SYDNEY’S Best Beaches FOR KIDS Seana Smith All the information you need for a fantastic visit to Sydney’s most family- friendly beaches, baths, and ocean pools Sydney’s Best Beaches for Kids By Seana Smith Find photographs and maps of many of these beautiful spots on my website: www.seanasmith.com 2 SYDNEY’S BEST BEACHES FOR KIDS © Seana Smith 2012 All rights reserved. No part of these pages, either text or image may be used for any purpose other than personal use. Therefore, reproduction, modification, storage in a retrieval system or retransmission, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical or otherwise, for reasons other than personal use, is strictly prohibited without prior written permission. 3 Contents Introduction 6 Useful Websites + Safety Information 8 North of the Harbour 9 Palm Beach 9 Whale Beach 10 Avalon Beach 11 Collaroy Beach 14 Dee Why Beach 15 South Curl Curl Beach 16 Freshwater Beach 17 Manly Beach 18 Shelly Beach 19 Pittwater Beaches Paradise Beach 12 Clareville Beach 13 Harbour Beaches Little Manly Cove 20 Forty Baskets Beach 21 Castle Rock Beach 22 Clontarf Beach 23 Balmoral Beach 24 Clifton Gardens 26 Northbridge Baths 27 MacCallum Pool 28 Greenwich Baths 29 Dawn Fraser Pool 30 Seven Shillings Beach and Redleaf Pool 31 Shark Beach 32 Parsley Bay 33 Watsons Bay Baths 34 Eastern Suburbs Beaches Bondi Beach 35 Tamarama 36 Bronte Beach 37 Clovelly Beach and Baths 38 Coogee Beach 39 Wylies Baths 40 Frenchmans Bay Beach 41 Southern Beaches Kyeemagh Baths 42 Dolls Point Baths 43 Carss Park Baths 44 Como Baths 45 South Cronulla Beach 46 Shelly Beach and Baths 47 Gunnamatta Beach and Baths 48 5 SYDNEY’S BEST BEACHES FOR KIDS BEST BEACHES, BATHS and OCEAN POOLS trip to the beach without children is an entirely different A experience from a trip to the beach with your own personal nippers in tow. The contrast is as sharp as that between Tamarama and Bronte beaches; short in distance but a huge leap apart in lifestyles. When the kids arrive, pack away the surfboard for a few years and dust off your old bucket and spade. Steer clear of the surf and settle into splashing in the shallows. There are some wonderful watery places to explore around Sydney, places that are guaranteed to create cherished childhood memories. They can shape the way children relate to the natural world. The children’s seaside with rock pools, huge sandpits, ice creams and lashings of sunscreen is a special place and there are many, many ideal locations for all their junior beachbum needs. Described in the following pages are the best of the beaches, baths and ocean pools for children. Most of the harbour and river baths are listed, these are splendid places to visit with kids, being safe and protected, usually with changing rooms and kiosks as well. Some baths and pools charge an entry fee but they are very modest. Many beaches also have shower, toilet and change blocks, few of these have baby change tables, but in most there are benches wide enough to make a good change area. And most ocean beaches have an area of park beside them, known as a reserve. Some are just grassy strips, others are large grassed area with lots of trees and picnic tables. Shade is a crucial factor when it comes to beaches, especially when very young babies are involved. Only a few beaches have shade over the sand, 6 SYDNEY’S BEST BEACHES FOR KIDS those that do are noted in the text. They are very popular with parents and their patches of shaded sand seethe with gurgling babies and sandy young crawlers. However most beaches have no shade and it is really only feasible for babies to spend any time on them under a shade tent. There are messages everywhere about the dangers of the sun, especially on the very delicate and fragile skin of young babies. So I will only add three words: Slip! Slap! Slop! By the way, ‘baths’ usually means that there is a shark proof net enclosing a swimming area on a beach. ‘Ocean pools’ are either natural pools which have been adapted to make swimming pools or else concrete pools built alongside the beach. Most ocean beaches are patrolled in summer by lifeguards, and the safe swimming areas are clearly marked by flags. It is imperative that children and parents swim between the flags. Some beaches listed here are not patrolled, but these are the shallower, non-surf and therefore safer beaches. Parents and carers of children need always to keep a sharp eye on their children, whether there are lifeguards or not. 7 SYDNEY’S BEST BEACHES FOR KIDS Useful websites Many councils have information about beaches on their websites. Pittwater