Beach Number:

nsw255

Includes Beaches:

Caves

State/Region:

NSW - Caves Beach

Post Code:

2281

General Beach Hazard Rating:

5/10 (Moderately hazardous)

Beach

Caves Beach (NSW 255) derives its name from sea caves in the headland at the southern end of the beach. The beach runs for just 300 m south from the sandy foreland to the southern cave-rocks. The Swansea-Caves SLSC, (founded in 1929), a park and car park are located at the southern end (Fig. 4.149). A road runs the length of the beach with additional parking along much of the beach. Though Caves faces the southeast it is afforded a moderate degree of wave protection by reefs in the centre and north and Spoon Rocks to the southeast. As a result waves average 1 m and maintain a single attached bar. However during high waves a strong rip forms against the southern rocks and one to two up the beach.

Swimming

Hams is a potentially hazardous beach owing to the higher waves, prominent rips and rocks. Stay on the inner portion of attached bars and away from rips and side currents. Caves usually has lower waves and is patrolled.

Surfing

These are two popular surfing beach, with Hams exposed to most swell, with the best breaks are the lefts and rights, known as Frenchmans, either side of the sand spit that forms in lee of the northern Frenchman Rock, while Caves provides some shelter during bigger seas.

Fishing

The best gutters are along Hams Beach, with the rocks more popular at Caves.