Marley Beach

Sometimes called Big Marley Beach, this stretch of sand sits within Royal National Park just south of Sydney. One of the largest beaches within reach of the city, its gently sloping orange-yellow sands give way to sand dunes covering an area of 130,000 square metres.

Facing towards the southeast, Marley Beach is just under 400 metres in length, and about the same in depth. Horizontal rocks at its southern end are used as a fishing platform, while low forested hills mark its northern extent. Neither surfing or swimming are recommended by Surf Life Saving Australia because of prevailing rip currents and the lack of lifeguard patrols on the beach. And if that didn’t put you off, there are also semi-regular sightings of bluebottles (Portuguese man o’war) and sharks.

Marley Beach can only be reached on foot from Marley car park on Bundeena Drive, a pleasant walk of around three kilometres each way.