Beaches

The Central Coast stretches across 80km of scenic coastline and fringed by 41 beaches that are popular with locals and attract thousands of visitors each year.

Patrolled Beaches

To increase community and vistor safety, lifeguards and volunteers patrol key beaches during the warmer months.  The Central Coast has 15 patrolled coastal beaches and one patrolled ocean pool complex, being The Grant McBride Baths at The Entrance.

Beach season 2022-23: All 15 Central Coast beaches, and the Grant McBride Baths will be patrolled from Friday, 23 September 2022 from 9am to 5pm with the season finishing on 25 April 2023 (inclusive).  During the busy Christmas holiday period, from 19 December 2022 to 29 January 2023, all locations, including Budgewoi Beach, are patrolled for an extra hour - from 9am to 6pm.  Council lifeguards patrol Monday to Friday, and Surf Life Saving volunteers patrol on weekends and public holidays.  

Council's lifeguards and Surf Life Saving volunteers provide search and rescue services for our coastal beaches as well as emergency medical care when required. They also play an important role in educating swimmers and visitors on beach and water safety.

  • Beach safety advice:  Even if a beach is patrolled, please remember to be surf smart by swimming between the red and yellow flags and follow other safety advice. See our safety tips in the frequently asked questions section of this page below. 

  • Beach wheelchairs and matting:  To provide access to many of the Coast’s beaches for people living with a disability or limited mobility, Council has a suite of serviced beach wheelchairs available for free hire by both the local community and visitors and has beach matting installed at several beaches. Find out more and book a beach wheelchair from our Accesibility and Inclusion section. 

Beach status (Monday to Friday)

To see the open/close status of beaches on a weekend and public holidays, go to the BeachSafe website, beachsafe.org.au.  This website also has beach conditon information.

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

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Avoca Beach

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View Street, Avoca NSW 2260

Last updated: Fri 17 Feb 2023

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Copacabana Beach

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Del Monte Pl, Copacabana Beach NSW 2251

Last updated: Wed 15 Mar 2023

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Killcare Beach

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Beach Dr, Killcare Beach NSW 2257

Last updated: Thu 16 Mar 2023

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Lakes Beach

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Lake Street, Budgewoi NSW 2262

Last updated: Fri 24 Feb 2023

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Macmasters Beach

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Marine Parade, Macmasters Beach NSW 2259

Last updated: Fri 24 Feb 2023

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North Avoca Beach

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View Street, North Avoca Beach NSW 2260

Last updated: Tue 10 Jan 2023

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Ocean Beach

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The Esplanade, Ocean Beach NSW 2260

Last updated: Wed 16 Nov 2022

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Shelly Beach

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Shelly Beach Road, Shelly Beach NSW 2261

Last updated: Thu 23 Feb 2023

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Soldiers Beach

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Soldiers Point Dr, Norah Head NSW 2263

Last updated: Thu 23 Feb 2023

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Terrigal Beach

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Scenic Highway, Terrigal NSW 2260

Last updated: Mon 14 Nov 2022

Beach safety

Covid-19 safety

Rock fishing safety

Beachwatch

Each year, in the swimming season from October to April, Central Coast Council monitors water quality for swim-safety once a week and reports on the water quality of 32 local swimming areas. This includes 15 ocean beaches, four lagoon sites and 13 tidal baths and rock pools. Outside of the swimming season from May to September sites are sampled monthly.

Results of our Beachwatch monitoring are updated on our Beachwatch Program page, as well as the Office of Environment and Heritage Beachwatch website.

Venue hire

To book a Surf Club or to book an event on a beach, contact Surf Life Saving Central Coast on 4353 0299 for the contact details of each individual surf club or Central Coast Council on 02 4306 7900.

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Last updated : Tue 18 Oct 2022