WARILLA CENTRAL BEACH
Warilla Beach is a popular swimming and surfing beach located in Shellharbour, just south of Wollongong. This two kilometre beach stretches from the mouth of the Illawarra River down to Elliot Lake, a small estuary which separates the sands of Warilla from Barrack Point.
Warilla Beach is patrolled by lifesavers for seven months of the year, and attracts a number of fishing enthusiasts all year round. The entire beach is backed by a shared pedestrian and cycling path; head south along the coastline to reach Shellharbour North Beach and central Shellharbour, or head north from Warilla Beach to explore the scenic shoreline of beautiful Lake Illawarra.
Warrilla Beach is a curving, east-facing 2 km beach extending between Windang Island and the shallow inlet at Barrack Point. The northern half of the beach is backed by the entrance training wall then natural dunes, which have been stabilised to form a large park, with the Warrilla SLSC and a car park located toward the southern end. The southern half of the beach is backed by beachfront houses and a caravan park. The houses were nearly washed away in the mid-1970s, which resulted in the construction of a high rock seawall and bike path that backs the southern 1 km of beach terminating at a groyne at the creek mouth.
The original surf club formed in 1959, had to be abandoned, as the erosion and then the seawall removed the southern half of the beach.The beach receives waves averaging 1.4 m which, decrease into the northern corner (called Windang Bay) behind Windang Island and in the south behind Barrack Point. The beach has relatively fine sand which helps produce a double bar system following high waves. The inner bar is usually attached to the beach and cut by 6-8 rips, with their intensity, decreasing toward each end.
Swimming
A potentially hazardous beach with rips dominating the surf. Stay between the flags and on the bar, avoiding the rip holes and side currents. Lifeguards also patrol the northern end between Christmas and Easter.
Surfing
Beach breaks occur along the beach, however at high tide waves crash on the southern seawall. The south side of Windang Island has a good left that can hold most swell up to 5 m and offers a prime big wave spot.
Fishing
Good gutters are common along the northern part of the beach, as well as the southern creek.
Facilities
beach wheelchair, exercise equipment, outdoor shower, patrolled beach (seasonal), public toilet
