

They also sell beautiful beach accessories.

What we like:

• Beautiful designs
• Excellent quality
• Super soft, thick and absorbent

What we don't like:

• Expensive
• Too heavy and bulky for travelling

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8. Best Kid Hooded: Sammimis

Sammimis offers a wide range of hooded beach towels made of high-quality Turkish cotton. The colours are gorgeous, from aqua to sea green, royal blue and hot pink. 

You’ll find some for all ages and seasons. Pick a lightweight towel for summer or a thick Terry lined towel for winter. Choose between a poncho style or a towel with a zip. 

Hooded beach towels are so useful. They’re a great cover-up that you can wear to and from the beach or pop on after swimming lessons. And these are absorbent and dry very fast. 

And Sammimis towels are 100% Australian owned.

What we like:

• Super soft
  
• Compact, lightweight and absorbent 
• Dries quickly

What we don't like:

• Not as warm and fluffy as regular plush towels

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Verdict

Whichever beach towel is best for you depends on:

Do you live off your suitcase or carry a lot of gear to the beach? Then a very compact and fast drying towel which the sand doesn’t stick to—like Tesalate, Sumoii and Dock & Bay—is ideal. And Haleey Sand Free Beach Towel is amazing value. 

Do you want a versatile, fast drying and compact towel that you can use anywhere? Then a Turkish towel is great for that purpose. Sammimis is excellent quality and absorbent. Their hooded beach towels are gorgeous. Who can resist a baby bundled up in a hooded towel?

Or do you mainly want to lounge on the sand? Warm yourself or you kids up after a swim? Then a plush cotton towel is perfect for that purpose—it feels luxurious and warm. 

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Other Beach Must Haves

• Best beach tents
• Best beach chairs
• Neso tent review
• Tesalate beach towel review