Enjoy fishing, swimming or beach combing in this little protected bay in The Entrance district between Sydney and Newcastle.
Blue Bay, just to the south of The Entrance, is a bit of a hidden gem. The bay itself is relatively small and not many people know about it… yet. Watch the migrating whales between June and October, go fishing, swim in the calm blue waters of the bay or hike the coastal trail.
A rocky outcrop and shallow reef form the narrow entrance to Blue Bay. From the rocky platform at the northern end, stroll to the spit of sand that leads up to the reef on the southern boundary of the beach.
Blue Bay’s semi-circular beach is located behind a low-lying headland. The lack of surf breaks makes the clear waters look calm and vivid blue on most days, which explains how the bay got its name. Being just 820 feet (250 meters) long, the beach is easy to explore.
While Blue Bay is not patrolled, surf life savers do guard swimmers in adjacent Toowoon Bay during the busier weekends and public holidays. Toowoon Beach, across the spit, is also where you can find cafés and restaurants. The kids will love the playground in the Swadling Reserve overlooking the beach.
Apart from being a bay and a beach, Blue Bay is also the name of the small town that sits on the peninsula between Tuggerah Lake and the Pacific Ocean. This laid-back town flies blissfully under the tourist radar because there are no big hotels in town.
If you are feeling energetic, set out on the clearly signposted Coast to Lake Walk, which takes in Blue Bay, Long Jetty, Tuggerah Lake and The Entrance. The hike takes about 2 hours if you are reasonably fit.
If you’d rather take it easy, see if you can catch your own dinner by going fishing for whiting and bream in the bay.
Blue Bay is located on New South Wales’ Central Coast. The Entrance, a well-known tourist town, is close by and has all the facilities you may need. Blue Bay itself has a motel on the beach and a caravan park in town. Private holiday rentals along Ocean Parade often overlook the beach. This residential street is also where you can park if you arrive by car. The beach has a toilet facility and outdoor showers.
