Half Moon Bay receives its name from its crescentic shape. The 350 m long bay faces north in the southern corner, then swings around to face west along the northern section. Due to the partially protected nature of the bay, it has long been a site for boating. It has a boat launching ramp, a 100 m long jetty, and off the jetty are the remains of HMVS Cerberus which was grounded in 1926, to provide additional shelter for the boats. The beach is relatively protected in the southern corner and extensive sand shoals lie off the beach, necessitating the need for the long jetty. The bars narrow but continue up the beach, where they may be cut by deeper rip channels. High waves will produce strong currents in the rips and against the northern rocks at Red Bluff. The Half Moon Bay Surf Life Saving Club was founded in 1910 and is the oldest in the state. It is located in the southern corner of the beach, next to a few boat sheds and the Black Rock Yacht Club. There is extensive parking for both clubs and the boat ramp on the point, with additional parking on the northern bluffs, as well as walkways down to the beach. read more

Beach Length: 0.35km