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.
Avoca Beach
open
View Street, Avoca NSW 2260
Last updated: Fri 17 Feb 2023
Copacabana Beach
open
Del Monte Pl, Copacabana Beach NSW 2251
Last updated: Wed 15 Mar 2023
Killcare Beach
open
Beach Dr, Killcare Beach NSW 2257
Last updated: Thu 16 Mar 2023
Lakes Beach
open
Lake Street, Budgewoi NSW 2262
Last updated: Fri 24 Feb 2023
Macmasters Beach
open
Marine Parade, Macmasters Beach NSW 2259
Last updated: Fri 24 Feb 2023
North Avoca Beach
open
View Street, North Avoca Beach NSW 2260
Last updated: Tue 10 Jan 2023
Ocean Beach
open
The Esplanade, Ocean Beach NSW 2260
Last updated: Wed 16 Nov 2022
Shelly Beach
open
Shelly Beach Road, Shelly Beach NSW 2261
Last updated: Thu 23 Feb 2023
Soldiers Beach
open
Soldiers Point Dr, Norah Head NSW 2263
Last updated: Thu 23 Feb 2023
Terrigal Beach
open
Scenic Highway, Terrigal NSW 2260
Last updated: Mon 14 Nov 2022
Why are there red and yellow flags at patrolled beaches?
The red and yellow flags identify the area that is under supervision and monitored by staff.
Where can I find out which beaches have accessibility features and what beaches are dog friendly?
Visit the Accessibility and inclusion page to find out more about accessible features at our beaches.
Visit the Dog parks and beaches webpage to find out which of our beaches are dog friendly.
When does the Central Coast beach season start and finish?
The Central Coast beach season for 2022-23 starts on Thursday 22 September 2022 and finishes on Tuesday 25 April 2023.
What should I do if I get to the beach and am unsure of beach conditions?
Always read the signs displayed at the beach which will warn of any dangers and also you can ask the lifeguard or lifesaver in attendance.
What should I do if I get into trouble whilst swimming at the beach?
If you get into difficulty, raise your arm, stay calm, and yell for assistance.
What part of the water should board riders use?
Board riders should keep outside the black and white flags on each side of the red and yellow flags, as these indicate the surf craft exclusion zone.
What hours will the beaches and ocean baths be patrolled?
Beaches
Off-peak holiday times
22 September 2022 - 18 December 2020 and 30 January 2023 - 25 April 2023 our 15 patrolled beaches will have lifeguards / lifesavers working from 9am-5pm.
Peak holiday period
19 December 2022 to 29 January 2023 – all patrolled locations (including Budgewoi) will have lifeguards working from 9am-6pm.
Terrigal, Avoca and Umina beaches will have staff patrolling the beach an hour earlier during the peak period from 8am-6pm.
Ocean Baths
The Grant McBride Baths are open all year round (free entry), from 6am-6pm during summer and 7am-3pm during winter.
Baths are supervised from 8am-1pm each day seven days week to 22 September 2022.
Between 22 September 2022 and 25 April 2023, the baths are supervised from 9am-5pm and from 9am-6pm during the peak Christmas school holiday period.
What does ‘Slip, Slop, Slap, Seek and Slide’ mean?
Slip on a long sleeve shirt, slop on some sunscreen (SPF 30+ minimum), slap on a hat, seek shade, slid on sunglasses.
What Central Coast beaches and Ocean Baths are patrolled?
The Central Coast has 15 patrolled coastal beaches and one patrolled ocean pool complex.
Our patrolled beaches during the season are:
- Avoca Beach
- Copacabana Beach
- Killcare Beach
- Lakes Beach
- Macmasters Beach
- North Avoca Beach
- Ocean Beach
- Shelly Beach
- Soldiers Beach
- Terrigal Beach
- The Entrance
- North Entrance
- Toowoon Bay
- Umina Beach
- Wamberal Beach
Council’s Beach Safety team also patrol Budgewoi Beach and have additional flags up at Terrigal Bend during the Christmas holiday period.
