If you enjoy long days on the beach, then getting one of the best beach tents for sale is an absolute must! That Aussie sun can get pretty hot, particularly on a Queensland beach in the middle of Summer. But if you invest in the best beach shade tent Australia has, you’ll be able to remain well protected from the sun and have a more enjoyable day.
Many years ago, I just turned up to the beach with my towel and swimmers, and I was good as gold. But these days, I can’t bear to sit on the beach for more than 30 minutes or so without our portable beach tent.
Over the years, we’ve tried a few different best beach shade options before we landed on the beach shade canopy we’ve got now. We’ve had a few cheap beach tents, and now we have what we reckon is the ultimate beach shade!
If you’re looking for the best beach sun shelter, then you’re in the right place. In the best beach tent Australia 2024 guide, I take you through everything you need to consider to purchase the best beach sun shade. Then in the best beach shelter Australia reviews section, I’ll review some of the top rated beach tents Australia has and other shade options currently on the Aussie market.
No matter what sort of beach shelter you’re after, whether it be the best pop up beach tent Australia has, one of the best canopies for the beach, the best beach cabana Australia has, the best beach umbrella Australia has or something else, hopefully after reading this guide you’ll be well on your way to buying one that’s right for you.
So let’s get into it and find you the best beach shelters 2024 has!
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Our Pick for the Best Beach Tent Australia 2024: Cool Cabana
Don’t fancy reading our entire best beach tents for shade guide and just want to know our recommendation for top beach tents? Well, we recommend the Cool Cabana – as you can see – this is the one we have, and we absolutely love it! Whenever we’re with friends, and they see our Cabana, they always say how good it is and that they want to get one too.
This is the ultimate fold up beach tent, offering loads of shady space with room for everyone in the family. I love how the sides have plenty of pockets, so you can keep all your gear organised, like sunscreen., sunnies and car keys – no more losing these small items. While you can’t fully stand up underneath the Cool Cabana, there is plenty of room to relax in a full size chair. Despite having loads of space, this is a lightweight beach tent and packs down reasonably compactly, so easy to throw in the boot or carry down to the beach.
Keep reading below for our full review of the Cool Cabana, or click here to buy it now.
Compare the Best Beach Tents for Sale 2024
We’ve listed all the beach shade tents that we review in this guide in the table below. The table is a quick way to compare each of the tents for the beach and their features side by side.
For further detail, keep reading the best beach tents Australia reviews below.
| Name | Image | Type | Size | Check Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cool Cabana |  | Gazebo | 2 m x 2 m x 1.55 m | Check Price |
| Anaconda Cabana |  | Gazebo | 2 m x 2 m | Check Price |
| Mirage Adobe sun shelter |  | Half Dome | 2.5 m x 1.6 m x 1.4 m | Check Price |
| Neso Canopy |  | Canopy | 2.1 m x 2.1 m x 2.1 m 2.8 m x 2.8 m x 2.1 m 3.4 m x 3.4 m x 2.5 m | Check Price |
| OZtrail Dome |  | Dome | 4.2 m x 4.2 m x 2.35 m | Check Price |
| Bondi Sunshelter |  | Half Dome | 2.1 m x 1.8 m x 1.2 m | Check Price |
| Malamoo Hub |  | Pop Up Tent | 2 m x 1.5 m x 1.25 m 2 m x 1.75 m x 1.5 m | Check Price |
| Oztrail palm club beach tent |  | Canopy | 1.8 m x 1.8 m | Check Price |
| Sport-Brella Premiere |  | Umbrella | 2.44 m | Check Price |
| Oztrail Meridian Beach Umbrella |  | Umbrella | 2.2 m | Check Price |
How to Choose the Best Shade Tent Australia
Whether you’re after the best pop up tents for beach, a beach dome tent, an umbrella or something else – there are a few things worth considering if you want to get something you’re happy with the first time.
To buy the best beach awning, consider the below factors.
