Located just 3 hours North of Sydney is a beach like no other.
Picture this:
You’re driving down a 2 km long dirt road, windows down, music blasting.
You then pull up to what seems like a dead-end, park the car and get the portable speaker going.
Before you know it, you’re surrounded by dense rainforest and chirping birds with a wooden boardwalk under your feet.
You can hear the waves crashing somewhere, but see no sand.
After 5 minutes of walking, your eyes adjust to the beaming sunlight as you appear from the rainforest.
There it is, magical white sand, sky blue water, an immaculate headland and zero people.
Table of Contents
The Name
Sounds pretty special, doesn’t it?
Most people have their own name for this hidden gem. The most common are Cellito beach or Sandbar beach.
There is a campground within the national park area. This can be quite busy at peak times and is growing more popular every year.
If you’re planning to stay for a day or two, consider booking a site there and camping.
The name of the campground is Sandbar and Bushland Holiday Park. They have a range of other activities if the beach isn’t your vibe, such as:
- Fishing on Smith’s Lake
- A game of golf on the most hidden course in NSW
- 4WD on the beach (permit required)
- Bush-walking and mountain-biking tracks
The Location
As the beach grows in its presence, many Sydneysiders are becoming aware of exactly where it is.
The campground itself is now on Google and Apple maps so it’s pretty straight forward to find.
Actually getting to the beach, though, will require a tiny bit of attention and good driving.
When you first turn off the Lakes Way and head under the wooden “Sandbar” frame, you’ll have to stay close to the left side of the narrow dirt road.
Drive down the road for about 5 minutes until you reach a fork in the road. At that point, you’ll want to take a left and follow it past the golf course, into the dead-end.
This is where you’re going to start walking along the boardwalk and finally end up on the beach.
If that didn’t make sense, check out this satellite view of what I just said:
What To Bring
Stay Sun Safe
The UV Index around this area is pretty much between 8 and 12 year round.
Because of this, it’s super important that you pack the following things:
- Sunscreen
- Zinc
- Hat
- Umbrella or pop-up tent
- Clothing for when you’re not swimming
- Sun glasses
Bring a Spare Tyre
The dirt road is pretty average to drive on so I’d recommend bringing a spare tyre just incase your car has seen 1 too many potholes.
If possible, the drive will be way smoother if you have access to a 4WD or simply a bigger car than a Toyota Corolla (although you should survive in something that little).
Don’t Forget the Essentials
Cellitos is amazing! It’s well protected, the waves are always pumping and the water is usually just right.
Make sure you bring your beach essentials so you can soak up the sunshine and enjoy the day!
- Surfboards
- Walking shoes
- Beach towels
- Beach chairs
- Some lunch & snacks
- A speaker
- A ball
- Good vibes
When To Go
Unfortunately, the beach is growing more and more popular every year. When I first went, there was literally no one there. It was heaven…
Nowadays you can expect at least a few people if it’s a nice day.
Peak times like long-weekends, school holidays and other breaks should be avoided, but if you know when to go, you can score this beautiful beach pretty much all to yourself.
I reckon the best time to hit up Cellitos is off-peak (think weekdays) at the end of Autumn/beginning of Winter.
Every time I’ve been to Cellitos during June the waves have been firing and the crowds have been minimal.
The water is slightly cooler but I wouldn’t say it’s cold. You also don’t have many holiday makers because they are all heading further north for something warmer.
The worst time to go is around Christmas and New Years. This is for many reasons:
- There are heaps of people
- There are heaps of mossies
- The waves are average at best
- On-shore winds ruin the day
What To Watch Out For
Sharks
I bet you’re scared now…
Yep, Cellitos is notorious for sharks.
Luckily, it’s only known for shark sightings rather than shark attacks.
In all the years I’ve been going to Cellitos (at least 10 days year for the past 10 years), I’ve seen 2 sharks but never once heard of an attack of any kind.
There are sharks there. You may see one. But, they aren’t out to hurt you.
It’s still smart to paddle in if you see one, but don’t let the sharks stop you from going.
My tips here are to only paddle out if the water is clear, the weather is nice and there is at least someone else with you (or someone already out there).
There are regular helicopter patrols around the area and it’ll be pretty obvious if a shark has been spotted when you arrive (everyone will be on the beach).
Campers
When the campground is at peak, the beach can get super busy.
Try as best you can to avoid these peak times (any holidays or long-weekends) and if you’re going to stay at the campground, book in advance for a good site.
Most campers are fine, however, there are a few locals who like to claim the territory.
If someone paddles up to you with a chip on their shoulder, just shrug it off and paddle somewhere else. It’s not worth the hassle.
Rips / Currents
Cellitos isn’t a patrolled beach. That means there are no lifeguards coming to save you from a rip.
To stay safe, swim with others, watch for rips and strong currents and only swim to your ability.
Try to avoid swimming right next to the rocks as there is often a strong rip through the channel there.
Bushfires
The bushland around Sandbar is extremely dense. During summer these areas can often catch alight, starting a not-so-nice bushfire.
Over the years, Cellitos has seen its fair share of bushfires, although, none of which have destroyed too much of the infrastructure there.
It’s important to check the fire rating each day and plan to go at a time when the weather is tame.
To be extra safe, let someone know where you’re going before you leave home.
Cellitos is spectacular in every way. I’m sure you’ll fall in-love with it just as I did all those years ago.
I want to keep it that way for more people to enjoy, so please:
- Don’t leave your rubbish
- Don’t destroy the bushland/boardwalk
- Take only photos and leave only footprints
Let’s leave the beach the way we found it!
Looking for more? Uncle Nathan has you covered with my 3 top picks for a beach holiday close to Sydney that won’t break the bank.
Enjoy your little trip,
Uncle N.