Avalon Beach (NSW 302) is a 500 m long southeast facing beach bordered by the 60 m high sandstone cliffs and rock platforms of Hole in the Wall and Bilgola Head. Most of the beach is backed by a fenced 25 m high foredune. The dune extended another 500 m north of the beach, until it was trucked away to build the local houses in the 1950-60s. The Avalon Beach SLSC (founded 1925), a car park, park and picnic area located toward the southern end. A second car park and amenities are located at the northern end of the beach, known as North Avalon. Barrenjoey Road and the Avalon shopping centre lie immediately west of the beach. The size and orientation of the beach results in waves averaging 1.6 m and maintain three persistent rips. Two permanent rips run out against the rocks at each end, while a third shifting rip occupies the centre (Fig. 4.195 & 4.196). The two bars separating the rips are usually dettached from the shore, resulting in a continuous channel occupied by the rips and their feeder currents.
Avalon is a potentially hazardous beach with an average of 58 rescues a year. It is more suitable to locals and surfers. A rock pool is located on the southern rock platform offering the safest swimming. In the surf definitely stay between the flags.
