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Beaches

The Central Coast offers a stunning 80-kilometre coastline with 41 diverse beaches, including 15 patrolled beaches, accessible options and dog-friendly areas, ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience for all.

The Central Coast boasts a stunning 80-kilometre coastline, dotted with 41 unique and beautiful beaches. Whether you're seeking a tranquil escape or a vibrant coastal experience, you'll find the perfect beach to suit your needs.

Beach safety and patrols

The 2025-26 beach patrol season starts on Saturday 27 September 2025 and finishes on Sunday 26 April 2026.

During patrol season, 15 Central Coast beaches and The Grant McBride Baths are patrolled daily, with Council lifeguards on duty from 9am-5pm Monday to Friday and Surf Life Saving volunteers patrolling on weekends and public holidays (patrol hours as listed on SLSA Beachsafe website).

Only swim at patrolled beaches between the flags!

For more information, and to find a patrolled beach visit our dedicated beach safety web page.

In an emergency, please call 000.

Accessible beaches

Everyone deserves to enjoy the beach. Explore our accessible beaches, equipped with beach wheelchairs and matting, designed to cater to diverse needs. 

Dog-friendly beaches

Looking to take your furry friend for a beach day? Check out our dog-friendly beaches and let them enjoy the sand and surf.

Beach pollution

For daily beach pollution forecasts, go to the NSW Government’s Beachwatch web page. Report pollution to 131 555. 

Beach events and bookings

Want to book a surf club or event on a beach? Contact Surf Life Saving Central Coast on 4353 0299 for the contact details of your local surf club or Central Coast Council on 4306 7900.

Beaches

The 2025-26 beach patrol season started Saturday 27 September 2025 and finishes on Sunday 26 April 2026. During patrol season, 15 Central Coast beaches and The Grant McBride Baths are patrolled daily, with Council lifeguards on duty from 9am-5pm Monday to Friday and Surf Life Saving volunteers patrolling on weekends and public holidays (patrol hours as listed on SLSA Beachsafe website). 

FAQs

  • From north to south, the patrolled beaches on the Central Coast are:

    1. The Lakes Beach, Budgewoi
    2. Soldiers Beach
    3. North Entrance Beach
    4. The Entrance Beach
    5. Toowoon Bay Beach
    6. Shelly Beach
    7. Wamberal Beach
    8. Terrigal Beach
    9. North Avoca Beach
    10. Avoca Beach
    11. Copacabana Beach
    12. MacMasters Beach
    13. Killcare Beach
    14. Ocean Beach, Umina
    15. Umina Beach

    Council lifeguards will also monitor The Grant McBride Baths seven days a week and The Entrance Channel during school holidays. For more information, visit our beach safety page.

  • Yes. Always swim at a patrolled beach. For more beach safety tips, visit our beach safety page.

  • Accessible beaches offer accessibility features, such as beach matting, free beach wheelchair hire, continuous pathways, nearby public transport points and accessible toilets that make it easier for people living with a disability and access challenges to plan and enjoy a trip to one of our Central Coast beaches. 

    For more information, visit our accessible nature page.

  • The accessible beaches listed in our Accessible Beaches Central Coast brochure include:

    • Patonga Beach
    • Pearl Beach
    • Umina Beach
    • Ocean Beach
    • Terrigal Beach
    • Ettalong Beach
    • Avoca Beach
    • The Entrance Ocean Baths
    • Toowoon Bay
    • Canton Beach.

  • Beaches with designated off-leash locations include:

    • Ettalong Beach
    • Forresters Beach
    • MacMasters Beach
    • North Avoca Beach
    • Patonga Beach
    • Pearl Peach
    • Shelly Beach
    • The Entrance North Beach
    • Umina Beach
    • Wamberal Beach

    For an up-to-date list of dog-friendly beaches, visit dog parks and beaches.

  • The NSW Government's Shark Management Program includes SMART drumlines and listening stations, coupled with shark-spotting drones, piloted by Surf Life Saving NSW, as well as community awareness and education campaigns and research. For more information and to view SMART drumline and listening station locations on the Central Coast, please visit www.sharksmart.nsw.gov.au

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