Types Of Beach Shelter
There is no one size fits all in terms of the best beach shade shelter, and there are loads of different options and types. There are pros and cons for each option, and in fact, you may want to own more than one type depending on the sort of beach trip you have planned (a short hour or so versus an entire day).
Below is a brief overview of the different types of beach shelters Australia has for sale.
Beach Tent / Pop Up
Very similar to a camping tent, the best tents for beach come with multiple walls, and a roof and generally have a floor and windows on the side walls. A beach shelter tent usually doesn’t have a front wall, so you can sit inside your tent while looking out to the ocean. Some beach tents don’t have much height to them, and you generally can’t stand up in them, only sit inside them, often in low beach chairs.
Given a beach tent has multiple walls, this offers good protection from the wind and means you don’t have to move it around as much as the sun moves.
A good beach tent is usually simple to put up as most of them these days are a popup beach tent which means all the poles are integrated and just require you to pull on one cord to erect it. An easy pop up beach tent will usually stay in place with tent pegs or by shovelling sand into pockets.
An easy beach tent tends to be reasonably lightweight and not overly bulky, so easy to carry down to the beach and doesn’t take up much room in the car. The best pop up tent beach option is ideal for families with young kids or a couple planning on spending a short time on the beach.
Half Dome Beach Tent
A half dome beach tent is pretty much a combination of a standard beach day tent and an umbrella. It’s kind of like an umbrella lying on its side, with some extra side wall protection. So while it provides less shade than a beach tent, unlike an umbrella, it provides much better privacy and is ideal for protecting you from the wind.
Half Dome tents come in various sizes, although most a very small and only allow a few people to sit inside them – without chairs or low beach chairs. So they certainly aren’t ideal at providing full protection from the hot Aussie sun.
The benefit of a half dome tent is they are a small beach tent, lightweight, and take up next to no space, so they are easy to throw in with your camping gear. They are also a fairly cheap option.
Gazebo / Cabana Beach Tent
A cabana or gazebo beach tent is a tall structure that provides excellent overhead protection from the sun. Usually, these do not have any walls (although some do), nor do they have a floor. You can easily stand or sit under a gazebo or cabana in a full size comfortable chair, and often there is stacks of room for a table, esky and other beach gear.
A beach marquee or cabana is a big beach tent and is bulkier than most of the other shelter options, but they also provide one of the best options for shade and sturdiness. Unfortunately, they are also one of the most expensive of all the different beach shades Australia sells.
Another thing to be mindful of is that if you have a large beach shelter like this without walls, you’ll have no protection from the wind, and you may have to move it around as the sun moves throughout the day.
If you’re planning a full day at the beach with the kids or friends and want the best large beach tent, then this is the ultimate beach tent. However, given they are much bulkier, they’re probably not the best travel beach tent for camping trips or road trips when space is already at a premium.
Shade / Canopy Beach Tent
The best beach canopy tent is somewhat similar to a gazebo or cabana in that it provides excellent overhead protection from the sun and has no walls or floor. However, a canopy usually only has one or two poles to keep it up and relies on a rope to keep it in place.
Canopies provide excellent overhead protection and usually have loads of headroom, so you can stand up or sit in a full size chair. In addition, if you have an extra large beach canopy, there is often plenty of room for a table and various beach gear.
However, with no walls, there is no protection from the wind, and depending on the sun’s direction, you will need to move the canopy around if you stay on the beach for more than a few hours.
A massive advantage to the best canopy tents for the beach is they’re super lightweight, given they’re not much more than a piece of fabric.
Beach Umbrella
Beach umbrellas have been around for years and require very little by way of introduction. They usually aren’t too expensive, are lightweight and easy to throw in the boot of the car.
However, beach umbrellas don’t provide a lot of shade, and while they are easy to set up, they can be tricky to keep in place. No doubt you’ve witnessed at least one or two beach umbrellas flying around the place in your time.
