Where can I stay near Long Reef?

In Dee Why. The nearest place we found is the Time and Tide Hotel, a pub with rooms, a 27-minute walk along the Bicentennial Walkway. There’s no accommodation at Long Reef itself.

Is there a shark net at Long Reef?

No. A surfer was killed by a shark at Long Reef on 7 September 2025.

Can you collect shells at Long Reef?

No. Long Reef is an aquatic reserve: no invertebrates or marine plants may be taken, alive or dead, and that includes empty shells and bait.

Can you fish at Long Reef?

For finfish only, with a hand-held line or spear, under the usual NSW fishing rules. Squid, cuttlefish and other invertebrates are off limits.

Can you see whales from Long Reef?

Often, in the migration season. The headland walk, a formed track with gentle hills and some steps, looks north to the Central Coast and south to North Head.

Can you take a dog to Long Reef?

On the headland, only on a leash at all times; it’s a wildlife protection area, and cats aren’t allowed.

When was Long Reef Aquatic Reserve declared?

In 1980. It was the first aquatic reserve declared in NSW, and celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2020.

Long Reef Beach

A long, exposed surf beach running north from Dee Why Lagoon to a headland of golf course, grassland and rock platform. NSW’s first aquatic reserve, and no beds: the nearest are a 27-minute walk away in Dee Why.

Long Reef · Dietmar Rabich / CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia

Long Reef has no hotels, hostels or guesthouses. The nearest place we found to stay is the Time and Tide Hotel in Dee Why, a 27-minute walk (about 2.2 km) along the Bicentennial Walkway. The beach is patrolled from September to April but is one of Sydney’s rougher ones, with no shark net. The headland’s rock platform is an aquatic reserve: look, don’t collect.

Checked 9 October 2026. How we measure

At a glance

27 min walk from the Time and Tide Hotel
patrolled Sep – Apr
aquatic reserve since 1980
no shark net

Nowhere to sleep at Long Reef. Dee Why is 27 minutes away.

Long Reef is open ground: the beach, the dunes, a car park and surf club, and a headland taken up by a golf course and a nature reserve. There’s a kiosk, toilets, showers and barbecues, and no accommodation.

The nearest place to stay we found is the Time and Tide Hotel, a pub with rooms in Dee Why. From there it’s about 2.2 km to Long Reef’s sand along the Bicentennial Walkway, 27 minutes on foot.

27 min on foot from the Time and Tide Hotel in Dee Why, 2.2 km along the Bicentennial Walkway.

How we measure. Walking time along the walking route on OpenStreetMap, door to sand, at an easy 4.8 km/h. Checked 9 October 2026.

Dee Why Beach on a sunny day, people in the shallows and the Norfolk pines along the beachfront

Where to stay at Dee Why Beach

1 places to stay, each with its walk to the sand and the climb home. Real businesses; nobody paid to be listed.

See the Dee Why stays Anton Leddin / CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia

What’s there

Waves breaking along Long Reef Beach, the green headland at its far end — The beach
The sand runs north from the lagoon mouth and the Long Reef surf club to the headland. Reliable sandbanks make it a good beach for beginner and intermediate surfers, the bombora off the north end can hold a big south swell, and the north end is popular for windsurfing and kitesurfing.
Poyt448, Peter Woodard / CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia

The flat rock platform at Long Reef at low tide, pools of water and the grassy headland behind — The rock platform
The aquatic reserve covers about 80 ha, from the Collaroy rock baths to the Long Reef surf club and out to 100 m offshore. Declared in 1980, it was the first in NSW. You can fish for finfish with a hand-held line or spear; you can’t take, collect or disturb any shellfish, other invertebrates or marine plants, alive or dead, including empty shells.
Poyt448, Peter Woodard / CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia

Kelp-covered rock and small fish under clear water in Long Reef Aquatic Reserve — Under the water
Off the reserve lie a number of wrecks. In the 1970s and 80s several vessels were sunk here on purpose to make artificial reefs, among them the old Manly ferries Dee Why and Bellubera. Blue groper, Port Jackson sharks and grey nurse sharks are among the fish recorded around the reef.
Boden Wilkinson / CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia

Boulders on the shore at Long Reef at dusk, the sea smoothed by a long exposure under a pink sky — Long Reef at dusk. The nearest bed is 27 minutes away, in Dee Why.
Nigel Howe from Sydney, Australia / CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia

Know before you go

How do you get to Long Reef?

