Curl Curl Beach Sydney
Best for. Surfers, walkers and dog owners who want a long, natural beach with room to spread out and very little tourist traffic.
Best spot. The southern end by the rock pool for calm swimming, with the lagoon and reserve walk at the northern end.
Know this. This is an exposed surf beach with strong rips, so swim between the flags and use the rock pool when the swell is large.
Curl Curl is the kind of beach that rewards locals and rarely shows up on a visitor list, which is exactly why it is worth knowing. It is a long, natural sweep of sand split into a southern and northern end, backed by a lagoon and a reserve rather than a strip of cafes.
The surf is the main event. Curl Curl is exposed and the beach breaks can be powerful, with rips that demand respect, so the patrolled flags are essential for swimmers. On a good morning the lineup is relaxed and the waves are honest, drawing surfers who like their beach without a crowd.
For calm water the rock pool at the southern end is the answer. It gives a sheltered swim with the ocean breaking just beyond, and it is the spot families and gentle swimmers settle when the surf is up. The southern end also has the easier parking and the surf club.
The northern end is the quiet secret. A walk across the lagoon footbridge brings you to a wilder, emptier stretch of sand that is dog friendly off the lead at certain times, backed by the reserve and the dunes. It is one of the most natural beach walks close to the city.
Who should skip it. If you want cafes on the sand and flat water, the busier beaches suit better. But for a long, wild surf beach with a rock pool, a lagoon walk and genuine room to breathe, Curl Curl is a local treasure.
Clubs on this beach
Curl Curl is a long natural public beach with a surf club, a rock pool and a lagoon reserve, but there is no daybed beach club on the sand, so we route you to the Sydney clubs and venues that run a club style day.
No beach club on this beach
This is a wild public surf beach with no daybed club on the sand itself. For loungers, shade and table service near Curl Curl Beach, we gather the current options in the Sydney beach clubs directory.
Curl Curl, the northern beaches
Curl Curl sits between Dee Why and Freshwater on the northern beaches, around forty minutes from the city by car and quieter to reach than the more famous beaches.
By public transport buses run from the city and from Manly to the streets behind the beach, then a short walk brings you to the sand, though a car makes the lagoon ends easier to reach.
Facilities are modest, with a surf club, showers and the lagoon reserve. Use the southern rock pool for calm water and swim between the flags on the open beach.
Photo: Adi Ashkenazy via GoogleBook a beach club
Tell us your dates and party size and we will help arrange a daybed or table at a club within reach of Curl Curl Beach. We reply by email.
We are an independent editorial resource. Booking requests are passed to clubs and operators, and some may earn us a commission at no cost to you. Prices, availability and opening status are set by the venue and are to be confirmed at the time of booking.
Common questions about Curl Curl Beach
Is Curl Curl Beach good for swimming?
The rock pool at the southern end and the patrolled flags give the safest water. The open beach has strong rips and powerful breaks, so swimmers should stay between the flags or use the rock pool when the surf is up.
Is Curl Curl a dog friendly beach?
The northern end across the lagoon footbridge allows dogs off the lead at certain times. Rules and times change, so check the posted signs before letting a dog off the lead.
Is Curl Curl crowded?
Rarely, by Sydney standards. Curl Curl is a long natural beach with a local feel and far less tourist traffic than the famous beaches, which is a large part of its appeal for walkers and surfers.
Does Curl Curl Beach have a rock pool?
Yes. There is an ocean rock pool at the southern end that gives a sheltered swim when the surf is large and is the part of the beach families and gentle swimmers favour.
When is the best time to visit Curl Curl?
Autumn from March to May brings warm water, settled days and almost empty sand. Weekday mornings are quietest, and the lagoon reserve walk is at its best in calm, clear conditions.