A beach umbrella is great, though, for those short trips to the beach where you plan to be spending most of your time in the water.
Size
Before purchasing a beach tent, you’ll need to consider what size you need. To determine the correct size, firstly, you’ll want to consider how many people you want to provide shade for and any additional items you want to store underneath, such as an esky or beach gear.
As well as how many people you want to provide shade for, consider how long you intend to sit under it. If you really just need something to keep your gear safe and a water bottle or two cool while you’re in the ocean, then you really don’t need an extra large beach tent that will provide you and the rest of your group with shade.
However, if you’re looking for the best beach shade shelter that you can set up and sit under for hours and have somewhere shady for lunch, then the bigger, the better. I also can’t stress enough about considering the height of your shelter. A mini beach tent that you can barely sit under, let alone stand up under, will become really annoying fast for those planning on spending any reasonable amount of time in them.
Although If you’re looking for a folding beach tent to throw in with all your camping gear or while you’re going on holiday, then you may need to compromise on size and look for something that will provide just the essential shady area to sit in.
Weight and Portability
Pretty much all the best beach shelters 2024 have, pack away rather compactly and come in their own carry bag. With the best beach sunshade, you’ll easily be able to carry it over your shoulder down to the beach. However, if you’re carrying multiple things, I recommend a beach cart. We take our beach cart everywhere with us, camping, picnicking in the park, anywhere we need to cart gear with us – I love it!
However, if your budget doesn’t stretch to a beach cart and you have to carry everything, look for the best lightweight beach canopy that you’re comfortable carrying – along with everything else you need to cart down to the beach. Even better, look for a light beach tent that one of your kids can carry.
The weight and pack downsize of the shade are super important to consider if you’re looking for something to take camping or on road trips where space is at a premium. As mentioned above, in these cases, you may need to compromise and just go with a small beach pop up tent that provides minimal shade and packs down compactly.
Set Up
A quick set up is a good set up – right? This is why most people go for a pop up beach cabana, as they tend to be the easiest beach tent to set up. The best beach pop up tent will have you set up and packed down in seconds. However, sometimes you’re willing to forgo the instant beach tent for more space.
Whatever beach shade you go for, be sure to open it up and check how it sets up while you’re at home before you go to the beach. Also, check that it comes with everything you need to secure it in place at the beach. If you opt for a cheap beach tent, you may want to buy yourself at least some sand pegs – like these – these are an absolute must for securing a tent in the sand. We don’t go to the beach or camping near the beach without ours – they are a godsend!
If you have a beach tent with sand pockets, make sure you bring a little shovel, as you don’t really want to be scooping out the sand with your hands if you don’t have to. If you have little kids, one of their sand toys will be perfect.
Construction, Material and UV Protection
In terms of durability, the most important thing to consider when you buy beach tent is your shelter’s frame and poles. Frames and poles are usually made from fibreglass or aluminium, both lightweight and perfect for the hot Australian climate. Fibreglass is the cheaper option, while aluminium is more expensive but also longer lasting.
In terms of the tent material, this is usually a light, tough polyester and/or nylon. The difference tends to be with the level of sun protection and waterproofing. You’ll know how much protection the tent will offer you from the sun in terms of its UV rating. The best shade UV beach tent has a rating of 50+ UPF. Of course, there is no point in having a tent if you’re still going to get sunburn sitting under it.
The tent’s waterproofing is no real biggy if you don’t plan to stay at the beach during wet weather. However, in case of those unexpected downpours, it’s nice to know that you and your belongings are protected. To ensure your tent is waterproof, look to see if it has a polyurethane coating as well as sealed or heat taped seams.
Overall just remember that you do tend to get what you pay for. So if you want to get the best beach tent 2024 has that will last you years to come, don’t opt for the cheapest tent you can find; rather look for one made from quality materials that gets great reviews. While this may well cost you more initially, you’ll actually save money by not having to replace it in the long run.
