Pilot Beach (T 790) is located adjacent to Hells Gate, the mouth of Macquarie Harbour. The 1.1 km long north-facing beach has developed since a 1.2 km long rock breakwater was constructed in the 1900’s to channelise the flow through Hells Gate (Fig. 4.153). The beach now extends from the side of the breakwater west to Wooding Point, which rises to 50 m high Watts Hill. The beach is sheltered by the 1 km long north-trending western rock shore and the breakwater, with waves usually averaging about 0.5 m at the western end of the beach increasing to 1 m at the breakwater. A small creek flows across the western end of the beach maintaining a shallow tidal delta, while the central-eastern section of beach tends to be reflective, to low tide terrace during higher waves. The entire beach has prograded 300 m northwards against the breakwater decreasing to the west. It is now backed by a low hummocky area of progradation, then the vehicle track from Macquarie Heads. read more

Beach Length: 1.1km