# Best Beaches in Narooma | Narooma Beaches & Swimming Guide Canonical: https://bookfromowner.com.au/guides/nsw/south-coast/narooma/best-beaches/ Type: AttractionGuide Location: Narooma, Eurobodalla Coast, NSW Last updated: 2026-06-01 > A complete guide to the best beaches in Narooma — from the netted family swimming enclosure at Bar Beach South to the patrolled surf beach, Glasshouse Rocks and the quiet sand at Kianga and Dalmeny. Where to swim, surf, snorkel and walk. ## Quick Answer - Best for: Families, surfers & quiet walkers - Price range: Free - Vibe: Varied coast, calm to open surf - Distance: All within minutes of town ## Featured Properties - BIG4 Narooma Easts Holiday Park: 4.4/5 (665 reviews) Book direct: http://www.eastsnarooma.com.au/ BIG4 Narooma Easts Holiday Park — Narooma - Amooran Oceanside Apartments and Motel: 4.4/5 (275 reviews) Book direct: http://www.amooran.com.au/ Amooran Oceanside Apartments and Motel — Narooma - Discovery Parks - Narooma Beach: 4.2/5 (330 reviews) Book direct: https://www.discoveryholidayparks.com.au/caravan-parks/new-south-wales/south-coast/narooma-beach?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=gmb&utm_term=visit-website&utm_content=DHP-NSW-Narooma-Beach Discovery Parks - Narooma Beach — Narooma ## FAQ Q: What is the best swimming beach in Narooma? A: Bar Beach South is the best swimming beach in Narooma, particularly for families and children. Its netted enclosure near the Wagonga Inlet mouth is protected from the surf by a breakwater, making it calm and safe for swimmers of all abilities. For a patrolled surf beach, Narooma Surf Beach is patrolled by the Surf Life Saving Club in summer — always swim between the flags there. Match the beach to your swimming ability, and choose Bar Beach South when calm water matters most. Q: Which Narooma beaches are patrolled? A: Narooma Surf Beach (Main Beach) is patrolled by the Narooma Surf Life Saving Club during the summer season. Bar Beach South has a netted swimming enclosure that provides protection from the surf, though you should still supervise children closely. Most other Narooma beaches — including Kianga, Dalmeny and Handkerchief — are not patrolled. Always check current patrol timetables with the local Surf Life Saving club or the Eurobodalla Shire Council beaches page. Q: Can you swim at Glasshouse Rocks? A: Glasshouse Rocks is primarily a scenic and rock-pool destination rather than a conventional swimming beach. The natural rock pools at low tide can be deep enough for a sheltered dip, but the area is not patrolled and the rocks can be slippery with surging waves. It’s best enjoyed for the rock pools, photography and dramatic geology. For actual swimming, head to Bar Beach South or the patrolled Narooma Surf Beach instead, and always wear grippy footwear around the rocks. Q: Are there quiet beaches near Narooma? A: Yes — Kianga Beach, just three minutes north of the Bar Beach car park, offers a long, picturesque stretch of golden sand that’s usually quiet and uncrowded. Dalmeny Beach to the north is another quieter, locals’ favourite, and Handkerchief Beach is a scenic option best for walking. All of these are generally unpatrolled and can be rough, so they suit walks, solitude and experienced swimmers more than family swimming. Q: Are dogs allowed on Narooma beaches? A: Dog rules vary by beach and are enforced by Eurobodalla Shire Council, with designated off-leash areas and seasonal restrictions. Kianga Reef Beach allows dogs off-leash 24 hours and nearby Duesburys Beach is also 24-hour off-leash, while Bar Beach South’s swimming enclosure does not permit dogs. Always check current council signage on arrival, as regulations change seasonally and differ between beaches. Q: What is the best beach in Narooma for families? A: Bar Beach South is the best family beach in Narooma. Its netted swimming enclosure provides calm, protected water ideal for children, and adjacent Apex Park has a large car park, toilets, a picnic area, playground and BBQs — everything a family needs for a comfortable beach