The Best Beach Shelter Reviews Australia 2024
Hopefully, after reading the above, you have a better understanding of what the best portable beach shade is for you. Below I’ve provided a detailed review of some of the best beach tents 2024 currently has available in Australia.
Cool Cabana Beach Shelter Review
As mentioned above, our pick for the best pop up beach shelter Australia has is the Cool Cabana. This cabana is super lightweight, easy to store and carry, as well as quick and easy to set up.
The Cool Cabana is 2 x 2 metres in size, so there is plenty of room for a small to medium size family. With a height of just 1.55m, you won’t be able to completely stand up under this sun shade beach shelter, but you can sit comfortably in a full-sized chair. The canopy is made from a cotton poly canvas which provides 50+ UPF protection, so you’ll have both shade and protection from the sun.
The Cool Cabana just comes in two pieces – which is basically the pole which has the piece that goes into the ground and then the top part of the pole with the canopy pre attached. So there is no messing about setting up the canopy itself. Simply put the bottom pole into the sand, then attach the top pole and open out the canopy. Then get the kids to fill the legs of the canopy and voila – you are done!
There is so much to love about this best portable beach tent. Apart from being super easy to set up, it’s also lightweight at just 5.3 kgs. Also, it folds down to a length of just 97cm and stores away in a compact bag, which you can easily carry over your shoulder from the car to the beach. Another thing I love about these beach sun shades Australia sells, is the pockets high up in the canopy, which are perfect for storing small gear like sunscreen, sunnies, phones and your car keys. You can even hang a towel or two over the arms under the canopy to keep them sand free.
We just love our Cool Cabana – our only regret is not buying one sooner! And don’t just take our word for how great these pop up beach shelters are – simply head down to any Queensland beach and you will no doubt see a stack of them! This is what prompted us to buy one in the first place.
Honestly, for a top quality, lightweight and easy to set up beach shelter – the Cool Cabana is a great choice.
Click here for more information and to check the current price.
Anaconda Coconut Mosaic Sun Shade Review
If you’re after a large beach cabana tent or family beach tents that have plenty of room for all the kids as well as all your gear, then this Coconut Mosaic Cabana beach shelter from Anaconda is ideal.
With dimensions of 2 m x 2 m, this cabana beach gazebo has plenty of room for everyone. However, you’ll still be able to fit a couple of full size chairs, a small table, your esky and all the kid’s gear under this large family beach tent.
This large beach sun shelter is easy enough to set up and has sand pockets as anchor points – simply fill these with sand to keep the tent securely in place. It packs up nice and compactly too, so it is easy to carry down to the beach and store in the boot of the car.
The best rated beach tent comes with four plastic pegs suitable for grass or sand, as well as four steel pegs, a plastic sand anchor and a steel pole.
If you’re after the best family beach tent, with loads of space for everyone and everything, you can’t wrong with this UPF50+ beach sun tent from Anaconda.
Click here for more information and to check the current price
Mirage Adobe Sun Shelter Review
If you are looking for an affordable sun shelter for the beach that provides ample sun protection, then the Mirage Adobe Sun Shelter is worth considering. It is a spacious beach tent that is quick and easy to set up and packs down compactly.
This easy-to-use beach shelter is a dome-style tent that offers coverage on all sides except for the front, as well as reasonable overhead protection. Additionally, it includes a floor to keep your space free from sand. The shelter also provides UPF100+ sun protection.
With dimensions of 2.1 m x 1.2 m, this beach shelter has enough room for a small family. However, with a height of only 1.1 m, standing inside may not be feasible. Nevertheless, you should be able to fit a beach chair or two comfortably.
Therefore, if you are in search of one of the best beach tents for families that is quick and easy to set up while providing plenty of shade, make sure to check out the Mirage Adobe Sun Shelter beach tent.
Click here for more information and to check the current price
Neso Beach Tent Canopy Review
Neso makes a great range of shelters for those looking for the best beach canopy 2024 has. These are great if you’re after both a huge beach tent but also something lightweight and compact.
