Beach Number:

nsw670

Includes Beaches:

Bar

State/Region:

NSW - Merimbula

Post Code:

2548

General Beach Hazard Rating:

4/10 (Moderately hazardous)

Beach

Bar Beach (NSW 670) is a narrow 100 m long beach located on the north side of the mouth the Merimbula Inlet and which faces west into the inlet and lagoon. A road leads to a car park right behind the beach, contributing to its popularity with fishermen year round and families in summer. Waves rarely reach the beach, however it is located right on the deep inlet channel with its strong tidal currents, so stay close to shore and keep and eye on children.

Swimming

Bar Beach is usually quiet and popular, though adjacent to the deep tidal channel. Rips dominate Merimbula-Pambula and to a lesser extent Little, so use caution and swim in the two patrolled areas.

Surfing

The Merimbula Bar and Pambula Bar are both well-known and popular spots when working. Both break over the river mouth tidal sand shoals with potentially long rides: the left at Merimbula holding to 3 m and Pambula requiring larger seas to work. In between are numerous beach breaks on the inner an outer bar.

Fishing

The northern lake mouth and southern river mouth are both accessible and popular, while persistent rip gutters are usually found the length of the beach.

General

Merimbula is a major coastal town of 5000 located on the northern shores of Merimbula Lake, which flows out in lee of Merimbula Point. The points protrudes 1.7 km to the southeast and forms the northern boundary of 5 km wide Merimbula Bay, with Haycock Point on the southern boundary. In between the two points is 13 km of shoreline, including the long Merimbula-Pambula beach, and five smaller beaches (NSW 670-675).