Coalcliff, as the name implies, is the first of the mining towns that took to the slopes and the coal seams for their livelihood and to the sea for their recreation. The beach fronts a steep, narrow valley, with sides rising 300 m to the backing plateau. The coal mine is located towards therear of the valley. A railway used to run from the mine to a small exposed harbour on the rock platforms about 2 km south of the beach. The Lawrence Hargraves Drive winds between the mine and the town area, with access to the beach limited to a car park behind the Coalcliff SLSC and street parking. The small surf club was formed in 1924. The small settlement has increased in popularity since construction of the elevated Sea Cliff Bridge road in 2005. The elevated road and footpath winds for 1 km, suspended 20 m above the sea and rock platforms. Beach NSW 353 is located in a slight indentation in the backing cliffs 500 m north of the surf club and only accessible around the intervening rocks. It is a steep 100 m long cobble and boulder beach, located at the base of 60 m high sandstone cliffs, and is fronted by a rocky seabed, with waves averaging over 1.5 m. This is a dangerous beach unsuitable for swimming. read more

Beach Length: 0.1km