The Neso beach tent is easy to put up with just two lightweight aluminium poles to erect. The canopy is made from a high quality blend of nylon and lycra with reinforced corners and is kept securely in place with the four sandbags. The canopy is water repellent and has a UPF 50+ rating, so you’ll be well protected from both the sun and rain. However, with no sidewalls, they are not ideal on windy days.
The Neso portable beach tent is huge and comes in three different sizes, as follows:
- Neso Standard Beach Tent: 2.1 m x 2.1 m x 2.1 m
- Neso Grande Beach Tent: 2.1 m x 2.8 m x 2.8 m
- Neso Gigante Beach Tent: 3.4 m x 3.4 m x 2.5 m
As you can see, under one of these canopies, you’ll have plenty of room for the largest of families, chairs, tables, esky, beach gear and more! Plus, this sun shade for beach is super lightweight despite its size, with the smallest weighing just 1.8 kg and the largest being 4.3 kg.
The canopies come in a carry bag that you can easily pop in a suitcase while travelling. The carry bag also features a cooler pocket for drinks and snacks.
The best part is these Neso canopies come in a range of super cool colours and designs! Choose from bright blue to funky flamingos and many other designs.
These canopies are awesome for camping families after the largest beach tent that doesn’t take up too much space when packed away. These are lightweight too, so perfect when weight is already at a premium. Definitely consider Neso if you’re after the best beach tent canopy.
Click here for more information and to check the current price
OZtrail Dome Shelter Review
The OZtrail Multi Shade is another pop up half dome tent. It’s one of the largest in these best beach tent reviews, so perfect for extra large families or those wanting to use it for other purposes as well.
The OZtrail beach tent features a steel frame that is easy to set up and great for those after the best beach canopies for wind. The tent itself is made from heavy-duty 150 denier and has a 1000m water rating and is seam sealed so it can easily stand light rain. It’s also silver coated to provide protection from the sun.
The Oztrail sun shade tent also comes with a sunwall, and you have the option of purchasing more if you wish. This offers even more protection from the sun and wind; this also provides plenty of privacy.
The dimensions of this shelter are a huge 4.2 m x 4.2 m x 2.35 m – so the biggest in this guide by far. This may be overkill if you just want a lightweight beach tent or a small beach tent to throw in the car, but if you want just one shelter for multiple uses, then this is a great choice. It does come with a wheeled carry bag, so this makes it easy to get around.
A few other features include zippered roof vents for ventilation and storage pockets to keep valuables safe.
Click here for more information and to check the current price
Explore Planet Earth Speedy Quik-Up Bondi Sunshelter Review
If you like the previous Oztrail Multi Shade but don’t need something quite so big, then consider the Explore Planet Earth Speedy Quik-Up Bondi Sunshelter.
This is a half-dome style of beach shelter that offers just enough shade to keep your drinks in the shade as well as the kids while they’re not in the water.
This sun shelter has an instant fiberglass frame for quick and easy setup. Simply fill the anchor bags with sand or rocks to keep the popup sun shelter in place. It also comes with a couple of sand pegs too. This shade tent for the beach features a durable floor, so it’s great for keeping things free of sand. It also has 3 window panels for plenty of ventilation and provides UPF50+ sun protection.
With dimensions of 2.1 m x 1.8 m x 1.2 m, this beach tent popup is an average-sized half dome tent featured in this guide. With a height of just 1.2 m, there’s not enough space to stand up.
In addition to providing plenty of shade, the Explore Planet Earth Speedy Quik-Up Bondi Sunshelter is lightweight, easy to set up, and comes at a great price too. So, for a family after something light and inexpensive, the Bondi Sunshelter could well be just what you’re after.
Click here for more information and to check the current price.
Malamoo Hub Beach Tent Review
Another good option for the best pop up beach shelter is the Malamoo Hub tent. With a unique cube like shape, you have maximum space in this small beach tent.