Council is one example, you can find photos, information about the beaches and also lots of information on safety and sun protection on their Recreation—Beaches and Headlands section. www.pittwater.nsw.gov.au Visitors to Australia are particularly encouraged to look at the following websites which will explain and illustrate many important aspects of beach safety in Sydney. www.beachsafe.org.au www.ripcurrents.com.au Beachwatch and Harbourwatch These state government agencies monitor the pollution levels at all Sydney beaches. Sewage was once the major polluter, but nowadays stormwater runoff is the greatest concern. It is not advisable to swim at Harbour, Botany Bay and Georges River beaches and baths for at least three days after heavy rain. For updated information on the pollution levels at all beaches contact the Beachwater and Harbourwatch Information Line on 1800 036 677, which gives daily updates on the state of the beaches. Or check the daily updates on the Beachwatch and Harbourwatch website at www.epa.nsw.gov.au/ beach. 8 SYDNEY’S BEST BEACHES FOR KIDS North of the harbour Palm Beach Ocean Road Palm Beach 2108 Palm Beach lies at the northernmost tip of the northern beaches peninsula. From Barrenjoey Point with its lighthouse, the beach sweeps southwards in a rose-gold crescent to the shops, cafes and facilities set below the million- dollar-home-encrusted headland. The safest place for children to swim on this famous surf beach is at the southern end, known as Cabbage Tree Boat Harbour, where there is some shelter plus an ocean pool. Walking the length of the beach is very popular, as is picnicking on the strip of grass between the beach and Ocean Road. There are two small areas of parkland at the southern end of Ocean Road, across the road from the beach, with picnic tables and short walks among the shady trees. Cafes: Restaurant, cafe, takeaway and shops on Ocean Road Toilets: A block with toilets, showers and change rooms on Ocean Road, opposite the shops Shade: None on the beach, some on the grassy strip provided by trees Playground: Not at the beach itself but Governor Phillip Park at Barrenjoey Point has a small, unenclosed playground area beside picnic tables and barbeques near the turn-off. Ocean pool: A well-maintained pool at the southern end of the beach with change rooms, shower and toilets. It is not very deep but it’s more an adult pool than a children’s one. There are little rockpools nearby. Shark net: No Mum’s report: This is our favourite late afternoon or evening beach as there’s shade on the sand and then at dusk the sky matches the sand’s rich colour. Stunning. Extra: Scenic walk to the lighthouse from Barrenjoey Point, although it is too rough for strollers. Map reference: Gregory’s 109 K15, Sydway 160 B15, UBD 99 A1 Parking: Ticket parking along Ocean Road. Tickets last for 24 hours. Also a pay carpark at Barrenjoey Point. Nearest station: No Nearest ferry: No Bus stop nearby: Yes 9 SYDNEY’S BEST BEACHES FOR KIDS Whale Beach The Strand Whale Beach 2107 Very exclusive and very peaceful, Whale Beach has a pretty stretch of sand snuggled between two rocky headlands. There is a large reserve between the road and the beach. This is a surf beach and the waves can be big, but there are calmer areas and the ocean pool and playground make it a popular beach for families. Cafes: Restaurant and takeaway on The Strand Toilets: Toilet block near the carpark Shade: No shade on the beach itself but pine trees on the reserve provide plenty of shade in the afternoons. There is some shade near the ocean pool from the cliffs. Playground: The southern end of the reserve has a small playground with good play equipment including slides, swings and sandplay equipment. Trees provide shade and barbecues and picnic tables are close. Ocean pool: Nice pool with some shallow rock-bottomed areas. A large, flat rock pool beside the ocean pool fills at high tide and is a good place for children to splash around. Shark net: No Mum’s report: We prefer it to the larger Palm Beach and the kids love playing in the rocky areas at both ends. Also, it’s great for barbecues on the beach as the playground keeps the kids amused while we cook. Map reference: Gregory’s 140 C6, Sydway 180 E2, UBD 99C7 Parking: Ticket parking along The Strand Nearest station: No Nearest ferry: No Bus stop nearby: Yes 10 SYDNEY’S BEST BEACHES FOR KIDS Avalon Beach Barrenjoey Road Avalon 2107 Avalon is a well known surf beach, beloved by locals and visited by surfers from far and wide. The surf lifesaving club is in a lovely old building on the beach.