At a glance
- Season
- Saturday 26 September 2026 to Sunday 25 April 2027
- Who patrols
- Council lifeguards 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday; Surf Life Saving volunteers on weekends and public holidays (hours are on the Beachsafe website)
- Beaches
- 15 beaches, from The Lakes Beach at Budgewoi in the north to Umina Beach in the south, plus the Grant McBride Baths at The Entrance
- Flags
- Swim between the red and yellow flags. No flags means no swimming
- Who it’s for
- Families and visitors choosing where to swim on the Central Coast this summer
- What to do now
- The council says swim between the red and yellow flags, and that no flags means no swimming; patrol hours are on the Beachsafe website
- Last checked
- Monday 9 November 2026, against two Central Coast Council pages
- Not yet confirmed
- Weekend patrol hours are not on the council’s pages, and the two pages differ on when The Entrance Channel is patrolled
- Help
- Emergency 000; report beach pollution 131 555; Surf Life Saving Central Coast 4353 0299
Fifteen Central Coast beaches are patrolled this summer, with Council lifeguards on duty from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday and Surf Life Saving volunteers on weekends and public holidays. The 2026-27 patrol season runs from Saturday 26 September 2026 until Sunday 25 April 2027. The details below come from Central Coast Council’s beaches page and its patrolled beaches page, read on 9 November 2026.
Which beaches are patrolled?
The council lists the patrolled beaches from north to south on its patrolled beaches page:
| No. | Beach | No. | Beach |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Lakes Beach, Budgewoi | 9 | North Avoca Beach |
| 2 | Soldiers Beach | 10 | Avoca Beach |
| 3 | North Entrance Beach | 11 | Copacabana Beach |
| 4 | The Entrance Beach | 12 | MacMasters Beach |
| 5 | Toowoon Bay Beach | 13 | Killcare Beach |
| 6 | Shelly Beach | 14 | Ocean Beach, Umina |
| 7 | Wamberal Beach | 15 | Umina Beach |
| 8 | Terrigal Beach |
The council says the coast has 41 beaches in all, so most of them are not patrolled. Beaches such as Birdie Beach and Frazer Beach appear on the council’s beach list, but not on the patrolled list.
What are the patrol hours?
The council says lifeguards are on duty from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday, and Surf Life Saving volunteers patrol on weekends and public holidays, with hours listed on the Surf Life Saving Beachsafe website. It does not give weekend hours itself. The council explains that lifeguards are paid professionals employed by the council and wear blue, while lifesavers are volunteers from local surf clubs and wear red and yellow. Both patrol the same beaches within the red and yellow flags.
The council also says it provides patrols on some weekends and public holidays, for example at Budgewoi Beach during the summer holidays.
What about the Grant McBride Baths and The Entrance Channel?
Council lifeguards monitor the Grant McBride Baths at The Entrance seven days a week during the patrol season. The patrolled beaches page says lifeguards monitor The Entrance Channel on weekends during school holidays, while the beaches page says the channel is monitored during school holidays, without the word weekends. The council does not explain the difference.
Another council FAQ says the Grant McBride Baths are patrolled on weekends and public holidays all year round. For year-round swimming outside the season, the council lists the Grant McBride Baths, Toukley Aquatic Centre, Gosford Olympic Pool and Peninsula Leisure Centre; see our guide to the council pools for their hours and prices.
What do the flags mean?
The council’s rules are short:
- Swim between the red and yellow flags. They mark the area supervised by lifeguards or lifesavers.
- No flags means no swimming.
- Surf outside the black and white flags.
- If you are unsure of conditions, ask the lifeguard, and obey their directions.
- Children should be supervised by an adult at all times, even between the flags.
The council’s safety tips also cover rip currents, which it describes as narrow, dark gaps of water heading offshore between breaking waves and white water. If you are caught in one, the council says to raise your hand and float on your back. It also says to avoid recreational water activity for at least 24 hours after heavy rain, to reduce exposure to stormwater pollution, and points to the NSW Government’s Beachwatch page for daily pollution forecasts. Report pollution on 131 555.
Is there help if I get into trouble?
In an emergency, call 000. The council says the coast has three Emergency Response Beacons, at Budgewoi Beach, The Entrance Channel and Pearl Beach. At a beacon, a push of a button connects you to the Surf Life Saving NSW State Operations Centre. If you get into trouble in the water, the council recommends the Float to Survive technique: keep your head and mouth above water, control your breathing, spread your arms and legs for balance, use a circular motion to stay afloat and signal for help.
The council also encourages people to be SharkSmart and to download the NSW Government’s SharkSmart app.
Can I borrow a beach wheelchair?
The beaches page says beach wheelchair hire and beach matting operate during the patrol season, which typically runs from late September to the end of April. It describes accessible beaches as having features such as beach matting, free beach wheelchair hire, continuous pathways, nearby public transport and accessible toilets. For surf club contacts, ring Surf Life Saving Central Coast on 4353 0299. If you are bringing a dog, see our guide to the Central Coast off-leash dog beaches, as dogs are not allowed on beaches that are not designated off-leash areas.
Sources
- Central Coast Council — Beaches (checked 9 November 2026)
- Central Coast Council — Central Coast patrolled beaches (checked 9 November 2026)
Featured image: Terrigal beach and headland with an incoming storm (photo: Returned dude12345 / CC0) (text added)
OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with Central Coast Council or Surf Life Saving. Patrol dates and hours can change.