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Best Beach Tents and Shelters Reviewed in Australia (2022)
There’s no doubt Australia has one of the best beach cultures in the world, but it’s also well known that Australia has some of the highest skin cancer rates in the world due to the intense UV radiation from the sun. Luckily, there are plenty of great sun protection options including some very practical and easy to set up beach shelters to protect you from strong wind, sand and of course those nasty UV rays.
There are a lot of great beach spots around the coast that’s perfect for beach enthusiasts and some of these even allow overnight camping or double up as a kids pop up tent. Beach camping is my personal favourite type of camping. Nothing beats setting up a a portable beach tent, pulling up a collapsible beach chair and towel, then kicking back and relaxing to the sound of the waves. Be aware that not all beaches allow overnight camping so you should check with the beach rules and state laws.
Nevertheless, if you can camp or not, spending the time at the beach is beneficial for us. Just make sure you have a lot of sunscreen with you and remember to slip, slop, slap.
Compare Beach Tents
Best Beach Tent and Shelter
Kings Beach Gazebo
The Kings Gazebo Sun Shade is a relatively affordable large canopy suitable for the beach and not quite as large as the gazebo tent they also sell.
In total, it weighs 7.4kg and has a shaded area of 1.8m x 1.8m (but is 2.2m x 2.2 at the feet) which should provide plenty of cover from the sun and be large enough to shelter around 3 to 4 people underneath.
Setting it up is fairly straightforward. Take it out of the carry bag and extend the steel frame until you feel it all click together. The legs are adjustable with a max ceiling height of 2.1m, so find a height that works for you and then tighten the legs. Finally, weigh down the gazebo by filling in the corner pockets with something heavy such as sand, water bottles. If you're worried about a particularly windy day then Kings also sells sandbag kits which will provide some extra weight and structure to the gazebo.
Once set up, the 150D silver-lined cover will provide UPF50+ sun protection and help keep some of the heat out. The rear wall is able to roll down if you need some extra sun or sand protection.
Overall, there are some larger and studier gazebos suitable to be a beach shelter, but this is definitely one which provides a great bang for buck.
Pros
Easy to set up and pack up
Adjustable height
Cover has the option to roll down the back wall
Cons
Windy days require some extra thought to weighing down the gazebo
Neso Beach Tent
The Neso Beach Tent is a light weight beach tent manufactured in California USA. This popular tent is available in a variety of colors that will match your personality.
Setting up is easy as 5 steps. The anchor bags at the ends of the tent means you don’t need to bring weight to keep the tent from being blown off.
The tent is made of stretchable Lycra which means you can stretch the tent to cover everyone in your group. You can also adjust the tent to any angle you want rather than other tents.
You’ll be well protected from the sun because of the Neso Beach tent’s high UV Protection. The tent is also waterproof. No need to worry about the sun and the rain whilst you’re under this tent.
The tent only weighs 1.8 kg so it’s easy to carry around. It has a pack bag that you can sling on your shoulder.
Pros
Easy Setup – Setting up the Neso Beach tent is so easy it only takes 5 steps to have it up.
Lightweight – Weighing only 1.8 kg, this tent is really easy to carry around.
Design – The Neso Beach tent comes in 16 fun and quirky designs.
Cons
High-priced – Although the tent’s structure is simple, it’s a bit pricier than other beach tents.
Can take up a lot space – This tent requires a lot of space when setting up so it wouldn’t be great to bring along crowded beaches.
OZTrail Resort Beach Dome
The OZTrail Resort Beach Dome is a beach shelter that comes in three different colours, with a few unique features that make it more capable of protecting you from the wind and sun than some other models.
Setting up this tent isn't a difficult process, but it's not as quick as some other popup beach tents. It requires feeding three poles through the sleeves, one for the front arch and two at the rear and then pegging down the sides. We recommend using sand pegs, but normal pegs and filling the internal pouches with sand or water bottles will also work when it's not super windy.
Fully pitched it will fit around 3 people comfortably and has two windows on each side. The front panel which extends past the cover is a unique feature which acts as a floor, perfect for laying down on or protecting your belongings from the sand.
If you need more privacy such as when you want to get changed or take a nap, then this extra panel actually zips up making it almost fully enclosed apart from the ventialed mesh windows.
Overall, this is a great budget option for those looking for a beach tent that's a little more bespoke in its functionality. It's light weight, sturdy, and has a few additions that make it great for beach goers.
Pros
Rigid structure with great options for weighing down and adding stability
Large front panel acts as a cover from the sand
Ability to zip up from panel for extra privacy and cover
Cons
Not quite as quick to set up as other popup options
Things To Consider When Buying A Beach Tent Or Shelter
Some of you may think that beach tents are just accessories when you’re out at the coast but they are actually quite beneficial.
Beach shelters are not necessarily just for campers. It can be used by anybody, but if you're after something a bit larger with potentially more protection then consider a gazebo tent.
Sun and Wind Protection
Being on the beach means getting a bit of sun. So it’s okay to get a little tan while you’re there. However, Australia has some of the highest rates of skin cancer cases in the world. So it’s important that you have some form of shelter with you.
The Coastal winds can be quite strong too so it’s great to have a place to hide away when the wind is too much to handle. We wouldn’t want to have our things getting caught in the wind or sprayed with sand. Imagine what a mess that would make.
Some beach tents come with extra stakes and tie down to keep it stable.
Having a beach tent for kids and toddlers keeps them from getting sand in their eyes or possibly eating the sand! A beach tent’s floor can keep the hot sand from burning up as well.
Comfort
An advantage to having a beach tent is having a place to sit or lie down without being exposed too much to the sun.
You can use the beach tent as a place for the family to gather for meals or a nap area for the kids.
Some beach shelters have floor extensions so you can have more space for you and family.
Storage
Leaving your things out in the open for everyone to see can be a bit uncomfortable for others.
Nobody wants their stuff all over the place. It’s better to keep all of your belongings in one place.
With a beach tent or canopy, you’ll be able to keep your eyes on your things and keep everything organized.
Privacy
Sometimes there’s a long line outside the beach dressing rooms or worse, no dressing rooms in the area. You don’t need to worry though, your beach tent can be your own private dressing room.
Since beaches can be packed with people sometimes, there may be a chance of strangers befriending you. That’s a good thing but we sometimes go to the beach for solitude so staying in your beach tent keeps the friendly strangers out.
Convenience
Beach tents are easy to set up since most of them are small and made of light materials.
There are other varieties of pop up beach tents that will only take seconds to set up.
They are also not bulky when you’re packing up. A beach tent usually comes with a bag that is light enough to carry around. If you need to change your spot on the beach you can just pick up your tent and walk away.
The packed size of beach tents varies. They are mostly small enough to store in the boot of your car.
Multipurpose
Beach tents, shelters or canopies are designed to primarily used on beaches. They are made to be used to the coast but that doesn’t mean you have to store the tent away once summer is over.
Beach tents are so versatile that you can use them for other activities.
Your kids can use them as a play tent at home. You can set games up in the tent or convert it as a movie viewing spot. Now that’s a good idea for their next sleepover!
You can bring the beach canopy or gazebo to a park for picnic or camping trips. Beach tents can be used as a social area for your outdoor activities.
No need to worry about getting a beach tent that will only be used once a year because I’m sure you’ll be busting out the tent even without going to the beach.