Garie Beach
Royal National Park, New South Wales, Australia
Garie Beach sits inside Royal National Park about 29 kilometers south of Sydney, and it's a real surf beach, not just a scenic stop, home to a surf club running since 1938 and a boardriders club that's met continuously since the late 1970s. The break works best on a south to southeast swell with light morning wind.
The long running surf club and boardriders give it real local roots, though it's only patrolled on weekends and summer weekdays, so timing matters if you're relying on lifeguards.
How we score beachesWeekday mornings are the move if you want the wave to yourself, weekends bring a steady stream of Sydney day trippers once the sun's out.
A 175 space car park sits right at the beach, about 20 minutes from Bundeena or 30 from Sutherland by car. The standard Royal National Park vehicle entry fee applies, and rangers do check.
The beach is reached directly from the car park, with toilets, a picnic area, and a weekend kiosk close by, no hike required.
Dogs aren't allowed anywhere in Royal National Park, a rule enforced to protect native wildlife and manage fox baiting programs in the area.
Summer, December through February, brings the warmest water and busiest crowds, with January air averaging around 26 degrees Celsius. Winter, June through August, is cooler at around 18 degrees but pairs well with whale watching from the clifftop trail and a quieter beach overall.
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