Always check the conditions when you arrive and swim between the flags.
Austinmer Beach
Live conditions and scores
Austinmer's a compact 250-metre beach wedged between two headlands with golden sands and rock formations at each end. The real highlight is the twin ocean pools on the southern headland. You'll find them popular year-round, calmer than the main beach, and teeming with marine life at low tide, where locals spot octopuses in the rocks.
The main beach has strong, permanent rips at both ends, so always swim between the flags when lifeguards patrol (September to April). Don't let that scare you. The rock pools are brilliant for families and less confident swimmers. Just wear sturdy shoes, the stairs are mossy and slippery after rain.
Head straight across the road and you've got cafes, shops, and The Headlands Hotel. You're 20–25 minutes north of Wollongong, roughly an hour from Sydney. Summer weekends get packed, so get there early or come on a weekday. Surfers dig the beginner-friendly beach break, best in east swell and low tide.
What Makes It Special
- •Twin rock pools reveal sea creatures at low tide
- •Head across the road for village cafes and shops
- •Beginner-to-intermediate beach break, best with east swell
- •Two permanent rips at each end. Always swim between the flags
- •Golden sands squeezed between rocky headlands
- •Rock pool stairs get mossy. Wear sturdy shoes
Best Time to Visit
Hit the rock pools at low tide for the best marine spotting, or high tide for a wave pool effect. Winter brings the best waves (July especially), but weekday mornings beat the summer crowds any season. Visit September to April when lifeguards patrol.