Christies Beach SA

Beach

Christies Beach (225) occupies the southern third of a 2 km long west facing beach that extends from Witton Bluff in the south to Curlew Point in the north. The southern half is backed by the growing residential area called Christies Beach, while the northern half is known as O’Sullivan Beach... Read more

Christies Beach (225) occupies the southern third of a 2 km long west facing beach that extends from Witton Bluff in the south to Curlew Point in the north. The southern half is backed by the growing residential area called Christies Beach, while the northern half is known as O’Sullivan Beach (226) and backed by a sewage treatment works (Fig. 4.50). There is excellent access to the beach at Christies Beach where a road parallels the beach, together with a caravan park and the Christies Beach Surf Life Saving Club. A seawall protects the road, with a ramp to the beach in front of the surf club.)Christies Creek flows across the middle of the beach and separates Christies from O’Sullivan Beach. The northern sewer works are fronted by a low sand dune, with the breakwater of a boat launching harbour forming the northern boundaryThe both beaches receives low ocean swell as well as gulf wind waves, with waves averaging 0.5 to 1 m. This is sufficient to produce a single bar usually cut by rips every 200 m. The centre of Christies Beach, where the surf club is located, is partly protected by Horseshoe Reef which lies 300 m offshore. This causes the beach to protrude seaward at this point and receive slightly lower waves (Fig. 4.55).

Swimming

This is a moderately hazardous beach owing to the common occurrence of rips. The safest swimming in right in front of the surf club, where the waves are usually a little lower and the beach patrolled in summer. Watch out for rips and stay inshore on the attached portion of the bar.

Surfing

This is a popular surfing beach owing to the low ocean swell that commonly reaches here. The swell and bars and rips can produce some reasonable beach breaks.

Fishing

The rips produce holes for beach fishing, while there is also rock fishing off the southern Witton Bluff or the northern breakwater. However most fishers use the boat ramp to fish the outer reefs and gulf waters.

General

A popular beach with some surf and good access and facilities.