Spots: ABC of NSW Beaches - information will be added constantly...
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Photo/Location |
Information on Beach and Surfing Conditions |
Surfsisters' Comments |
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Austinmer
Beach
Where: Illawarra |
Austinmer Beach is one of the more popular beaches north of
Wollongong.
It lies next to Lawrence Hargraves Drive, with shops lining the western
side and a large car park and park between the beach and the Drive.
Norfolk Island pines back the length of the beach with the new Surf Club
and other amenities occupying the southern half of this 250 m long beach.
Two large rock pools lie on the southern rock platform. The pools were the
subject of a famous 1918 painting by Alfred Coffey. The relatively small
beach is wedged between two low headlands and their extensive rock
platforms. A popular readily accessible beach offering all amenities,
including a park and pools. However the surf is dominated by strong rips
so stay between the flags. |
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Bendalong |
With
crystal clear waters, white sandy beaches and tranquil forests, the
seaside town of Bendalong is an ideal getaway where native wildlife
abounds. Take a good look around this extraordinary location. The beaches
and bushlands are fantastic. On the edge of National Park, the spectacular
and picturesque white sandy beaches have great surfing and fishing.
Bendalong consists of the following beaches: Washerwomens, Inyadda,
Manyana, Cunjurong, and the near by Green Island beaches.... |
The
awesome two day gay girls' surf camps are held monthly at Bendalong, that's
where I joined the
Sydney Surf-Chix. The waves are great and I manged to
do my first "drop" on the Bendalong waves:-). |
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Bondi Beach |
South Bondi, patrolled by Bondi Surf
Club, is more exposed to waves and has a continuous bar cut by 2 to 3 rips
and at time separated from the shore by a longshore trough. A persistent
large and often strong rip runs out against the southern headland. This
more hazardous area is more popular with the board riders than bathers.
Consequently, while less popular for bathing, than the northern end of the
beach, it has nearly twice as many rescues, 274 each year. |
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Bulli
Beach |
Bulli Beach is 900 m long and runs south south east from 5 m high
Waniora Point to the even lower Collins Rock. The Surf Club, founded in
1916, is located just to the south of the northern rocks with a commanding
view down the beach. Next to the Surf Club is a large park with a caravan
park just beyond. A small creek crosses south of the Club house and backs
the northern half of the beach. A park backs the southern half. A bike
path runs behind the beach linking Bulli with Woonona Beach. The southern
half is more accessible from Woonona. The entire beach is exposed to waves
averaging 1.5 m which cut the bar to form between 4 and 6 rips. Two
permanent rips run out against the rocks at either end, with 2 to 4
shifting rips along the beach. The intervening bars are usually attached
to the beach, but are separated by a trough during and following periods
of high waves, conditions which can also generate a second outer bar
running the length of the beach. Rock pools are located on both rock
platforms. |
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Cave Beach |
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I have been surfing here once and it was great:-)! Will defenitely come back soon. |
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Camel
Rock Beach |
Camel Rock Beach is
named after the rock formation replicating a camel on the northern end of
the beach. It is an unspoilt coastline with significant Aboriginal history.
