Taren Spit Beach

Located in southern Sydney, Taren Spit Beach is a northwest-facing curve-shaped beach with light brown sand, a few large rocks, nearby wetlands and seagrass fields, and a wonderful backdrop of Sydney’s skyline.  This beach is a part of a nature reserve named the Towra Point Nature Reserve and it is managed by NSW National Parks.  The wetlands within Towra Point Nature Reserve are protected under the Ramsar Convention of 1971 because of their ecological significance.

Taren Spit Beach does not have lifeguards or any other amenities.  However, the boat ramp near the beach has many amenities including restrooms, picnic areas, barbecue areas, grassy recreational areas, and benches.  Dogs are not allowed at this beach.

Taren Spit Beach offers many fun activities including sunbathing, beachcombing, swimming, fishing, picnicking, paddleboarding, boating, jet-skiing, surf-skiing, kayaking, canoeing, and wildlife watching.  

If you are planning to swim or canoe here, we recommend being careful because the water here is known to have unpredictable rip currents and dangerous waves.  This beach is ideal for visitors looking for a quieter beach experience because it sees fewer visitors as compared to Sydney’s other beaches.  Another beach that has relatively less crowds is the nearby Towra Spit Beach.   If you like birdwatching, you can see many kinds of migratory birds here.

Taren Spit Beach does not offer wheelchair access to visitors with disabilities.

Getting to Taren Spit Beach can be difficult because the only way to reach this beach is by boat, kayak, or canoe – from a local highway named A1, you need to turn towards a road named The Boulevarde and then towards Captain Cook Drive.  You need to drive along this road until you reach a T-point intersection in the suburb of Kurnell.  You then need to turn left from this intersection to reach Prince Charles Parade.  Once you reach Prince Charles Parade, you need to drive towards the western end of the road to reach Bonna Point Boat Ramp.  There is a large free parking lot at this boat ramp – once you park here, you can launch your boat, kayak, or canoe from here.  You need to travel across Quibray Bay to reach Taren Spit Beach.

If you like taking photos with excellent views, Taren Spit Beach offers amazing Instagram-worthy views of Botany Bay, especially at sunset.  In addition, in 1770 the famous British explorer Captain Cook explored and mapped the area around this beach.

There are many attractions near Taren Spit Beach around the suburb of Cronulla within a 25-minute drive.  Bonna Point Reserve is a reserve that offers many amenities including barbecue areas, picnic areas, restrooms, bike path, playground, drinking water facilities, changing rooms, and benches.  Kamay Botany Bay National Park offers many fun activities including scuba diving, snorkeling, kayaking, canoeing, wildlife watching, hiking, and beachcombing.  This national park has multiple beaches including Congwong Beach and Frenchmans Beach, and it also has many other fun things to explore including hiking trails, historic sites, a lighthouse, and a museum.  Don Lucas Reserve is a recreational area that offers many amenities including a playground, picnic areas, a running path, a basketball court, barbecue areas, and outdoor exercise areas.  Dunningham Park is a waterfront recreational park that offers picnic areas, drinking water facilities, playground, restrooms, barbecue areas, and nearby swimming pools.  If you are looking for another attraction near the beach, E.G. Waterhouse National Camellia Gardens is a botanical garden near Silver Beach Kurnell NSW that displays more than 600 Camellia flowers and it also has grassy recreational areas, picnic areas, a pond, and playgrounds.

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Taren Spit Beach around the suburb of Cronulla within a 25-minute-drive.  Cook at Kurnell serves amazing dishes for breakfast and lunch including acai bowl, chicken burgers, and fish-and-chips, and it also serves refreshing beverages.  Summer Salt offers many excellent dishes including seafood, pastas, pork, and steak.  Albi’s Taverna is an Italian restaurant that offers a variety of delicious Italian dishes including lasagna, gnocchi, pork ragu, and spaghetti.  Kurnell 1770 Bakery and Cafe offers many delicious dishes including wraps, burgers, salads, sandwiches, bagels, and French toasts.  If you are looking for another good and affordable nearby restaurant, Top Shop at Wanda offers a variety of delicious breakfast dishes including eggs, wraps, fritters, and granola.

If you are looking for a hotel near Taren Spit Beach, there are many great nearby options around the suburb of Cronulla within a 25-minute-drive.  The 4-Star Rydges Cronulla Beachside offers many amenities including a restaurant and a swimming pool.  Another upscale hotel is the 4-Star Quest Cronulla Beach that offers many amenities including a sauna, a pool, a hot tub, and a gym.  A more affordable hotel is the 3-Star Caringbah Hotel which offers many fun activities including multiple bars, a beer garden, a restaurant, a lounge, and complimentary breakfast.  The 3-Star Abcot Inn is another moderately priced hotel that offers many amenities including a pool and a garden.  If you are looking for another good and affordable nearby hotel, the 3-Star Cronulla Motor Inn offers many amenities including a garden, a pool, and outdoor sitting areas.  Another great accommodation option is to live in a nearby rental Taren Point beach house – you can see many great vacation rental options near this beach online.