There is something about summer in Australia that just drives us all outdoors and to the beaches, lakes or rivers to enjoy the amazing weather.
But we all know that Australia has some of the highest UV index levels in the world and our sun can be damaging to your skin, not to mention that it’s also roasting hot.
After your slip, slop and slap routine, a decent beach shelter is an obvious way forward to protect yourself and your family from the harsh Aussie sun. Whether it's a larger shelter for a group or a small one for yourself, read on and discover summer's best beach tents and shelters.
| OZtrail Deluxe 3.0 Gazebo with Hydro Flow | OZtrail Personal Pop Up | CoolCabanas Beach Shelter 2m | Coleman Event 14 Sun Shelter + Sunwall | Caribee Long Reef Beach Shade | Kmart Pop Up Beach Shelter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Our Pick  | Best 1p shelter  |  |  |  |  | |
300 x 300 cm | 210 x 120 cm | 200 x 200 cm | 426 x 426 cm | 330 x 180 cm | 196 x 108 cm | |
UVTex® polyester, steel | UVTex® Sun Tough fly fabric | Cotton poly-canvas | Polyester, steel | Polyester, aluminium | Polyester, steel | |
193, 208, 223 cm settings | 90 cm | 180 cm | 233 cm | 175 cm | 48 cm | |
No | No | Resistant | Resistant | No | No | |
23 kg | 1.2 kg | 5.3 kg | 17.6 kg | 3.3 kg | 1.0 kg | |
1 year | 1 year | 1 year | 1 year | 1 year | None |
Best Beach Tents & Shelters Australia
OZtrail Deluxe 3.0 Gazebo with Hydro Flow
Best For Windy Conditions
It’s common to head down to the beach on what appears to be a calm day, only to find out that it’s quite a bit windier once you get there.This can be a challenge for many beach tents, but not for the OZtrail Deluxe 3.0 Gazebo.
This family-sized beach shelter has been refined over time and is now in its third version and has a range of features to reduce the wind's effects so it will stay stable and keep providing shade even when those offshores pick up.
With four poles and pegs to help tie it down, this shelter is high enough for adults to stand and walk around with ease, looks stylish in its Navy blue colouration and provides a wide space to sit in the shade.
Customer reviews are all highly positive as these tents are good value and excellent at what they do. There are a couple of very minor negatives such as the canvas using velcro instead of clips to be secured that some users didn't like and it's also quite heavy at over 20kg.
It does have a wheelie bag for transportation, but that doesn't cut it on the sand. If you’re looking for a decent sized beach tent that you’re happy to set up at the back of the beach, this will work for you. This is the best beach shelter for a group on this list.
OZtrail Personal Pop Up
Best Personal Sun Shelter
Sometimes it’s just you and that’s all good. Plenty of us have whiled away the day reading or hanging on a beach and this little personal pop up by OZtrail is a great little shelter for one. It's light and easy to carry, set up and pack down. It has a heavy-duty base for durability and pegs to keep it in place.
With this tent, your profile on the beach is much lower than the other higher shelters on this list. So you can sit anywhere without blocking the sea view for others and they come in a range of colours so you can find yours again after a swim.
Most people love their little OZtrail pop-up, but for some, it's not high enough to sit fully upright and the mesh windows can let the sun in at certain angles. Still, highly rated and well made, this is a great little personal sun shelter. You can’t argue with the price, either!
CoolCabanas Beach Shelter 2m
Best For Lake Or Backyard
Despite being another larger shelter designed for a group, the CoolCabanas shelter does not hold up as well in the wind as the other shelters on this list. This means that on a windy day, it will be hard to keep in place.
This is much better suited to the backyard or a river or lakeside that is less prone to wind and the majority of negative reviews reflect this. It does a fantastic job at what it's designed for, but the wind issue makes it less versatile in the long run. If it's on sale and for your backyard then go for it.
Coleman Event 14 Sun Shelter + Sunwall
Best For A Park
The Coleman Event is a different design on the group shelter with the aim of giving you more shade for its size than others by having the dome shape and an extra panel to place on the sun side. It can seat four or five easily and is quick to set up and pack down.
This shelter does not handle wind at all, with many reviews stating the poles bent and the shelter collapsed in only moderate winds. This is better suited to watching a game of country cricket, a picnic in a park or your backyard than it does at the beach.
Caribee Long Reef Beach Shade
Honourable Mention
The Caribee Long Reef beach shade attempts a different approach to stopping the sun and it largely succeeds, but with limitations. By using poles, pegs and ropes with what is essentially a piece of canvas, you can set this up in multiple configurations to provide shade for up to four people.
It hates the wind though, with reports of poles and pegs bending or even breaking. It’s also not cheap for what is essentially a square of canvas with some poles and pegs. Not really recommended unless it’s by a nice and calm spot like a backyard pool.
Kmart Pop Up Beach Shelter
Budget Buy
This small little budget pop up beach tent is a great shelter for individuals. It's very much a no-frills shelter and comes with poles and pegs to secure it to the sand. It sits a little higher than the OZtrail Personal Pop up, but it does not have any windows at all so it can get very hot inside.
It's not great in the wind but for its price it's good value. If you head to the beach a lot and want a personal pop up tent - you are better off paying a bit extra for the OZtrail. However, if you are on a budget, this Kmart Pop Up Shelter will still give you the shade you need.
What To Look For When Buying Beach Tents & Shelters in Australia
Size
The first thing you need to ask yourself is: is this just for me or for a larger group?
The smaller pop-ups like the Kmart Pop Up are great for an individual or even a couple of them side by side for small groups, but if it's a family unit you should look at a larger shelter like the OZtrail Deluxe 3.0.
Wind Resistance
This is another important consideration and when reading this guide you can see that they are not all equal in this regard.
If you don’t experience much wind or like to picnic in a park then the CoolCabanas or Coleman Event will work just fine. If you sit on the beach all summer, then one of the OZtrails will handle the wind a lot better.
Beach Location
If you like to be close to the water, you should be mindful of others and not drag a heavy and large shelter through the sand to set up in front of everyone else.
A smaller shelter should be used with less of a footprint like the Caribee Reef or several Kmart pop-ups. If you are happy at the back of the beach then the CoolCabanas or OZtrail Deluxe 3.0 would be better choices.
Beach Tents & Shelters FAQ
Is a beach tent worth it?
Yes, the Australian sun is harsh and having a personal or a group shelter will allow you to reduce your exposure, even if it’s just resting between swimming and running around in the sun.
The Cancer Council has a guide on selecting the right material for your shelter.
Are beach shelters waterproof?
Most are resistant, but this is not their aim. They reduce or eliminate UV rays primarily and will provide a little shelter from the rain but usually not for too long.
Which is better - a beach umbrella or a beach tent?
An umbrella you have to keep changing its location to cater for the moving sun, a tent not so much. It's old versus new technology and both work, however, a tent is easier and provides more shade.
Final Thoughts
While not essential for short trips, anything longer than a couple of hours in the sun at the beach and you should really consider taking a beach tent or shelter with you.
Even using it sporadically still reduces your UV exposure and reduces the chances of skin cancer.
The two OZtrail shelters – the Deluxe 3.0 Gazebo and the Personal Pop Up are the picks of the bunch here, primarily for their excellent UV and wind resistance.
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Note that while every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information on this page, there may sometimes be errors. Check all specifications with the manufacturer before purchasing any product.