The beach is patrolled during January and picnic facilities are available
for summer barbecues. Excellent coastal walks and a range of birdlife
abounds. A viewing platform gives magnificent views up and down the coast. |
I have been surfing here three times and each times I enjoyed it, even though I only could get the broken waves, as the currents were too strong to be able to paddle further out... |
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Coalcliff
Beach |
Coalcliff as the name implies is the
first of the mining towns that looked to the slopes and the coal seams for
their livelihood and later to the sea for their recreation. The beach
fronts a steep, narrow valley, with sides rising 300 m to the backing
plateau. The coal mine is located towards the rear of the valley. A
railway used to run from the mine to a small exposed harbour on the rock
platforms about 2 km south of the beach. The Lawrence Hargraves Drive now
winds between the mine and the town area, with access to the beach limited
to a car park behind the Surf Club and street parking. The small Club was
formed in 1924. The main Coalcliff Beach fronts the valley, is 500 m long
and faces the east south east. It lies between a southern rock platform
containing a rock pool, and northern rocks that have fallen down the high
cliff. Waves average 1 to 1.5 m producing 3 dominant rips on Coalcliff
Beach, a strong rip against the southern rocks, a shifting central rip and
one flowing north past the northern rocks. When the bars are separated
from the beach the waves reform and surge heavily up the steep beach face. |
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Coledale Beaches |
Coledale is a small seaside town approximately 18 kilometres north of Wollongong along the Princes Highway. It is part of the City of Wollongong and lies between Austinmer and Wombarra. Coledale has two principal swimming beaches - Coledale and Sharky's. Both are reasonably lengthy, both have plenty of parking space and both are fringed by very fine rock platforms for investigating rock pools. The main beach has a camping reserve (tel: 02 4227 5545) on the grassy foreshore, an amenities block, a surf lifesaving club and an ocean pool. On the southern side of the shops is another good, long beach with plentiful parking, although it is not patrolled: see Sharky's Beach. Surfing Conditions: there are great waves for kids, with the south end offereing good protection from the wind, and a wedging right-hander. |
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Curl
Curl |
Curl Curl is an exposed energetic beach, backed originally by large dunes which were destabilised earlier this century. The northern dunes were partly removed during the War, then used as a tip and finally returned to a somewhat natural state in the 1980's. Curl Curl, only 12 km from central Sydney, still has a relatively natural appearance. Today the central and northern end are given over to a foreshore reserve, with a large car park next to the North Curl Curl Surf Club and along the central section, while to the south the road runs close behind the beach with parking either side of the Surf Club and on the southern headland. Rock pools are located on the shore platforms of both headlands. The beach is 1.2 km long, lying between 50 m high Dee Why Head and the lower sandstone rocks at South Curl Curl. It faces the east south east and receives all swell out of the east and south east with waves averaging 1.6 m. These waves cut the single bar to usually produce 7 rips, two permanent against each headland, and 5 shifting rips along the beach. Because of the higher waves the bar is often separated from the beach by a continuous trough occupied by the rips and their feeder currents. During lower waves the bar attaches between the rips. The rips however are always present. North Curl Curl's original attraction was the lagoon and beach. The lagoon which still flows across the beach during heavy rains went through a phase of serious pollution and is only now being cleaned up. The beach is safest and most attractive in the northern corner particularly in summer, and popular with families. Strong, persistent rips occur south of the Club house. Surfing Conditions: South Curlie also offers beach breaks and a regular swell. Best is in the south just north of the main rip, with other breaks up the beach. Exposed to both summer north east winds and southerlies. North Curlies as the locals call it can usually produce a wave when there is little else around. With low to moderate swell it can generate some good beach breaks along the entire beach. Its blown out however in southerlies. |
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Dee Why
Where: North Sydney |
Dee Why has a lot to offer with surf being top of the list. If you find the surf and rips too much enjoy the parks and rock pool. Dee Why is definitely more civilised and developed than Long Reef. A seawall, Surf Club, large car park and nice park back the southern beach with all the usual beach shops behind. Surfing Conditions: Up the beach No Man's Land provides some of the north sides best beach breaks and always seems to have a wave no matter how low the swell. Down south inside the point is a kiddies corner when the waves are lower with learners having a go. However when the swell exceeds 1.5 m Dee Why Point starts to work, holding up to 4 m. It has a steep take off over rocks, with the locals sitting way inside, followed by a tube and a full shoulder. Popular but not for the faint hearted. However the non surfers can enjoy a front row view of the break from the Point, which the surfers also use to launch themselves into the cauldron.
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Elouera
Beach |
Elouera,the long beach from Greenhills to North Cronulla offers three surf clubs in the south, fronted by strong rips, with wave height gradually decreasing to the north as do the crowds. Most people prefer the more crowded south where the surf and all amenities are provided, particularly if coming by car, where they are joined by surfers arriving by train. For solitude head north. Along this section of beach, all the way down to North Cronulla, not only are there rips every 200 m, but the bars that separate them are usually detached from the shore, with an often deep trough running between the bar and the shore. This combines with a relatively steep beach face and at times heavy to surging shorebreak, to produce a potentially hazardous beach. Surfing Conditions: The deep rips and bars can combine to produce some excellent beach breaks right along the beach, however it depends on the waves, winds and bars. Best following big seas, east to south east swell and offshore winds. Elouera, The Wall and The Alley are some of the more popular spots, when working. |
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Era
Beach |
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Freshwater
Beach |
Freshwater Beach is the first beach North of Manly on the Peninsular. A beautiful beach flanked by a headland at each end. Can produce excellent surf. The beach has a large rock pool at the Northern end. A beach patrolled by lifeguards it has its own surf lifesaving club where you can buy stuff in the summer. At the back of the beach is the highly acclaimed Freswater Restaurant and a hundred meters from there is the Harbord Beach Hotel (Pub) known as the Harbord Hilton to the locals. |
I have been surfing here once and it was great:-)... Nice long rides! |
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Fairy Meadow/Towradgi
Where: Illawarra |
Fairy Meadow Surf
Club, 1.3 km to the south, is reached by a road across the former swamp. A
car park and dressing sheds are provided immediately behind the dune.
