Beach Safety: Beachsafe is an online beach safety portal for all Australians and visitors. - Bar/dixon/merewether Beach

Bar/dixon/merewether Beach, Merewether

Nsw 2291
Strong Currents

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PATROLLED BEACH

Beach number: nsw245
Includes beaches: Bar/dixon/merewether Beach Bar Dixon Merewether
State/Region: NSW - Merewether
Beach name: Bar/Dixon/Merewether Beach
General Beach Hazard Rating: 7
Least hazardous: 1-3
Moderately hazardous: 4-6
Highly hazardous: 7-8
Extremely hazardous: 9-10
Hazard rating refers to physical beach and surf conditions ONLY and does not include potentially dangerous marine life.
Beach

Bar Beach is better known by the names of it's three Surf Clubs - Cooks Hill, Dixon Park and Merewether. It is surrounded by long established inner Newcastle suburbs and has excellent road and bus access, with large car parks adjacent to the three Surf Clubs. In addition two rock pools are located on the rock platform at Merewether. The Surf Clubs were formed in 1911, 1932 and 1910 respectively, attesting to both the long popularity of this beach and its inherent bathing hazards. The entire beach is 1.3 km long, faces the south east, receives waves averaging 1.6 m and is bounded by wide rock platforms, backed by high cliffs. Rocks and reefs also occur on the beach and in the surf at either end and at places along the beach, particularly following beach erosion. The waves and sand produce a high energy beach characterised by an inner bar usually cut by 8 beach rips with permanent rips at either end, the northern at Cooks Hill being the more prominent. Rips occur every 200 to 300 m along the beach, with one against the Merewether rocks intensifying when waves exceed 1 m. Higher waves break on an outer bar and the northern and southern reefs, the latter called 'The Ladies'. The result is a wide surf zone with waves often reforming in the channel to break again on the inner bar.

 

Swimming

A popular but potentially hazardous beach owing to the prevailing beach and headland rips. The three Surf Clubs rescue on average 27, 29 and 44 people each year respectively, a total of 100 for the beach. So be careful and stay between the flags which are there year round. Watch for the rips and stay on the attached portions of the inner bar. If still unsure swim in the rock pool.

 

Surfing

This is the home beach of four time World Surfing Champion Mark Richards and the site of international surf contests so it must have something to offer. The beach does offer good beach breaks particularly on the outer bar during moderate swell, and when its bigger The Ladies reef at Merewether produces good rights up to 3 m and will hold a south east swell up to 5 m.

 

Fishing

Permanent gutters run out past the rocks at each end, with usually several good gutters along the beach.

 

General

This is Newcastle's most popular beach both for families, bathers and surfers. The beach is moderately safe, the surf however is better suited for surfing that bathing. However with three Surf Clubs there is ample patrolled areas to provide safer bathing.

 

 

If this information is inaccurate, please click on the contact us link and advise

 

SLSA provides this information as a guide only. Surf conditions are variable and therefore this information should not be relied upon as a substitute for observation of local conditions and an understanding of your abilities in the surf. SLSA reminds you to always swim between the red and yellow flags and never swim at unpatrolled beaches. SLSA takes all care and responsibility for any translation but it cannot guarantee that all translations will be accurate.

Weather
Today
 
18°
wind
SE/11 km/h
 
  • Thu
    20°
    11°
  • Fri
    20°
    11°
  • Sat
    20°
    10°
  • Sun
    19°
    11°
  • Mon
    20°
    12°
  • Tue
    21°
    12°
NOBBYS HEAD (5 km) issued at 19:00 (EST)
Water
22
Issued at Thu, May 17 13:01
Swell Forecast
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
  • AM
  • PM
  • AM
  • PM
  • AM
  • SSE
    1.3 m
  • SSE
    1.1 m
  • SSE
    0.9 m
  • SSE
    0.8 m
  • SSE
    0.7 m
Merewether issued at Thu, May 17 16:00 (EST)
 
Today's Tide
  • High
    5:46
    1.41m
  • Low
    11:41
    0.60m
  • High
    18:15
    1.68m
 
issued at Thu, May 17 10:00 (Local Time)
UV Index
3
 

Newcastle City Council Lifeguard Service

Postal Address PO Box 489, Newcastle, NSW, 2300

Phone 0249742000

Beach Name of location of organisation Bar Beach

Beach Key of base location NSW245


 

Newcastle City Council Lifeguard Service

Postal Address PO Box 489, Newcastle, NSW, 2300

Phone 0249742000

Beach Name of location of organisation Dixon Park

Beach Key of base location NSW245


 

Newcastle City Council Lifeguard Service

Postal Address PO Box 489, Newcastle, NSW, 2300

Phone 0249742000

Beach Name of location of organisation Merewether Beach

Beach Key of base location NSW245


Merewether Surf Life Saving Cl

Organisation Colours Royal Blue Gold and White

Club Cap Description White with Royal Blue and Gold Stripes

Physical Address Cnr John Parade and Watkins Street, Merewether, NSW, 2291

Postal Address P.O. Box 19, Merewether, NSW, 2291

Phone 0249637972

Email mslsc.secretary@gmail.com

Website www.merewetherslsc.com.au

Beach Name of location of organisation Merewether Beach

Beach Key of base location nsw245C

Description of Service Provider Founded 16th December 1907


Dixon Park SLSC

Organisation Colours Red Blue Yellow

Club Cap Description Red with Blue and Yellow Stripes

Physical Address Ocean Street, MEREWETHER, NSW, 2291

Postal Address PO BOX 3024, MEREWETHER, NSW, 2291

Phone 024926 2422

Email info@dixonslsc.com

Website www.dixonslsc.com

Beach Name of location of organisation Dixon Beach

Beach Key of base location nsw245B


 

