# Long Reef Beach, Sydney URL: https://sydneybeachside.com.au/beaches/long-reef/ · Region: Northern Beaches · Facts checked: 2026-10-09 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 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. 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. Long Reef Beach is a 27 min walk (2,180 m) from the Time and Tide Hotel in Dee Why, along the Bicentennial Walkway. Walk = walking time along the walking route on OpenStreetMap (not driving), door to sand, at 4.8 km/h. Every place to stay at Dee Why Beach, with its walk to the sand and climb home: [Where to stay at Dee Why Beach](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/beaches/dee-why/) ([Markdown](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/beaches/dee-why/index.md)). ## What’s there - **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. - **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. - **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. ## How to 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. (Sources: [Wikipedia: Dee Why](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dee_Why,_New_South_Wales); [Transport NSW trip planner](https://transportnsw.info/trip)) - **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. (Sources: [Northern Beaches Council: Long Reef Beach](https://www.northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/recreation-area/long-reef-beach); [NSW Government: Long Reef Beach](https://www.nsw.gov.au/visiting-and-exploring-nsw/locations-and-attractions/long-reef-beach)) - **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. (Sources: [Northern Beaches Council, 5 June 2025](https://www.northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au/council/news/single-service-beach-safety-across-northern-beaches); [SLS Beachsafe: Long Reef – Dee Why](https://beachsafe.org.au/beach/nsw/warringah/collaroy/long-reef-dee-why)) - **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. (Sources: [SLS Beachsafe: Long Reef – Dee Why](https://beachsafe.org.au/beach/nsw/warringah/collaroy/long-reef-dee-why)) - **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. (Sources: [The Nightly, 8 Sep 2025](https://thenightly.com.au/australia/fatal-shark-attack-at-sydneys-long-reef-sparks-fresh-debate-over-shark-nets-and-ocean-safety-c-19946121); [SharkSmart NSW: Shark nets](https://www.sharksmart.nsw.gov.au/shark-nets)) - **Water quality after rain** Check Beachwatch for the daily pollution forecast before you swim after heavy rain. (Sources: [NSW Beachwatch](https://www.beachwatch.nsw.gov.au/)) ## Is Long Reef good for 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 downsides - 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. ## FAQ ### 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. (Sources: [Northern Beaches Council, 5 June 2025](https://www.northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au/council/news/single-service-beach-safety-across-northern-beaches); [SLS Beachsafe: Long Reef – Dee Why](https://beachsafe.org.au/beach/nsw/warringah/collaroy/long-reef-dee-why)) ### Is there a shark net at Long Reef? No. A surfer was killed by a shark at Long Reef on 7 September 2025. (Sources: [The Nightly, 8 Sep 2025](https://thenightly.com.au/australia/fatal-shark-attack-at-sydneys-long-reef-sparks-fresh-debate-over-shark-nets-and-ocean-safety-c-19946121)) ### 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. (Sources: [NSW DPI: Respecting Long Reef Aquatic Reserve](https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/marine-protected-areas/aquatic-reserves/long-reef-aquatic-reserve/visiting-the-reserve)) ### 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. (Sources: [NSW DPI: Respecting Long Reef Aquatic Reserve](https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/marine-protected-areas/aquatic-reserves/long-reef-aquatic-reserve/visiting-the-reserve)) ### 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. (Sources: [Northern Beaches Council: Long Reef Headland](https://www.northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/recreation-area/long-reef-headland-0); [NSW Government: Long Reef Beach](https://www.nsw.gov.au/visiting-and-exploring-nsw/locations-and-attractions/long-reef-beach)) ### 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. (Sources: [Northern Beaches Council: Long Reef Headland](https://www.northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/recreation-area/long-reef-headland-0)) ### 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. (Sources: [Northern Beaches Council: Long Reef Aquatic Reserve](https://www.northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/recreation-area/long-reef-head-aquatic-reserve)) ## Nearby beaches - [Dee Why](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/beaches/dee-why/): the next beach south, past the lagoon - [Collaroy](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/beaches/collaroy/): north, round the headland - [Curl Curl](https://sydneybeachside.com.au/beaches/curl-curl/): south, past Dee Why Ask a local: enquiries@sydneybeachside.com.au