Midway between the two Surf Clubs is a large caravan park with foot access
across the creek and dunes to the beach. The 1.5 km of beach south of the
Fairy Meadow Surf Cub is only accessible on foot from the Surf Club or
from the southern end. |
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Garie
Beach |
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Gerrigong
Beach |
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Green
Island |
The surf near Green Island at Conjola (access from Manyana/ Cunjurong Point) provides excellent board riding for enthusiasts and there are plenty of spots for spear fishing and scuba diving. |
I have been surfing here twice with the Sydney Surf Chix. Great location, beautiful waves..... just a long way to paddle out there:-) |
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Headlands
Coledale |
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Hyams
Beach |
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No
surfing beach... just one of the finest beaches regarding its white sand... |
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Inyadda
Beach |
See above: Bendalong |
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Jervis
Bay |
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Kiama
Beach |
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Lilli
Pilli |
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Little
Austi |
Surfing Conditions: This beach offers a fun, summer wave, depending on the sand-banks. |
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Manly
Beach |
Manly Beach is probably Australia's best know beach, after Bondi. There is still debate as to whether the world's first Surf Life Saving Club was formed here, but there is no doubt that this is where in 1902 one man helped shake the shackles that had for decades kept Australia's growing interest in the beach and surf at bay. Within a year of William Gocher defying the law and bathing in daylight hours on Manly beach, the floodgates had opened and Australian's began flocking to the beach to walk, bathe and attempt to come to terms with the waves and rips. During the first official bathing season in 1903, 17 people drowned on Manly Beach. A year latter a Surf Club was formed on the beach to safeguard the public, perhaps the world's first. The present Manly SLSC formed in 1911, North Steyne 600 m to the north in 1907 and Queenscliff in 1924.Manly - Queenscliff Beach faces the east, is 1.4 km long and receives waves averaging 1.5 m at Queenscliff dropping toward 1 m at Manly. The sand is whiter and finer than many northern beaches resulting in a flatter wider beach slope and surf zone. Up to 8 rips flow across the bar, with permanent rips against Queenscliff Head and Manly Point, the latter called The Escalator. During big seas the finer sand and waves combine to produce a second bar off Manly with more widely spaced rips. Surfing Conditions: Usually reasonable beach breaks, with a left running into the Escalator. When the swell is up Manly Point puts on a reasonable right. |
I have been surfing at Manly a couple of times, but due to the conditions on these days, I didn't have that much fun... |
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Manyana
Beach |
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Maroubra
Where: South Sydney |
Maroubra Beach at 1 km in length is the longest beach in the Eastern
Suburbs. It is orientated due east, and apart from the very southern end
receives the full force of Tasman Sea, producing the most hazardous beach
in the area. The beach is a popular destination, with city buses and a
large car park. Byrne Reserve which backs much of the beach also provides
plenty of space to spread out. The Marouba Surf Club was formed at the
northern end of the beach in 1904, while at the southern end, South
Marouba Surf Club is one of the newest forming in 1963. While the beach
has excellent parking and facilities, the surf requires more caution. The
northern and central section of the beach are dominated by 4 to 5 rip
systems, which are particularly strong in the north and against the
northern headland. Also rocks and a drain at the northern end pose
additional hazards. Marouba Surf Club patrols the northern end and hauls
in 285 people a year, the state's highest, at an equally high rate of 3.4
per thousand bathers. |
I have been to Maroubra Beach
once on a very cold day with strong off shore winds... therefore it wasn't
that easy to get onto the waves, even in the more sheltered South end of
Maroubra Beach... |
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McCauley's
Beach |
Surfing Conditions: Located at the south end of Thirroul, Macauley's offers peaky left-handers. |
One of the beaches I have had
two of my surf lessons with Peter Hunt, who goes here with his students as
this beach is quite protected at the South end, and beginners can catch the white wash. |
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Merimbula |
At 6
km long, Merimbula - Pambula Beach (see below) is one of the
longest on the Far South Coast. The beach begins at Merimbula Lake mouth
which flows out against Merimbula Head and forms extensive tidal shoals
and channels. The beach then sweeps in a broad east facing arc down to the
shaly rocks at Pambula. The beach is backed by a low sand barrier that
formed following the rise in sea level 6 500 years ago. The barrier built
seaward some 400 m forming a series of low dune ridges. In the north these
are now covered by residential development, with good access and parking
to the beach. A Surf Club existed at Merimbula Beach for some years,
however it is now defunct and the beach is patrolled in summer by
lifeguards. Most of the central beach is undeveloped with two vehicle
tracks leading to the beach. The southern end is accessed via Pambula and
leads to Pambula Beach settlement with its beach front caravan park and
Surf Club founded in 1930. The beach consists of fine to medium sand which
combined with the waves averaging 1.5 m results in a double bar system.
