Caves Beach (NSW 52) derives its name from the sea caves located on the south side of Shelly Head, which forms the northern boundary of this 2.5 km long beach. The caves have been cut by the waves into softer 180 million year old shales. Immediately south of the caves eroded white Pleistocene dunes underlain by cofferock back the beach, suggesting slow erosion of the beach. The beach faces east-southeast and ends at Plumbago (Buchanans) Head in the south, with a small creek crossing the centre. It is an exposed higher energy beach, backed by some active dune blowouts, and fronted by an energetic double bar system dominated on both bars by prominent rips. Up to 10 rips cut across the attached inner bar, with strong permanent rips against both headlands. Access is by foot from Lake Arragan rest area in the south. A walk-in camp site is located on the northern Shelly Head. read more

Beach Length: 2.6km