day. The rock pools at the southern end of Narooma Surf Beach, near Glasshouse Rocks, are also a free family highlight at low tide. ## At a Glance - Best swimming beach: Bar Beach South — netted enclosure, calm protected water - Patrolled beach: Narooma Surf Beach (Main) — by Narooma SLSC in summer - Most dramatic: Glasshouse Rocks — ancient tilted rock formations, rock pools - Quietest: Kianga, Dalmeny and Handkerchief — uncrowded, mostly unpatrolled - Dog-friendly: Kianga and Duesburys — off-leash areas; not Bar Beach South - Safety: Match the beach to your swimmers; check Surf Life Saving NSW ## Featured - 1. Bar Beach South — The best swimming beach in Narooma - Why people love it: It's the calm, netted swim that makes Narooma genuinely stress-free for families — the one beach where you can actually relax with small kids in the water. - Don't miss: A genuine ocean swim without the surf, with seals sometimes off the breakwater. - Good to know: There's no shade over the water, so sun protection is essential, and dogs aren't allowed. It's calm but still the ocean — supervise children closely toward the deeper end of the net. - 2. Narooma Surf Beach (Main Beach) — Surf, swim and scenery - Why people love it: It's the all-rounder — patrolled surf, snorkelling, rock pools and a Montague Island horizon, all minutes from town. - Don't miss: The low-tide rock pools at the southern end, and the view out to Montague Island. - Good to know: It's open surf with real currents — only patrolled in summer. Outside patrol season, or for weak swimmers and toddlers, choose Bar Beach South. Always swim between the flags. - 3. Glasshouse Rocks — Narooma’s most dramatic beach - Why people love it: It's the most photographed stretch of the Narooma coast — tilted ancient rock, glowing at low tide, with rock pools you can explore for an hour. - Don't miss: The tilted rock formations and rock pools at low tide; the panorama from the cemetery trail at high tide. - Good to know: It's not a patrolled swimming beach, the rocks are slippery and the surf surges — wear grippy shoes, never turn your back on the ocean, and go to Bar Beach South or Main Beach for an actual swim. - 4. Kianga Beach — Quiet sand and space - Why people love it: It's the long, quiet golden beach for a dawn walk or a dog run — space and solitude three minutes from the centre of town. - Don't miss: An early-morning walk or off-leash dog run on a long, empty golden beach. - Good to know: It's not patrolled and can get rough — not for family swimming or unsupervised children. Send swimmers to Bar Beach South or patrolled Main Beach instead. - 5. Dalmeny Beach — The locals’ quieter option - Why people love it: It pairs a calmer, quieter swim with the region's best coastal cycleway — the locals' pick for an active, low-key beach day. - Don't miss: Riding the 10km Narooma to Dalmeny cycleway via the Mill Bay Boardwalk, then a quiet swim. - Good to know: It's generally unpatrolled — check conditions before swimming, and don't rely on it for a flag-patrolled family beach day. - 6. Handkerchief Beach — Scenery over swimming - Why people love it: It's the beach for a quiet morning walk and a camera — long, soft, curving sand with almost nobody on it. - Don't miss: A quiet sunrise walk along the soft curving sand with the morning light low. - Good to know: It's unpatrolled with impressive waves and is not suitable for swimming. Parking is limited and informal, so arrive early — and bring everything you need, as there are no facilities. ## What travellers say - [positive] The netted enclosure: Families single out Bar Beach South’s netted enclosure as the reason Narooma works for young kids — a genuine ocean swim without the surf. - [mixed] Match the beach to your swimmer: Visitors who pick the right beach for their group love the variety; those who wander onto an unpatrolled, rough beach expecting calm water are caught out — read the patrol status first. - [positive] What a recent visitor said: - [positive] What a recent visitor said: - [positive] What a recent visitor said: