Duranbah Beach (NSW 1, also called Flagstaff Beach) is the most northern beach in NSW. The 500 m long beach faces east and is located between the northern 400 m long entrance wall of the Tweed River mouth (Figure 4.3) and the 30 m high black basalt slopes of Point Danger, which marks the Queensland-NSW border. Prior to the commencement of construction of the initial northern Tweed River training wall in 1900, the beach was part of an unstable sandy river entrance. The wall has defined and stablised the beach, which is now backed by a low fenced grassy foredune and backing car park and a road running the length of the beach to the old quarry site below Point Danger. The northern section of road is protected by a seawall, fronted by basalt boulders towards the point.
The beach is composed of fine sand and exposed to waves averaging 1.5 m, which combine to produce a low gradient beach up to 100 m wide, with an attached bar, usually cut by rips against the rocks at either end and a more mobile central rip. In addition the Tweed River flows seaward of the entrance walls and produces an extensive entrance bar and river channel.
SLSA provides this information as a guide only. Surf conditions are variable and therefore this information should not be relied upon as a substitute for observation of local conditions and an understanding of your abilities in the surf. SLSA reminds you to always swim between the red and yellow flags and never swim at unpatrolled beaches. SLSA takes all care and responsibility for any translation but it cannot guarantee that all translations will be accurate.