This is a quick set up beach tent, with set up and pack up being easily done in a minute. To secure the tent in place, either use the nine included pegs and/or fill the four sandbags. This top beach tent also comes with guy ropes in case of a windy day.
The tent itself features a UPF 50+ polyester fabric to provide maximum protection from the sun and each of the walls has a mesh panel at the base for increased ventilation. The Malamoo also comes with a polyethylene floor.
The Malamoo Hub comes in two sizes. Both have a length of 2 metres, but the smaller 2 Hub has a width of 1.5 metres, while the larger 4 Hub has a width of 1.75 metres wide, providing plenty of space for a family. Although like most pop up beach canopy tent options, there is only has a height of 1.25 metres (2 Hub) or 1.5 metres (4 Hub) – so you won’t be able to stand up in this tent. However, what I like about this tent is the walls are not rounded, so space is maximised given you have the same amount of space at the back of the tent as you do at the front.
The Malamoo is excellent for a small family who doesn’t want a massive tent for their days at the beach and really just needs somewhere to store their gear while they enjoy the ocean. You’ll be able to pop in a few chairs in this tent and an esky. Plus, it packs down nice and compactly, so it’s easy for throwing in the back of the car.
Click here for more information and to check the current price.
Oztrail Palm Club Beach Tent Review
If you ’re after the best beach tarp or canopy-style shelter, the Oztrail Palm Club Beach Tent is another great option. It offers plenty of shaded space for a family or group of people, is lightweight and compact for day trips to the beach or even camping trips. The tent has a vintage style to it.
With dimensions of 1.8 m x 1.8 m, this portable beach canopy offers plenty of shade. You ’ll be able to have full-size chairs, a table, esky, and other beach gear sitting under here. At 4 kg, it’s also lightweight for a shelter of this size and packs down compactly. This makes it perfect for both day trips and camping trips to the beach.
The canopy is made from a UPF50+ 200g poly-cotton canopy and comes with two lightweight poles. The beach tent is available in 4 colors, and the canopy is reversible giving you the option of a pattern or a block color. There are different options to set the tent up either an A-frame or an L-frame.
If you ’re after the best canopy tent for the beach, you really can’t go wrong with this stylish shelter.
Click here for more information and to check the current price.
Sport-Brella Premiere Review
Sometimes all you need is an old, trusty beach umbrella. In fact, these are all you need for a quick trip to the beach or even for taking along when camping with you, if you have nothing else. If this sounds like you, then the Sport-Brella may be what you’re after. This is not your typical umbrella setup.
With a diameter of 2.44 meters, this Sport-Brella provides a reasonably shaded area. In addition, it has the all-important UPF50+ sun protection and a directional tilt pole so you can block out the sun from any direction. Plus, the zippered windows allow for increased ventilation, which helps increase the stability of the Brella.
This Sport-Brella Premiere is easy to set up and has a screw end to keep it secure on a range of surfaces. It also comes with an easy carry bag for transporting and is reasonably lightweight at 3.7 kgs.
Click here for more information and to check the current price
Oztrail Meridian Beach Umbrella Review
Another good option for those looking for a beach shade umbrella is this one from Oztrail, the Meridian Beach Umbrella. The umbrella has a 2.2 metre diameter, and the canopy is made with a silver-coated 210 denier Oxford fabric.
The Meridian umbrella has a tilt function, ensuring you can block out the sun from all directions. There are vents on the canopy of the umbrella that serve to reduce airflow pressure that can destabilize the umbrella.
The Meridian umbrella is easy to set up with the built-in sand screw to keep it secure. It also comes with a carry bag, making it easy to carry down to the beach, and the lightweight aluminum frame ensures it’s not too heavy.
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And there you have it, our ultimate guide to the best shade tents for the beach. We have plenty of other guides to help you with camping, including how to choose a pop up tent, how to choose a camp stove and we even have the ultimate camping checklist here.
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