Caves Beach is a breathtaking beach, located along the Swansea Peninsula in Lake Macquarie, New South Wales (NSW), Australia. It’s such a breathtaking beach, that Beck and I actually decided to get married there! Although, we’re sure getting married isn’t your reason for wanting to visit.
To that end, there are many excellent things to do at this beach, that we’ll discuss in this article. We’ll also cover everything else you need to know about planning a trip there. This will include information about accommodation options in Caves Beach, such as the spectacular Caves Coastal Bar and Bungalows, which is a popular hotel.
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Caves Beach, Lake Macquarie, near Newcastle, NSW
Caves Beach is just another spectacular beach dotted along the coastline near Lake Macquarie in NSW. Given its location, the beach is within fairly easy reach for Sydneysiders and Novocastrians. Certainly, there’s plenty to do at this beach to keep you entertained.
Whether it’s a family day with the kids on school holidays or whether you’re a couple looking to escape Sydney for the weekend, this beach and the surrounding area will have you covered. In fact, Beck and I think so highly of this beach, that we even tied the knot there! Anyway, let’s look at the most popular thing to do at this beach – exploring the sea caves. Then, we’ll bore you with our special day.
Read about the Pink Caves and Ghosties Beach Caves (Rainbow Caves) in the nearby Munmorah State Conservation Area
Things to Do at Caves Beach
There are many fun things to do at Caves Beach in NSW. Although, the most popular thing to do is to explore the magnificent sea caves. So, let’s start by talking about that activity below.
Explore the Beach Caves
When it comes to beaches with caves, there aren’t many better than these sea caves near Swansea. Certainly, the Caves Beach caves in NSW are some of the best sea caves in Australia.
Of course, you should only explore these sea caves at low tide. Outside of low tide, the entrance to the caves is immersed in crashing waves, so accessing them isn’t safe. You’ll also want to make sure that the swell is slight. Even during low tide, if the swell isn’t slight, rough waters can still crash and smash around the entrance of and inside of the caves. So, make sure you check the Caves Beach tide times and swell before you visit. Reading a Caves Beach surf report will also give you all of this information. Additionally, keep in mind that, even during low tide and a slight swell, care and caution must be taken when exploring any sea caves.
So, if it’s safe to proceed, you’ll have a series of caves and chambers to explore at the southern end of the beach. There’s one main cave with a huge opening. There are also other smaller slots and crevasses to explore around this main cave.
On the other side of the main cave, there’s a beautiful stretch of flat rock platforms. We highly recommend exploring this area too.
As you may have gathered already, the caves were prime real estate for some wedding photos after getting married on the beach.
Get Married
Well, getting married at Caves Beach is one way to enjoy this epic NSW beach! If you’re looking for the ideal beach wedding location in NSW, look no further than this beach. After tieing the knot on the beach, we explored the caves. Luckily, our wedding time coincided with low tide. So, we were safe to explore! Of course, the Caves Coastal Bar and Bungalows is the perfect place to stay and even have the reception afterwards.
Anyway, other than being a great place to wed, this beach obviously has many other things going for it. In fact, the Caves Beach Lookout is a great place to scope out lovely views of the beach.
Caves Beach Lookout
Located at the southern end of the beach, next to the sea caves, the lookout is an excellent vantage point. From the lookout, you’ll enjoy awesome views of the beach, whilst getting a real sense of the magnitude of the caves. The lookout actually forms part of the Coastal Walking Track, connecting the beach with Pinny Beach.
Caves Beach Walk to Pinny Beach (Coastal Walking Track)
The walk to Pinny Beach is also known as the Coastal Walking Track. Most people start the approx. 5km return walk from the Surf Life Saving Club. From there, you’ll head south to the end of the beach. After passing the entrance of the sea caves, you’ll climb stairs and arrive at the lookout mentioned above. Continuing further south, you’ll soon be walking in the rugged Wallarah National Park. Along the coastal path to Pinny Beach, there are sensational coastal viewpoints to explore.
FYI – we didn’t do this coastal walk on our wedding day. We did it as part of our honeymoon the day after!
To find out more about the coastal walk to Pinny Beach, read 4 Great Lake Macquarie Walking Trails in a Day.
Swim or Surf
One of the easiest things to do at this beach is to simply go for a swim. It’s a long beach, about 1.5km in width. So, there’s plenty of space to plonk your towel down and then go for a swim. This beach is also a decent spot for surfing. Yes, you’ll definitely want to pack your surfboard!
Have a Picnic
Why not have a picnic? If you’re not heading to Caves Coastal Bar and Bungalows for a feed, then pack your own food. Certainly, this beach is an excellent spot for a picnic. Other than setting up on the sand, there are picnic tables located near the southern end of the beach.
Head to Hams Beach
Located just north of Caves Beach, you’ll find a smaller beach called Hams Beach. It’s a more secluded beach that’s tranquil and peaceful. You could possibly extend the Pinny Beach walk to include scoping out Hams Beach.
