Beach Number:

nsw305

Includes Beaches:

Bungan

State/Region:

NSW - Newport

Post Code:

2106

General Beach Hazard Rating:

7/10 (Highly hazardous)

Beach

Bungan Beach (NSW 305) sits between 40-50 m high Bungan and Mona Vale heads, both steep sandstone and shale cliff, fronted by rock platforms. The beach is backed by steep vegetated slopes rising 40 m to the main Barrenjoey Road (Fig. 4.201). Because of the steep slopes beach access is restricted to a steep footpath at the northern end, at the base of which is the Bungan SLSC (founded 1953), and down a more circuitous track at the southern end, off Headland Parade. As car parking is limited to the narrow roads that wind around the headland, lack of parking and access mean that Bungan never gets crowded. The beach does however attract a usually small band of swimmers and surfers. The 600 m long beach faces east-southeast and receives waves averaging 1.5 m. A single bar runs the length of the beach, with two strong permanent rips against the rocks at either end, and 2-3 shifting beach rips along the centre (Fig. 4.202). The bar is usually attached during periods of lower waves, but commonly detaches, particularly towards the north, during and following high waves. This results in a continuous trough with rips and their feeder currents, occupying the inner surf zone.

Swimming

A potentially hazardous beach. You can clearly see the rips from the road. So definitely stay between the flags and on the bars.

Surfing

This is where you go to get away from the more crowded Sydney breaks. It usually has reasonable beach breaks, while the northern corner offers some protection from summer northeast sea breezes, and with a north swell can produce a good left.

Fishing

Not as popular as some of the surrounding beaches owing to the more difficult access. The northern rocks have a deep gutter and provide access to Newport Reef. Good gutters are usually found along the beach.