Our patrolled ocean beach complexes are:
- The Grant McBride Baths at The Entrance
Should I always swim at a patrolled beach?
Yes. It is much safer to swim at a patrolled beach.
I would like information about the NSW Government Shark Mitigation Program. Where can I find that?
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
I love running and diving straight into the water, is that safe to do even in the flagged areas?
You should never run and dive into the water as the depth varies greatly.
Do I always need to swim between the red and yellow flags?
Yes. For your safety is important to always swim between the red and yellow flags. If the lifeguard/lifesaver can’t see you they can’t save you.
Can children swim alone at the beach, even between the flags?
No. Children should be supervised by an adult at all times.
Covid-19 safety
Will beaches be closed if the crowds get too big?
Many Central Coast beaches are very popular, especially during the summer months. Central Coast Council may implement crowd management strategies, including closing beaches for a time and it is important to carefully follow all direction provided.
Where can I find the latest COVID-19 information?
For the latest COVID-19 information go to nsw.gov.au/covid-19
What do I do if the beach is crowded?
The community are advised to follow Public Health Orders relating to being outdoors and social distancing. We are encouraging beachgoers to exercise at quieter beaches or look to alternative open spaces areas, parks and reserves for exercise during peak periods.
If the beach looks crowded, consider coming back at another time or relaxing in a non-beach setting.
Here’s a few ideas to help you enjoy other natural settings:
- go for a walk or run in your local park
- ride a bike along a cycleway
- take your dog for a walk around your neighbourhood
- kick a ball at a sportsground
- head bush to hike on a nature trail or to visit a scenic spot.
What are the rules at beaches this summer because of COVID?
We have COVID-safe summer plans in place to manage beach crowds and processes are in place for potential beach closures.
We have been working closely with NSW Health, Central Coast Health, the Local Emergency Operations Controller (LEOCON) as well as other Councils to ensure a consistent and compliant approach to this year’s patrol season across the State in line with the latest Public Health Orders.
We are working with local police to monitor behaviour and penalties for not following restrictions are enforceable by police – this includes staying at home, social distancing and non-essential travel. We all need to obey the NSW Health and Government rules, and play our part to slow the spread of COVID-19.
This collaborative work will continue throughout the season to address any changes that may arise as the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve.
NSW Heath and the NSW State Government's latest COVID-19 information can be found at nsw.gov.au/covid-19
Where can I find more information about safety steps for rock fishing?
To find more information about rock fishing visit watersafety.nsw.gov.au or view the NSW Government's safety tip factsheet.
Key things to remember if you are planning to go rock fishing
- You MUST always wear a lifejacket that meets Australian Safety Standards. This applies to anyone who is helping you rock fish, as well as children in your care
- Never rock fish by yourself – fish in a group of at least three people and within sight of each other
- Inform others of your plans
- Wear light clothing
- Wear appropriate footwear – cleats, sandals and sandshoes with non-slip soles suit different surfaces. Use the appropriate shoes for the conditions
- As well as wearing a lifejacket, bring something buoyant that can be easily thrown and held onto, to help you stay afloat. Also carry ropes and torches
- Fish only in places you know are safe and never fish in exposed areas during rough or large seas. Make sure you are aware of local weather, swell and tidal conditions before going fishing
- Observe first and fish later – spend at least 30 minutes watching your intended spot to get an idea of the conditions over a full swell/wave cycle
- Stay alert – don't ever turn your back on the sea. If the waves, weather or swell threaten your fishing spot then leave immediately
- Do not jump in if someone is washed into the water – use your rope or something that floats to rescue the person. If there's an Angel Ring nearby, know how to use it. Dial 000 on your mobile phone to get help
Do I have to wear a life jacket if I go rock fishing?
Yes. Rock fishing is a dangerous activity.
On the Central Coast it's now law to wear a life jacket when rock fishing – no matter what your skill level or experience, this extends to anyone who is accompanying/assisting.
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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