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Home / Beaches / Scarness Beach

Scarness Beach

Пляж Скарнесс
Australia · Beach · Hervey Bay
moderate
Best month: August

Best for

Ideal for families with children thanks to calm stinger-free water and shallows. Suitable for kayaking, fishing and whale watching. Not suitable for surfers — there are almost no waves.

Best month

August

Water
+22.0°C
Length
6 000 m
A calm beach with clear water, suitable for swimming and water sports. Nearby are cafes, shops, a park with BBQs, and a jetty for fishing.
Surface
sand
Waves
calm
Entry
gentle
Description Pros & Cons Best For Features Beach & Entry Water & Waves Swim Season Safety Infrastructure Vibe Nature Activities Tips Nearby
Description
General information about the beach
A calm beach with clear water, suitable for swimming and water sports. Nearby are cafes, shops, a park with BBQs, and a jetty for fishing.
Pros and cons
Main advantages and disadvantages

Pros

  • 6 km of golden sand
  • Calm stinger-free water year-round
  • Lifeguard patrolling
  • Well-developed infrastructure: cafes, shops, toilets
  • Scenic Scarness Jetty from 1917
  • Whale watching from June to October
  • Shady foreshore reserve

Cons

  • Shallow water, not suitable for surfing
  • Water can be murky after rain
  • Crowded in high season
  • Limited parking on weekends
  • No natural shade on most of the beach
  • Mosquitoes and sandflies in the evening
  • The beach is geared towards quiet family holidays
Best for
Who this beach is ideal for
Ideal for families with children thanks to calm stinger-free water and shallows. Suitable for kayaking, fishing and whale watching. Not suitable for surfers — there are almost no waves.
Features
What makes this beach unique
The beach is one of the best places in Australia to watch humpback whales during their migration from June to October. The Scarness Jetty, built in 1917, is 870 metres long and once connected trains to ships.
Beach & Entry
Surface, sand, water entry and bottom
Surface Type
Main surface type
sand
Sand Color
Main sand colour
golden
Sand Texture
Grain size
fine
Water Entry
How steep the drop-off is
gentle
Shallow Distance
Metres to waist-deep water
50 m
Bottom Type
Main bottom type
sand
Water Shoes
Whether special footwear is needed
not needed
Beach Length
Beach length in metres
6 000 m
Water & Waves
Colour, clarity, temperature and waves
Water Colour
turquoise
Water Clarity
moderate
Underwater Visibility
3.0 m
Average Water Temp
+22.0 °C
Max Water Temp
+26.0 °C
Wave Type
calm
Wave Height
0.3 m
Swim Season
When the swimming season starts and ends
Season start
September
Season end
April
Best month
August
Safety
Currents, water quality, dangerous creatures, hospital
Rip Currents
Likelihood of rip currents
low
Water Quality
Water purity rating
good
Jellyfish Risk
Likelihood of jellyfish
none
Shark Risk
Likelihood of sharks
none
Crime Level
Overall safety level
safe
Hospital Distance
Kilometres to hospital
3.0 km
What exactly is dangerous
No serious threats. The beach is in a quiet resort area with regular patrolling. Standard caution is recommended.
Dangerous creatures
mosquitoes
sandflies
Insurance & Connectivity
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Infrastructure
Amenities on and near the beach
Sunbeds
No
Umbrellas
No
Showers
Yes
Toilets
Yes
Changing Rooms
Yes
Lifeguards
Yes
First Aid
Yes
Parking
Yes
Wi-Fi
No
Kids Playground
Yes
Sports Ground
No
Restaurants Nearby
15 pcs
Best restaurants

The Beach House Hotel

Modern Australian

Hotel restaurant with bay views and local produce dishes

Salt Café

Cafe

Popular cafe with breakfasts, coffee and beach views

Scarness Jetty Kiosk

Cafe

Kiosk on the jetty with snacks and ice cream

Enzo-s on the Beach

Italian

Italian restaurant with pasta, pizza and seafood

Nearby cuisines

Modern Australian

Modern Australian cuisine with emphasis on fresh seafood

Must try: Barramundi, steak, fish and chips

Seafood

Fresh Coral Sea seafood

Must try: Prawns, grilled fish, squid

Italian

Italian cuisine with pasta, pizza and seafood

Must try: Pasta, pizza, seafood
Vibe
Energy, crowd, silence and sunsets
Energy
calm
Crowd Level
moderate
Silence Level
moderate
Sunset Quality
beautiful
Nature
Trees and natural shade
Trees on Beach
Yes
Natural Shade
moderate
Activities
Snorkelling, diving, surfing, kayaking
Snorkeling
Yes
Diving
No
Surfing
No
Kayaking / SUP
Yes
Tips
What to bring, best time, local rules
What to Bring
SPF50+ cream Water Towel Swimsuit Flip-flops Headwear Insect repellent Cash
Best Time to Swim
The best time to swim is from September to April, when the water is warmest. For whale watching — from June to October. Early morning the water is calmest.
Local Rules
Swimming is recommended in the patrolled zone. Swimming in unpatrolled areas is prohibited. Dogs on the beach must be kept on a leash.
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Nearby
Attractions and places near the beach

