Beaches of the Central Coast

The Central Coast spans 80 kilometres of scenic coastline and is fringed by 41 beaches. That’s the kind of ratio we can get behind. Families, locals and guests alike flock to the 15 patrolled beaches during the warmer months, plus the patrolled ocean pool complex, the Grant McBride Baths at The Entrance. Our beaches are some of the most dynamic on the East Coast of Australia, and Council’s lifeguards and Surf Life Saving teams are always hard at work. Bring a smile to their dial by regularly applying water-safe sunscreen, checking current surf conditions, and swimming between the flags.

_{Words: Lyndsey Douglas of WritersWho in collaboration with Love Our Waterways.}

When you’ve got beaches this beautiful it’s no surprise that everyone wants to enjoy them. But population growth and increasing residential and coastal development is taking its toll on the natural resources. Nestled in the fragile dune vegetation are some of our most vulnerable residents like the Little Tern and nesting turtles. Help protect our dunes and their precious ecosystems by giving them a wide berth when in breeding season. Instead, roll out a towel on the beach, invest in reef-safe sunscreen, and lap up a day on one (or many) of the Central Coast's best beaches.

"There’s oceans of opportunity in this place"

"The Coast is a landscape full of life"

Got a phone? Love the Coast? We need you to get snap happy for a good cause on the CoastSnap App!

CoastSnap is a global citizen science project on a mission to capture our changing coastlines. You can participate no matter where you are in the world, and don’t be shy about sharing those snaps. The more photos we have of a particular site, the better we can understand how the coastline is evolving over time. All you have to do is download the free Citizen Science App on Google Play for Android or in the Apple App Store, and register with an email address to keep track of your beach photo trail.

There are currently three CoastSnap locations setup on the Central Coast, each monitoring station includes the instructions and phone cradle:

• Ocean Beach - The Esplanade / Barrenjoey Road - Ettalong Point
  #CoastSnapOB
   
• Terrigal Lagoon / Wamberal Beach – Terrigal Drive, Terrigal
  #CoastSnapWamberal
   
• The Entrance Channel - Marine Parade, The Entrance
  #CoastSnapTheEntrance

No-one wants a side of stormwater diluting a fresh morning swim. Thanks to the Beachwatch program, you never have to. Since 2002, Central Coast Council has worked with the Office of Environment and Heritage to undertake the water quality monitoring mission to help locals and visitors make informed decisions about where and when to swim on the Central Coast: 32 swimming sites, including 15 ocean beaches, three ocean baths/rock pools, four coastal lagoons, four estuarine netted baths and six lake netted baths are monitored.

So before you head out for your next summer swim, take a squiz at the latest Beachwatch results on Council’s website to help you decide if the water quality is up to scratch. If not, it’s a good thing we’re spoiled for choice here on the beautiful Central Coast with 40+ beaches to choose from!