Cooks Hill SLSC

Organisation Colours Red- White- Blue

Club Cap Description Red and Blue with White Stripe

Physical Address Memorial Drive, Bar Beach, NSW, 2300

Postal Address PO Box 3262, Merewether, NSW, 2291

Phone 4925 2828

Email secretary@cookshillsurfclub.com.au

Website cookshillsurfclub.com.au

Beach Name of location of organisation Bar Beach

Beach Key of base location nsw245A

*Although SLSA has tried to ensure that this information is accurate, as it has been provided by surf life saving club(s) and/or other organisations, SLSA takes no responsibility for its accuracy. Please contact the entity(s) displayed directly if you need any further information. .

Merewether Surf Life Saving Cl

24 September to 25 April
  • Sat
  • Sun/PH
  • 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
  • 9:00 am to 5:00 pm



Newcastle City Council Lifeguard Service

26 April to 06 May
  • Mon
  • Tues
  • Wed
  • Thurs
  • Fri
  • Sat
  • Sun/PH
  • 9:00 am to 5:30 pm
  • 9:00 am to 5:30 pm
  • 9:00 am to 5:30 pm
  • 9:00 am to 5:30 pm
  • 9:00 am to 5:30 pm
  • 9:00 am to 5:30 pm
  • 9:00 am to 5:30 pm



Dixon Park SLSC

24 September to 25 April
  • Sat
  • Sun/PH
  • 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
  • 9:00 am to 5:00 pm



Newcastle City Council Lifeguard Service

26 April to 06 May
  • Mon
  • Tues
  • Wed
  • Thurs
  • Fri
  • Sat
  • Sun/PH
  • 9:00 am to 5:30 pm
  • 9:00 am to 5:30 pm
  • 9:00 am to 5:30 pm
  • 9:00 am to 5:30 pm
  • 9:00 am to 5:30 pm
  • 9:00 am to 5:30 pm
  • 9:00 am to 5:30 pm



Cooks Hill SLSC

24 September to 25 April
  • Sat
  • Sun/PH
  • 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
  • 9:00 am to 5:00 pm



Newcastle City Council Lifeguard Service

26 April to 06 May
  • Mon
  • Tues
  • Wed
  • Thurs
  • Fri
  • Sat
  • Sun/PH
  • 9:00 am to 5:30 pm
  • 9:00 am to 5:30 pm
  • 9:00 am to 5:30 pm
  • 9:00 am to 5:30 pm
  • 9:00 am to 5:30 pm
  • 9:00 am to 5:30 pm
  • 9:00 am to 5:30 pm


07 May to 19 August
  • Mon
  • Tues
  • Wed
  • Thurs
  • Fri
  • Sat
  • Sun/PH
  • 8:00 am to 4:30 pm
  • 8:00 am to 4:30 pm
  • 8:00 am to 4:30 pm
  • 8:00 am to 4:30 pm
  • 8:00 am to 4:30 pm
  • 8:00 am to 4:30 pm
  • 8:00 am to 4:30 pm


20 August to 21 September
  • Mon
  • Tues
  • Wed
  • Thurs
  • Fri
  • Sat
  • Sun/PH
  • 9:00 am to 5:30 pm
  • 9:00 am to 5:30 pm
  • 9:00 am to 5:30 pm
  • 9:00 am to 5:30 pm
  • 9:00 am to 5:30 pm
  • 9:00 am to 5:30 pm
  • 9:00 am to 5:30 pm


Date: Thursday, May 17, 2012

This week's beach service information

Service Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat Sun/PH
Newcastle City Council Lifeguard Service

Click here to visit general beach safety information

 

If this information is inaccurate, please click on the contact us link and advise

 

SLSA provides this information as a guide only. Surf conditions are variable and therefore this information should not be relied upon as a substitute for observation of local conditions and an understanding of your abilities in the surf. SLSA reminds you to always swim between the red and yellow flags and never swim at unpatrolled beaches. SLSA takes all care and responsibility for any translation but it cannot guarantee that all translations will be accurate.

Bar/Dixon/Merewether Beach Statistics July 2011 - June 2012
Rescues First Aids Preventative Actions
Beach Totals: 75 197 1647
 
Breakdown of statistics by organisation
Merewether Surf Life Saving Cl
Rescues First Aids Preventative Actions
Total: 23 34 204
 
Breakdowns: 3No Gear 13Minor Marine Stings 1Lost Children
14Rescue Board 2Major Marine Stings 203Preventions
1IRB 10Minor Cuts/Abrasions
5Other 1Spinal
8Other
 
Dixon Park SLSC
Rescues First Aids Preventative Actions
Total: 29 460
 
Breakdowns: 18Minor Marine Stings 1Shark Alarm
6Minor Cuts/Abrasions 1Lost Children
1Fractures/Dislocation 458Preventions
1Spinal
3Other
 
Cooks Hill SLSC
Rescues First Aids Preventative Actions
Total: 52 134 983
 
Breakdowns: 3No Gear 48Minor Marine Stings 1Shark Alarm
14Rescue Tube 2Major Marine Stings 4Searches
35Rescue Board 70Minor Cuts/Abrasions 31Lost Children
1Major Wounds 947Preventions
1Fractures/Dislocation
1Spinal
11Other