The inner bar runs the length of the beach and is usually cut by rips
every 200 to 300 m, resulting in up to 30 rips along the beach. A
longshore trough separates it from the outer bar which is cut by more
widely spaced rips. At Merimbula the beach runs into the Lake mouth with
its strong tidal currents and deep channel. At Pambula a strong rip often
runs out against the southern rocks. |
I have been spend a couple of days at Merimbula. Have been surfing at Short Point Beach with quite big and strong waves... and at Bar Beach, which offers smooth small waves with long rides. |
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North Wollongong Beach/North Beach
Where: Illawarra |
North Wollongong Beach
is the city beach for Wollongong. It lies just to the north of the
downtown area. The beach is just 500 m in length and backed by bluffs
rising in the south to 30 m. It is separated from the northern Fairy
Meadow Beach by low rocks. A large park, with picnic facilities and plenty
of parking backs the northern end. In the south a wide rock platform lies
between the beach and the Wollongong Boat Harbour. A series of rock,
wading and swimming pools occupy the southern section of this platform.
The present Surf Club sits in the centre of the beach. A walkway - bike
path runs from this park along the top of the beach to Wollongong Boat
Harbour. |
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Palm
Beach |
Along
Palm Beach there is heavy development which tends to restrict access and
parking, while the seawall, when exposed, also restricts access to the
beach and even the size of the beach, particularly at high tide. Palm
Beach Surf Life Saving Club (1593C) was established in 1930, when it was
known as the City of Brisbane Surf Life Saving Club. The club sits just
off the highway and is surrounded by a large car park, with a patch of
grassy reserve and a seawall running along the front of the club house. |
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Pambula
Beach |
At 6
km long, Merimbula - Pambula Beach is one of the longest on the Far
South Coast. The beach begins at Merimbula Lake mouth which flows out
against Merimbula Head and forms extensive tidal shoals and channels. The
beach then sweeps in a broad east facing arc down to the shaly rocks at
Pambula. The beach is backed by a low sand barrier that formed following
the rise in sea level 6 500 years ago. The barrier built seaward some 400
m forming a series of low dune ridges. In the north these are now covered
by residential development, with good access and parking to the beach. A
Surf Club existed at Merimbula Beach for some years, however it is now
defunct and the beach is patrolled in summer by lifeguards. Most of the
central beach is undeveloped with two vehicle tracks leading to the beach.
The southern end is accessed via Pambula and leads to Pambula Beach
settlement with its beach front caravan park and Surf Club founded in
1930. The beach consists of fine to medium sand which combined with the
waves averaging 1.5 m results in a double bar system. The inner bar runs
the length of the beach and is usually cut by rips every 200 to 300 m,
resulting in up to 30 rips along the beach. A longshore trough separates
it from the outer bar which is cut by more widely spaced rips. At
Merimbula the beach runs into the Lake mouth with its strong tidal
currents and deep channel. At Pambula a strong rip often runs out against
the southern rocks. |
I have been surfing here twice and had lots of fun both times! I will definitely come back here! |
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Pebbly
Beach |
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Port
Kembla |
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Quarantine
Bay |
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Racecourse
Beach |
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Rennies
Beach |
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Sandon
Point Beach
Where: Illawarra |
Sandon Point Beach
sweeps in an east facing arc for 900 m between Bulli (Sandon) Point and
Waniora Point, the latter extending as a reef 500 m out to sea. At the
northern end a large car park backs the Surf Club, the newest in the area
formed in 1959. A road runs the length of the beach past Bulli Park to the
residential area in the south. Good access via walkways is provided the
length of the beach. Waves average 1 m in the north, dropping to 0.5 m in
lee of the southern point and reefs. As a result the bar is usually
attached the length of the beach with 2 or 3 rips forming along the
northern half, however even these can infill during periods of low waves.
