Port Hacking Point marks the beginning of a relatively straight 30 km long section of southwest-trending rocky coast that reaches 100-200 m in height towards the south. The first 5 km are continuous 40-50 m high sandstone cliffs, with the two Marley beaches located in the first gap in the rocks. These beaches are the remnants of more massive beaches that 7000 years ago lay along much of the cliff base and in places were large enough to supply sufficient sand to climb up the 60 m high cliffs and supply dunes a few kilometres inland. All the beaches and their cliff ramps are now gone, with only Marley and the now stable cliff top dunes remaining. Both beaches can only be reached on foot along the 3 km long Marley track from the Marley car park on Bundeena Drive. The walk is part of the coastal walk that extends for 20 km from Bundeena to Otford, and takes in some of the most spectacular coastal scenery in the world. Marley Beach (NSW 341) is a curving 360 m long south-facing beach exposed to high southeast swell and southerly winds, while bordered by 20-30 m high sandstone headlands. The waves maintain a rip-dominated beach, with usually two boundary rips and a shifting central rip, all linked by a continuous trough. It is backed by active transgressive dunes that extend up to 500 m to the north (Fig. 4.267). Marley Swamp and Lagoon drain from the north and link with Marley Creek draining from the west to flow across the northern end of the beach. read more

Beach Length: 0.3km