Amenities
Caves Beach has some decent amenities to make your trip more comfortable. For your convenience, we’ve made a list of amenities that can be found at the beach.
- Toilets
- BBQs and picnic tables
- Showers
- Kiosk
- Free parking
- Surf Life Saving Club
Other than the kiosk at the beach, you’ll find some excellent Caves Beach restaurants and cafes surrounding the beach. We’re sure you’ll be looking for a coffee at some point!
Caves Beach Cafes
Caves Beach isn’t short on nice cafes. Located just a stone’s throw away from the beach, you’ll find a few great cafes. Here’s our pick of the bunch.
- Mawson Restaurant: personally, Beck and I stopped in for a coffee when we first arrived in the area. We can recommend Mawson Restaurant for a nice cup of coffee.
- Boffee Cafe: we didn’t get a chance to scope out Boffee Cafe. But, by all accounts, it’s a lovely cafe and a worthy place to stop in.
- Mylo’s Caves Beach: an up-and-coming cafe that’s got good reviews.
- Caves Coastal Bar and Bungalows: this Caves Beach hotel is certainly the best establishment in the area for food and drinks. To have a look at the Caves Coastal Bar and Bungalow menu, head here. We’ll talk a little more about this Caves Beach hotel below.
Caves Beach Hotels and Accommodation Options
When it comes to Caves Beach hotel options, you can’t look past Caves Coastal Bar and Bungalows. Of course, feel free to look at more Caves Beach hotel options here. But, you won’t find a better place than the Caves Coastal Bar and Bungalows!
Caves Coastal Bar and Bungalows
Also known as Caves Beach Bar and Bungalows and Caves Beach Bungalows, Caves Coastal Bar and Bungalows is the perfect place to stay in the area. The property is sensationally perched across the road from the beach. From the raised platforms of the Caves Beach bungalows, you’ll enjoy marvellous views of the beach. Caves Coastal Bar and Bungalows is where we enjoyed our reception and stayed after the wedding. The restaurant area is large, serving delicious food. Indeed, it’s a beautiful beachside restaurant and accommodation – one of the best in NSW!
How to Get There (By Car)
The quickest and easiest way to reach Caves Beach in NSW is by driving there yourself. Pop in Caves Beach Road, Caves Beach, NSW 2281 into your navigation system and you’ll be right as rain. There’s plenty of free parking in the streets adjacent to the beach. If you don’t have your own vehicle, we recommend one.
Car Hire
If you don’t have your own car, you should hire one using Discover Cars. Personally, we use Discover Cars and highly recommend them for finding your ideal car hire at an affordable price. Booking online is super easy and the free cancellation policy is great.
To find out more about renting a car with Discover Cars, read our Discover Cars review and Discover Cars Insurance review.
From Sydney
In terms of Caves Beach directions, here’s a map showing you how to get there from Sydney.
From Newcastle
In terms of getting to Caves Beach from Newcastle, here’s a map showing you the way.
Public Transport
It’s possible to get there by public transport. But, it’s more of a lengthy journey, especially from Sydney, as you’ll have to bypass the beach to get to Newcastle initially. So, we don’t recommend it. Of course, if you have no options other than public transport, you’ll want to use the Transport for NSW Trip Planner to plan your journey. Basically, from Newcastle, it’s possible to get the 14 bus down to the beach. The journey time is approx. 70–90 minutes.
FAQs
Below, please find a few of the most frequently asked questions about Caves Beach in NSW.
Is Caves Beach Part of the Central Coast?
It’s located roughly halfway between the Central Coast and Newcastle, in Lake Macquarie.
When Is the Best Time to Visit Caves Beach?
You can visit all year round. Of course, summer is the ideal time for swimming. Plus, the best time to visit the sea caves is during low tide.
Are There Caves at Caves Beach?
You bet there are!
Can You Swim at Caves Beach?
Yes.
Can You Go to Caves Beach at High Tide?
Yes, you can go to the beach at high tide. But, you can only access the sea caves at low tide.
Can You Snorkel at Caves Beach?
Yes, it’s possible. Apparently, snorkelling at the beach is fairly decent.
Is Caves Beach Dog Friendly?
Dogs aren’t permitted on the beach itself. But, Hams Beach, at the northern end of the beach, is a dog-friendly zone.
Is Caves Beach Patrolled?
The beach is patrolled annually from the September/October school holidays through to April, Monday to Sunday, 8:30am to 5pm.
Bonus Tips
- Check the tides and swells: make sure to always check the tides and swells when exploring sea caves. It could save you and your loved ones from harm!
- Caves Beach camping: there are no camping areas at or on the beach. We recommend the nearby Frazer Campground or Freemans Campground if you’re wanting to camp near the beach.
- Explore Lake Macquarie: there’s so much beautiful coastal scenery to explore in Lake Macquarie. Make sure to take your time checking out different beaches and lakes in the area.
Leave us a comment below, we’d love to hear from you!
We acknowledge and respect the First Nations people as the Traditional Custodians of the land/water that we visited and recognise that sovereignty was never ceded.
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