Scarness Jetty

Historic 1917 jetty, 870 metres long, popular for fishing and walks

Whale Watching

Humpback whale watching from June to October from shore or by boat

Hervey Bay Historical Village

Open-air historical museum with exhibits about the region-s past

Fraser Island (K-gari)

The world-s largest sand island 10 km offshore, a UNESCO site

Where to stay
Hotels and apartments near the beach
Frequently asked questions
Scarness Beach: what is the water like at this beach?
At this beach, water colour — turquoise, clarity moderate, average temperature +22.0°C, warms up to +26.0°C in the warmest season. Check the exact temperature by month in the chart section.
Scarness Beach: what are the waves like and is it safe to swim?
Waves at this beach are — calm. Average wave height — 0.3 m. Calm water is great for families with children and those who prefer not to deal with strong swell.
Scarness Beach: what is the water entry and bottom like?
Water entry is — gentle. The shallow area extends for 50 metres from the shore. Bottom — sand. Special shoes are not required — the water entry is comfortable. The gentle slope is safe for children and inexperienced swimmers.
Scarness Beach: what kind of sand and surface does the beach have?
Beach surface — sand. Sand colour — golden. Texture — fine. Beach length — 6 000 metres.
Scarness Beach: when is the swimming season?
The swimming season starts in September. It ends in April. The best month for a holiday is August. This is when the water is warmest and the weather is most comfortable.
Scarness Beach: is it safe to swim?
Water quality is rated as good. Rip currents are unlikely. Always watch for warning signs and follow lifeguards instructions.
Scarness Beach: which dangerous creatures live in the water?
The water contains: mosquitoes, sandflies. We recommend wearing protective footwear, not touching marine life and taking care when entering the water.
Scarness Beach: what infrastructure is available on the beach?
The beach offers: showers, toilets, changing rooms, parking, kids playground. All amenities are listed in the "Infrastructure" section above.
Scarness Beach: are there lifeguards and a first aid station?
Lifeguards are on duty on the beach — an important safety factor. A first aid station is available.
Scarness Beach: where can I eat near the beach?
Popular places nearby: The Beach House Hotel, Salt Café, Scarness Jetty Kiosk. Cuisines available: Modern Australian, Seafood, Italian. See the "Infrastructure" section for details.
Scarness Beach: what should I bring to the beach?
We recommend bringing: SPF50+ cream, Water, Towel, Swimsuit, Flip-flops, Headwear, Insect repellent, Cash.
Scarness Beach: when is the best time to swim?
The best time to swim is from September to April, when the water is warmest. For whale watching — from June to October. Early morning the water is calmest.
Scarness Beach: what are the rules and restrictions on the beach?
Swimming is recommended in the patrolled zone. Swimming in unpatrolled areas is prohibited. Dogs on the beach must be kept on a leash.
Scarness Beach: what activities are available?
The beach offers: snorkelling, kayaking and SUP. See the "Activities" section above for details.
Scarness Beach: who is this beach best for?
Ideal for families with children thanks to calm stinger-free water and shallows. Suitable for kayaking, fishing and whale watching. Not suitable for surfers — there are almost no waves.
Scarness Beach: what makes this beach unique?
The beach is one of the best places in Australia to watch humpback whales during their migration from June to October. The Scarness Jetty, built in 1917, is 870 metres long and once connected trains to ships.
Scarness Beach: what are the pros and cons of the beach?
Pros: 6 km of golden sand, Calm stinger-free water year-round, Lifeguard patrolling, Well-developed infrastructure: cafes, shops, toilets, Scenic Scarness Jetty from 1917, Whale watching from June to October, Shady foreshore reserve. Cons: Shallow water, not suitable for surfing, Water can be murky after rain, Crowded in high season, Limited parking on weekends, No natural shade on most of the beach, Mosquitoes and sandflies in the evening, The beach is geared towards quiet family holidays.
Scarness Beach: what is near the beach?
Nearby you can visit: Scarness Jetty, Whale Watching, Hervey Bay Historical Village, Fraser Island (K-gari). Detailed descriptions in the "Nearby" section above.
Scarness Beach: how do I get to the city of Hervey Bay?
The beach is located near the city of Hervey Bay. Full information about the city — hotels, restaurants, attractions, transport — is available on the city page for Hervey Bay.

City

Hervey Bay

Full information about the city: prices, hotels, attractions.

Best month

August

Useful information

Country: Australia
Type: Beach
Coordinates: -25.283900, 152.857300

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