The result is a relatively safe beach which has an average of only 7
rescues each year. |
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Seven
Mile Beach |
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Sharky's
Beach |
Sharkys is the
next beach to the south from Coledale Beach and can be reached, except at high tide, by foot
from the main beach. It is on the southern side of the shops. Just north
of Sharky's, back toward the main beach, is a small pool filled with ocean
water.
Whales can be seen off the shore at Coledale from May (sometime not until
June), as they head north for warmer waters. They can sometimes be seen
again around August to October, as they return with young calves to the
Southern Ocean. Humpback and southern right whales are the most common
species. |
Sharky's is my "home" beach, where I go surfing almost every day:-)... My second surfboard is named after this beach:
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Stanwell Park Beach
Where:
Illawarra |
Stanwell Park occupies
an amphitheatre shaped valley, with steep forested slopes rising 300 m to
the plateau. The railway and the main road winds round the back of the
valley with the now popular suburb nestled over the slopes of two smaller
valleys. The spur of these valleys backs the centre of the beach with
creeks and lagoons at the mouth of each valley, fronted by the continuous
800 m long beach. One hundred metre high sandstone cliffs frame the beach
with the Illawarra coal measure first appearing at the coast just north of
the northern headland. Car parks are provides near the mouths of both
valleys, with the surf club occupying the southern valley |
One of the beaches I had two surfing lessons with Peter Hunt... here I caught my first bigger waves....
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Thirroul Beach
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Thirroul Beach became
a popular beach at the turn of the century. Today Thirroul can cater to
large crowds. The entire beach is backed by a wide, grassed reserve
offering parking, parks, playgrounds and picnic areas. A large park also
surrounds the now drained lagoon behind the northern end of the beach. The
Surf Club occupied the centre, with dressing sheds and a full size Olympic
pool and wading pool next door. The beach is 1 km long and faces the east
south east. In the north low headlands fronted by wide rock platforms
separate it from Austinmer, while in the south a pipeline and few rocks at
the base of low bluffs divide it from South Thirroul Beach. |
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Ulladulla
Beach |
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Vincentia |
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Wombarra Beach
Where: Illawarra |
Surfing conditions: Wombarra is an exposed beach break that has quite consistent surf. Summer offers the favoured conditions for surfing. Works best in offshore winds from the south southwest.Windswells and groundswells in equal measure and the best swell direction is from the southeast The beah breaks peel to the right. Surfable at all stages of the tide. It very rarely gets crowded here. Take care of urchins, rips, rocks, obstacles, locals and sharks. It can be outstanding and is best in southerly conditions. |
The closest beach to my little home, which I can partly see from my veranda..., just a 500 meters walk down the road. I have been surfing here quite a few times... just the waves are still a bit two big or too steep for me yet... will keep on trying:-)... |
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Woonona - Bellambi
Where: Illawarra |
Two kilometre long Woonona
- Bellambi Beach begins on the south side of Collins Rock and runs to
the south toward Bellambi Point. The point extends 1 km seaward sheltering
the southern end and causing the Bellambi section to face the north east.
This popular beach has two Surf Clubs, Woonona in the north founded in
1913 and Bellambi to the south founded in 1909. The Woonona end has a rock
pool on the shore platform, with a car park, park and picnic area on the
bluff behind. The Surf Club is located on the foredune just to the south.
A beach front oval and a road run for 500 m behind the northern section of
the beach. |
Have been to Woonona Beach once for surfing, just it wasn't the right day or I was at the wrong end... will try another time, as can see that there are quite consistant waves at the south end at Bellambi Point, while passing on my morning runs... |
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Wreck
Beach |
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X... |
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Yulunga
Reserve |
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Z... |
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