From Dee Why. Walk north past the lagoon on the Bicentennial Walkway. From the Time and Tide Hotel it’s about 2.2 km, 27 minutes.

From the city. There’s no train. The B-Line and other buses run along Pittwater Road past Dee Why and Collaroy; walk down to the beach from there. Plan the trip on the Transport NSW trip planner.^1,2

By car. The Long Reef Beach car park is free with a Northern Beaches Council parking permit and pay-and-display without one, with disabled spaces. It’s about 21 km from the city centre.^3,4

From the airport. By public transport it’s the train to the city and the B-Line. Most people with luggage take a taxi or rideshare.

Is Long Reef Beach safe?

Is Long Reef patrolled? In the season. Most Northern Beaches beaches are patrolled by council lifeguards for 32 weeks between September and April; Beachsafe lists daily council patrols at Long Reef, with Long Reef surf club volunteers on weekends. Swim between the red and yellow flags.^5,6

Is it safe to swim? It’s one of Sydney’s higher-energy beaches: it faces south-east, picks up any east to south-east swell, and Beachsafe rates it 7 out of 10 for hazard, with usually eight strong rips between the Long Reef surf club and Dee Why Point. Swim only between the flags.⁶

Shark nets Long Reef has no shark net. A surfer was killed by a shark here on 7 September 2025. Dee Why, to the south, is netted from 1 September to 31 March.^7,8

Water quality after rain Check Beachwatch for the daily pollution forecast before you swim after heavy rain.⁹

With kids

At low tide the rock platform is full of life to look at: don’t collect anything or turn over rocks. Rough surf and strong rips: keep them between the flags, and out of the water out of season. Kiosk, toilets, showers, picnic areas and electric barbecues by the beach.

The catch

Nowhere to stay at the beach. The nearest bed we found is a 27-minute walk away in Dee Why.
Rough water: eight strong rips on a usual day, and a 7/10 hazard rating.
No shark net, and a fatal shark attack in September 2025.
Not patrolled from May to August.
No collecting on the rock platform: not even empty shells.

Quick answers

Where can I stay near Long Reef?: In Dee Why. The nearest place we found is the Time and Tide Hotel, a pub with rooms, a 27-minute walk along the Bicentennial Walkway. There’s no accommodation at Long Reef itself.
Is Long Reef patrolled?: Yes, in the season, from September to April: council lifeguards daily, Long Reef surf club volunteers on weekends. Swim between the flags.^5,6
Is there a shark net at Long Reef?: No. A surfer was killed by a shark at Long Reef on 7 September 2025.⁷
Can you collect shells at Long Reef?: No. Long Reef is an aquatic reserve: no invertebrates or marine plants may be taken, alive or dead, and that includes empty shells and bait.¹⁰
Can you fish at Long Reef?: For finfish only, with a hand-held line or spear, under the usual NSW fishing rules. Squid, cuttlefish and other invertebrates are off limits.¹⁰
Can you see whales from Long Reef?: Often, in the migration season. The headland walk, a formed track with gentle hills and some steps, looks north to the Central Coast and south to North Head.^11,4
Can you take a dog to Long Reef?: On the headland, only on a leash at all times; it’s a wildlife protection area, and cats aren’t allowed.¹¹
When was Long Reef Aquatic Reserve declared?: In 1980. It was the first aquatic reserve declared in NSW, and celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2020.¹²