Minnamurra Beach

Minnamurra Beach

Minnamurra Beach (NSW 389) has the same name as the waterfall, the river and the adjacent town, but is almost inaccessible and little known. The river sweeps behind the beach and a narrow barrier, flowing out to sea through a permanent opening against the southern Minnamurra Point and Stack Island (Fig. 4.315).

The river prevents access from the town and the only land access is via the Killalea track to a car park located on slopes above the northern end of the beach. Consequently the beach and low densely vegetated barrier is one of the more natural in the region.

The beach faces east and curves to the south for 1.5 km to the river mouth. It receives east and southeast swell, the latter reduced by refraction round Stack Island, and is protected from northeast waves by Bass Point.

As a result average waves range from less then 1 m at the river mouth to just over a metre up the beach. The beach usually has a continuous bar that is only cut by rips, particularly to the north following higher waves.