Salt Creek Beach (Monarch Beach)

Orange County’s Salt Creek Beach is named after the stream which runs across the northern part of the beach during wetter times of year. Backed by scrub, the beach consists of a wide ribbon of sand paired with the lawns of Bluff Park, which is almost three hectares in size. It has a good number of picnic tables for anyone looking to enjoy an al fresco meal.

Those looking to be a little more action will appreciate the beach volleyball, and the basketball half-court. In the waves, a reef just offshore creates some pretty consistent left-handers for surfing, while tidal pools provide a home for all manner of protected species of sea life.