Maroubra Beach at 1 km in length is the longest beach in the eastern suburbs. It’s located in Maroubra Bay, an east-facing 1.8 km wide bay bounded by the northern Mistral and southern Magic points. The beach occupies the centre of the open bay and apart from the very southern end receives the full force of the Tasman Sea, producing an exposed rip-dominated beach. The beach is backed by an extensive reserve occupied in the north by a seawall, a large car park and the Maroubra SLSC (formed in 1907) (Figs. 4.246 & 4.247), while to the south is a managed foredune, grassy reserve, car parking and the South Maroubra SLSC (formed in 1963). In 2006 the entire beach was dedicated as a National Surfing Reserve, the first in NSW, with a plaque located on the northern promenade, together with a Surfers Walk of Fame. The northern and central sections of the beach (NSW 327a) are dominated by 4-5 rip systems, which are particularly strong in the north and against the northern headland. Also rocks and a drain at the northern end pose additional hazards. Maroubra SLSC rescues on average 285 people a year, the state’s highest. South Maroubra SLSC patrols the slightly less hazardous southern end and affects 80 rescues a year. The very southern end of the beach (NSW 327b) usually has lower waves apart from a small but persistent rip against the southern rocks, to the lee of which is a popular wading pool. read more

Beach Length: 0.5km