PATROLLED TODAY
SWELL
WEATHER
17.90C 
Patrolled Wind - 9.00 kph WSW 
South of Lake Cathie entrance the beach (NSW 173) continues due south-southwest for 1.9 km to the low Middle Rock Point, a collection of rocks that causes a slight protrusion in the sandy beach. Lake Cathie settlement follows the back of the beach providing continuous access. In addition there is a grassy park and picnic area on the south shore of the lake entrance, together with a beachfront caravan park and a car park behind Middle Rock Point, which also provides 4WD access to the next beach south. The beach receives waves averaging 1.6 m and with the fine beach sand maintain a well-developed double bar system. The inner bar is usually attached and cut by rips every 300-400 m, with a deep trough and outer bar further out. A permanent rip runs out against Middle Rock Point, and when the lake is open strong tidal currents sweep the entrance.
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.
Noosa Heads is one of Australia's favourite tourist destinations, with large summer and holiday crowds filling the town and its main beach. The town is located at the mouth of the Noosa River and in lee of 2 km long Noosa Head, with much of the head now forming a national park. Immediately north of the river is the more extensive Cooloola National Park. Today Noosa boasts a thriving tourist industry, with major resorts and a wide range of accommodation and facilities. Noosa has long been a popular summer destination, with a surf lifesaving reel placed on the beach in 1915 and the Noosa Heads Surf Life Saving Club founded in 1927.The main beach (1532) runs from the base of the heads to the mouth of the river. The river is now trained with an entrance wall that forms the northern end of the 1.2 km long beach. In addition, to combat beach erosion and maintain some of the sand dumped on the beach, a rock groyne has been built across the middle of the beach and a seawall constructed along the southern half of the beach.The beach faces almost due north, and receives low waves which have to pass around Noosa Heads. They average between 0.5 and 1 m high at the beach, where they usually form a continuous bar that is cut by rips during and following higher waves. Waves are higher and rips more prevalent at, and north of, the groyne.