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
For your safety, we recommend always swimming at one of our 15 patrolled beaches. Our dedicated lifeguards and Surf Life Saving Club lifesavers are on duty seven days a week during patrol season to provide assistance and help ensure a safe beach experience.
For more information, 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.
The 2024–2025 beach patrol season concluded on 27 April 2025, and the 2025–2026 season will commence in late September 2025.
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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 BeachCouncil 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.
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Yes. Always swim at a patrolled beach. For more beach safety tips, visit our beach safety page.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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