SOMETIMES there is no better pampering for the soul than the sand and surf — and the world is full of stunning beaches.

It doesn’t matter whether you are a sit back and relax with a cocktail in your hand type of traveller or an adventurous, intrepid globetrotter — there is a small patch of paradise somewhere in the world which has your name on it.

From powder white beaches, swaying palm trees and turquoise waters, to volcanic coastlines, and snow-capped mountain peaks steps from the sea, FlightNetwork has compiled the world’s 50 best beaches, according to the opinions of more than 600 travel journalists, editors, bloggers and agencies.

There’s the pristine Grace Bay Beach in Turks and Caicos in the Caribbean — ranked the world’s number one beach — if you want to kick back and relax.

There’s the Pink Sand beach in the Bahamas if you want a truly unique beach, or the Pig Beach in the Bahamas if you are an animal lover.

Then there is Honokalani Beach in Hawaii, deemed sacred by the Hawaiian people, with its volcanic coastline, black sand and lush green forest if you want something cultural and ruggedly beautiful.

But what is truly awe-inspiring is how well Australia ranked on the list. Two Aussie beaches made the top 10, with Whitehaven Beach in the Whitsundays ranking as the world’s second most impressive stretch of sand and surf.

“Whitehaven Beach will make you believe in love at first sight. Composed of 98-percent silica, the sand here is some of the whitest on Earth,” FlightNetwork said.

Hyams Beach on the New South Wales south coast came in at 8th on the list for its crystal waters, white sand, and the lush Jervis Bay National Park as its backdrop.

Other Australian beaches to make the list include Lucky Bay on the south coast of Western Australia (18) and Turquoise Bay in Western Australia (29).

THE WORLD’S 50 BEST BEACHES

1. Grace Bay, Turks and Caicos, United Kingdom

2. Whitehaven Beach, Australia

3. Anse Lazio, Seychelles

4. Pink Sands Beach, Bahamas

5. Navagio Beach, Greece

6. Baia Dos Porcos, Brazil

7. Playa Paraiso, Mexico

8. Hyams Beach, Australia

9. Hidden Beach, Mexico

10. Trunk Bay, United States Virgin Islands

11. Maya Bay, Thailand

12. Pig Beach, Bahamas

13. Blue Lagoon, Fiji

14. El Nido, Philippines

15. Muri Beach, Cook Islands, New Zealand

16. Saltwhistle Bay, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

17. Half Moon Bay, Antigua and Barbuda

18. Lucky Bay, Australia

19. Flamenco Beach, Puerto Rico, United States

20. Reynisfjara Beach, Iceland

21. Île aux Cerfs, Mauritius

22. Fulhadhoo Beach, Maldives

23. Vaeroy, Norway

24. Cayo Coco, Cuba

25. Seven Mile Beach, Cayman Islands, United Kingdom

26. Anse Source d’Argent, Seychelles

27. Horseshoe Bay, Bermuda

28. Honokalani Beach, Hawaii, United States

29. Turquoise Bay, Australia

30. Elafonissi Beach, Greece

31. Champagne Beach, Vanuatu

32. Tunnels Beach, Hawaii, United States

33. Kaputas Beach, Turkey

34. Dhigurah Island, Maldives

35. Île aux Nattes, Madagascar

36. Cala Goloroitze, Italy

37. Los Roques, Venezuela

38. Long Beach, Canada

39. Grand Anse, Grenada

40. Boulders Beach, South Africa

41. Lanikai Beach, Hawaii, United States

42. Cala Mitjana, Spain

43. Shoal Bay, Anguilla, United Kingdom

44. One Foot Island, Cook Islands, New Zealand

45. Ao Nang, Thailand

46. Radhanagar Beach, India

47. Eagle Beach, Aruba, The Netherlands

48. Ageeba Beach, Egypt

49. Diani Beach, Kenya

50. Cannon Beach, Oregon, United States