Beach Number:

nsw562

Includes Beaches:

Bengello/south Broulee/south

State/Region:

NSW - Moruya

Post Code:

2537

General Beach Hazard Rating:

7/10 (Highly hazardous)

Beach

Bengello Beach is 6 km long. It starts at Broulee Head and runs first to the south west and then south to the northern entrance wall of the Moruya River mouth. The beach is accessible at the northern end where Broulee Surfers Surf Club is located. There is a car park and next to the Club and at the base of the headland near a small boat ramp. A gravel road runs south along the beach for 2 km providing access as far as Waldrons Creek which breaks out across the beach during floods. This road used to run all the way to the southern end, but was cut by big seas in 1975 and subsequently closed, with a new sealed road is located 1 to 2 km inland. The new road meets the road which runs out to the north side of the river mouth, where the Moruya Airport is also located. The entire beach is backed by 1 to 2 km of low densely vegetated foredunes, which were formed as the entire shoreline build out seaward between 6 000 and 3 000 years ago. The centre of the beach is exposed to most swell and receives waves averaging 1.6 m. The popular northern end is protected from summer north east winds and swell, while at the very southern end, the entrance wall, tidal shoals and Moruya Heads reduce south waves to about 1 m. For most of the beach the waves develop a double bar system, with the inner bar usually attached and cut by rips every 300 m, producing up to 30 rips along the beach. A strong permanent rips runs out against the northern rocks and is used by fishing boats and surfers to get out the back. Against the entrance wall waves are often lower but rips also extend right to the wall. The northern South Broulee Beach has been patrolled by the Broulee Surfers Club since 1979. It is a potentially hazardous owing to the permanent rip and strong rips down the beach. Stay between the flags as an average of 19 people are rescued here each year. Be very careful if bathing down this long and often empty beach, as rips abound. Stay on the bar if attached and out of the rips and longshore trough.

Swimming

It is a potentially hazardous owing to the permanent rip and strong rips down the beach. Stay between the flags as an average of 19 people are rescued here each year. Be very careful if bathing down this long and often empty beach, as rips abound. Stay on the bar if attached and out of the rips and longshore trough.

Surfing

South Broulee is a top spot and frequented by many surfers. It picks up most east and south swell, often has good banks and during summer north east winds blow offshore. The southern beach at the entrance wall should also be used with caution as rips are usually present. The surfers are attracted to the right called The Wall against the entrance wall, as well as breaks produced by the river mouth bars.

Fishing

This beach offers good opportunities right along, with a small calm weather boat ramp against the northern rocks, together with the wide, flat rock platform. Numerous rip holes and gutters occur down the beach, and off the north Wall at the southern end.

General

One of the longer and more natural beaches on the South Coast, that picks up plenty of swell and offers lots of space for beach goers and surfers. Bathers must however be wary of the many persistent rips.