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Sydney's second longest beach
runs for 3.2km south from 20m high Narrabeen Head in a long arc to
the rocks and low cliff at Collaroy baths. The beach has two names,
Narrabeen in the north and Collaroy in the south. The beach faces the east and receives increasing protection to the south from Long Reef which protrudes 2km out to sea. |
| Waves average 1.5m at North Narrabeen, 1
to 1.5m down to South Narrabeen Surf Club, and drop to less than a
metre at Collaroy. The beach responds by having a continuous bar the
length of the beach cut by 17 rips on average. However, the size and intensity of the rips increases to the north, with the famous Alley rip running out against the North Narrabeen rock pool. The entrance to Narrabeen Lagoon also exits into the sea against these rocks making for an extra strong rip when the tide's falling and the lagoon's draining, particularly during heavy rain. Down the beach the rips persist, with the intervening bars attached to the beach except during and following high waves. Along Collaroy Beach the rips are often infilled, particularly during winter, and the bar attached to the beach. However, summer north east conditions will form rips down to Collaroy often with a strong southward drag. Collaroy: The southern, Collaroy end, of the beach faces north east and is sheltered from the southerlies, while exposed to summer's north easterlies. It is a popular safer beach, located on the main Pittwater Road and next to the Collaroy shops. The Surf Club was founded in 1911, and is surrounded by a large park and car park, with a popular rock pool on the southern rocks. The beach offers a usually quieter, safer surf. However summer north east winds and waves can create strong rips, and big seas bring in the seaweed. So better to check it out before you get settled for the day. |
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Bathing:
The safest on the long beach, however 47 people are still rescued
each year, a fact due to its popularity as well as the occasional
hazards. However you can also be secure in the fact that no life has
been lost between the flags in the Club's 82 year history. To help
maintain this enviable record stay south of the storm water outlet,
on the bar and between the flags. Surf: The smaller waves attract the learners and inexperienced, however during big south east swell Collaroy Point starts to work with an inside section off the pool called The Kick, and a fuller section off the point. |
| Fishing:
The storm water drain across the beach is the most popular location,
but has limited space. Also up the beach when gutters are present
and off the southern rocks when the seas are up. Summary: The north side's longest and Sydney's most patrolled beach offers everything from an inlet, the famous Alley and North Narra surf, to a stretch of long beach usually scarce on people and big on beach breaks, down to the most sheltered and more family orientated Collaroy. So take your pick but remember, over 200 people are rescued along this beach each year. |
| Narrabeen was the
name of the daughter of the aboriginal chief at the time of early
white settlement in the 1840's, while Collaroy was named after the
paddle-wheel steamer of the same name wrecked on the beach in 1884.
Collaroy Beach was a weekender's and camper's haven in the early part of the century. Two groups of campers called 'The Wombats' and 'The Crows' combined forces to form the Surf Club in 1911. The following year the tramway from The Spit reached the beach. |
| Click on any beach below to discover more. |
| NSW Beach Reports |
| NSW: Bondi North Bondi Bronte Collaroy North Cronulla Dee Why Freshwater Manly |
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| © 2003 Kellogg (Aust) Pty Ltd |
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